First and foremost, you should expect a professional who is caring, open, and responsive to addressing your hearing concerns. Your audiologist will start by taking a complete history, with emphasis on the health of your ears. A thorough patient history is taken in order to best meet your hearing healthcare needs as well as to carefully design an individualized treatment plan. The audiologist will then proceed with an otoscopic exam to check your ears for any health concerns. A comprehensive hearing test (audiological exam) is performed. You should be seated in a soundproof booth during this exam. Other tests may include immittance testing (tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and reflex decay testing) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing.

Once the testing is completed, the results are discussed with you so that you may better understand your condition. This is also the time when strategies and recommendations are presented that best address your hearing concerns, allowing you to make informed decisions.