Hearing Tests in Columbus, OH

Having trouble following your favorite show? Missing details at work because you can’t hear in meetings? Hearing loss can leave you feeling left out. 

At The Hearing Center of Ohio in Columbus, we’re committed to helping you restore your hearing starting with a hearing test.

A hearing test is an essential part of maintaining your overall hearing health. Using a variety of screening and diagnostic methods, a hearing test can accurately gauge the extent of an impairment as well as which audio frequencies are most likely to be affected. In doing so, hearing tests can effectively identify the earliest signs of hearing loss, often before noticeable symptoms have begun to manifest.

Even when no hearing loss is present, a hearing test can provide an invaluable baseline against which future declines may be more easily detected. Once diagnostics are complete, we can determine the best course of action for your hearing health, including recommending the most suitable hearing aids if needed.

Hearing Tests at The Hearing Center of Ohio, Columbus, OH

There are several different types of hearing tests available.

Audiometry:
Perhaps the most commonly known hearing test, this diagnostic involves using headphones to listen to sounds of varying tones and volumes. When you hear a sound in your left ear, you are instructed to raise your left hand, for example. A hearing specialist will track and mark the responses.

Speech testing:
 It’s one thing to hear tones. It’s another to hear well enough to discern speech. That’s why we’ll conduct a speech test where we ask you to repeat a pre-set list of words and phrases. This will reveal whether you’re hearing speech with clarity.

What Happens During a Hearing Test?

Most hearing tests are conducted in a quiet room. You’ll be given a pair of headphones to listen to sounds, or tones while a hearing specialist observes and notes your responses.

What Does a Hearing Test Show?

Generally, hearing test results will be shown via a specialized graph called an audiogram. An audiogram is a graph with two axes: sound level (in dB) and tone.  

Your hearing range will be diagrammed out on this graph. Usually, there will be several data points–one for each tone tested, plotted at the edge of your hearing range. As a result, an audiogram will show:

What frequencies you hear well and which frequencies you have a harder time hearing.

The extent and severity of any hearing loss that may be present.

Usually, early hearing loss will affect one frequency more extensively than others. It’s not uncommon, then, to have dips in one area of an audiogram.

What Is the Normal Hearing Range?

The higher your data points appear on an audiogram, the closer you are to a normal hearing range. In general, a normal hearing range is considered to be the ability to hear sounds that are less than 25dB in volume–a sound level roughly equivalent to rustling leaves or whispered words. In general, we use the following categories to define normal hearing and hearing loss:

  • Normal hearing: The ability to hear sounds 25dB and below.
  • Mild hearing loss: Sounds between 25dB and 40dB are audible, but not softer sounds.
  • Moderate hearing loss: Sounds below 41dB-65dB are difficult for you to hear.
  • Severe hearing loss: Sounds below 66-90dB are hard to hear.
  • Profound hearing loss: Sounds need to be louder than 90dB for you to be able to hear them. That’s roughly as loud as a lawnmower.

Typically, hearing loss does not occur evenly across all frequencies. Simply because your hearing is “normal” at some frequencies does not mean your hearing will be healthy in totality. It’s common to experience severe hearing loss when it comes to high frequencies, for example, but have normal hearing levels across the rest of the audio spectrum.

The Value of a Hearing Test

Whether your hearing is waning or you haven’t noticed any issues, a hearing test is an essential part of your hearing health. If your hearing is fantastic, screenings can provide peace of mind and a benchmark for future tests. And if you have tinnitus or hearing loss, a hearing test can provide a roadmap to the best possible course of action.

A Step-by-Step Walkthrough of Your Appointment 

Here’s what happens from the moment you arrive:

1. Welcome & Health History — You’ll complete a brief intake form covering your medical history, any medications you take, and the specific situations where you notice hearing difficulties most (restaurants, phone calls, TV). This helps us focus the evaluation on what matters to your daily life. 

2. Otoscopic Exam — Before any testing begins, your audiologist will look into your ear canals with a small, painless scope to check for earwax buildup, physical obstructions, or any visible issues with the eardrum. 

3. Hearing Tests in a Sound-Treated Booth — You’ll sit in a quiet, soundproofed room wearing headphones. Your audiologist will play tones at different pitches and volumes, as well as spoken words and phrases. You’ll simply respond when you hear them — no right or wrong answers, no stress. 

4. Results Review — We’ll walk you through your audiogram together in plain language, show you exactly which frequencies are affected, and explain what it means for your day-to-day hearing. If treatment makes sense, we’ll discuss your options with no pressure. 

Most appointments take about 60 minutes.

Schedule yours today 

After Your Hearing Test — What Happens Next 

Your results are just the starting point. 

Once we’ve reviewed your audiogram together, we’ll outline the options that make the most sense for your specific type and degree of hearing loss. Not everyone needs the same solution — and we never make one-size-fits-all recommendations. 

Depending on what your evaluation shows, next steps might include: 

Monitoring — If your hearing is within normal limits or shows only mild changes, we may recommend a follow-up schedule to track any shifts over time. 

Hearing Aids — If hearing aids would help, we’ll discuss styles, technology levels, and brands matched to your lifestyle and budget. You can learn more about your options on our

Tinnitus Management — If ringing in the ears is part of the picture, we offer dedicated alongside your hearing evaluation. 

Insurance & Cost — Many insurance plans, including Medicare Advantage, cover diagnostic hearing evaluations. Our team will verify your benefits before your appointment.

The goal isn’t just a test — it’s a plan. We’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.