What can a hearing health professional assess through an audiometric evaluation?

A hearing health professional can use audiometric evaluation to determine the type of hearing loss a patient may have. This assessment typically involves tests that measure the patient's ability to hear different pitches and volumes, helping professionals identify if the hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.

Understanding the specific type of hearing loss is crucial because it can influence the treatment options available, including the choice of hearing aids, medical interventions, or rehabilitation strategies. Through this comprehensive evaluation, audiologists can also pinpoint the degree of hearing impairment, which can factor into decisions regarding communication strategies and assistive devices.

While audiometric evaluations might inform aspects that relate to hearing aids, such as the necessary amplification level and frequency response, they do not provide direct insights into the best style of hearing aid, sound preferences, or preferred volume levels, which are often addressed in subsequent consultations following the audiometric assessment.