They clear your ears first. It’s generally the case that an audiologist will check your ears before testing your hearing for a number of reasons including: There is wax or an infection in your ear.
Why Ears Get Checked First
Earwax or inflammation in the ear can cause sound to travel differently through the ear canal. Therefore any hearing tests conducted would give a false reading of any hearing loss that may exist.
What an Otoscope Examination Involves
An audiologist uses a small handheld light called an otoscope to look down into your ear. This allows the audiologist to see the walls of your ear canal, the eardrum and any wax that may be present. The audiologist can also determine the colour and texture of any wax that is present.
Grading the Wax
When checking for earwax an audiologist can determine whether it needs to be removed or not. Soft, lightly coloured wax which does not affect the eardrum is left in the ear. Hard, dark or filling wax is removed before a hearing test is carried out.
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Signs That Point to Infection
Signs of infection in the ear canal include redness, swelling or a discharge. The eardrum may appear dull and cloudy or even be pulled inward. This may be due to a build up of fluid behind the eardrum.
What Happens if Infection Is Suspected
In such cases, your audiologist will have to abandon the hearing test for the time being, refer you to your GP or suggest a treatment first. He/She will only continue the test for your hearing loss once the infection has cleared up completely.
Knowing what each step involves can help prepare for an appointment.