Can a Hearing Test Cause Damage?

I have a hearing test appointment scheduled, it's a requirement to get to talk with "therapist". I just have a bad feeling bad about it..
Can the hearing test cause further damage to T/H?

 

If it's an audiogram then absolutely no possibility of any problems. ("Press the button if you can hear something")

If it's a test to determine what your tolerance levels are just say no. It shouldn't do damage but it will be uncomfortable for sure. ("Press the button if it gets too loud")

 

are uuu sure I don't want to hear the beeps forever

 

Audiogram no risk. Although sometimes it goes from loud to quiet and you have to say when you can't hear it. Ask for quiet to loud where you have to say when you can hear it.

 

I don't know if they'll perform other tests too..are they harmful? I don't know why even test my ears..there were was nothing wrong when I did audiogram 2 years ago

 

You are worrying over nothing believe me. Read Marie's success story about hyperacusis, and advise you to read my post on Hyperacusis.
Michael

 

I was just reading it I mean you always say not to use headphones, right And the audiometry is done with headphones

 

I say not to use headphones and play music through them. The hearing test is just a series of bleeps this isn't going to cause any harm whatsoever believe me....

 

From my experience you will be absolutely fine,but here is what you should do and what you should avoid at the hearing screening.

Audiogram-Is absolutely fine

OAEs DPOAEs-Again absolutely fine
Bone Conduction test-Fine

BAR-Avoid,they play a loud tone into both ears

Speech recognition-Avoid,they say words whilst playing pink noise louder and louder over it sometimes to very high levels.It was this test that worsened my T and H even further.

 

How about: can one listen to bleep bloop music through headphones

 

!!!! Thank you a lot! What is the BAR test..I read from your other post that they play a real loud tone straight to your ear? I hope you will find some relief some day!

 

I have never had this test and agree with you I wouldn't want it either...

 

A BAR test is to ascertain whether your auditory nerve is working correctly,they play a 110db sound directly into your ears and it's just plain dangerous for someone with T and H.

I've never done one and will never do one.

 

I will never do a BAR test and I will never do a speech test again.

The audiologist assured me it was ok and that we needed to ascertain whether the auditory nerve was at fault,I told them not to play it loud and to be ready for me to tell them to shut it off.
I put the headphones on and immediately the first noise that came out of it was loud!I pulled the headphones off and ran to the hall in a state of panic and pain and that was it,I was way worse as a result.

 

Wow! What is the use of it? Like if one had a damaged nerve, what could they do then? More than just 'know that it is damaged'..Inhuman tests

 

When your audiograms are perfect they do this to see what is the cause,if it's inner ear based or not.Still it's far too risky,people without T experience T immediately after one of these so it's just to be avoided at all costs.

 

Evoked potentials can be loud, and an MRI is very loud (usually requires hearing protection). Some doctors prescribe the MRI as a standard test to rule out very uncommon things, like an accoustic neuroma. Usually doctors look for physical damage in an MRI, but if you know the likely cause for your H (for instance, lets say noise exposure), you can just tell them to put things in perspective, and maybe not take that test now, or wait a couple of months and see if your H improves. Actually you have to sign consent for an MRI test and one of the listed issues about the MRI that is stated in the document you sign is that is very loud.

Other than that, tests like audiogram, CAT scan are quiet. The LDL test can bother you a bit, but you can just tell them to stop the beeps after they go too loud for you. When you take the LDL test the beeps stop as soon as you puch a button (with some equipments) or as soon as you raise your hand. So even if it bothers you for a bit it would be just a moment.

 

What does the LDL test help..you get to know discomfort levels? But what is the use...?

 

What a sadist audiologist! Wonder how many decibels it was?

wow

 

I guess you go back here some time after to see if they improve...

 

They just want to get an idea of the severity of your H, and then they measure your LDLs over time, to see if you make progress, if you tolerate more sound in each frequency. The LDL test would be the opposite of an audiogram; they want to know what your upper levels of tolerance are instead of how well you can hear very low sounds.

An interesting thing is that when one frequency is damaged the tolerance for loud sounds on that frequency descends in some cases; this can be sensitivity and stay or go away, or can be "recruitment" for instance (hearing loss in a particular frequency plus intolerance to sounds over a certain threshold for that same frequency).

 

I can't say here what I would have liked to do to that Audiologist but I'm sorry to hear the ordeal you were put through..

 

I'm not sure how loud it was,I got my girlfriend and mother to listen to it,I actually made the audiologist play it back to them at the same level.
They said it was loud,not ear killing loud but really annoying loud,their ears didn't ring or anything after it but obviously my ears aren't like theirs.

 

I feel like any chance of a meaningful recovery disappeared that day,my H had worsened in January and I was doing a lot better by March when this happened,after that it's just gone downhill from there.

 

Very unfortunate Bill. I hope things get better for you over time....

 

Hearing professionals *do* have tests and equipment that can harm your hearing. It all depends on which specific hearing tests you are talking about, and the wisdom and caution of the people conducting the tests.

Some other posts here refer to the safety of a properly conducted hearing test in which you listen for (hopefully) faint tones. And that may be all you are scheduled for. However, you say you are concerned about the possibility of “other tests.”

The hearing profession has other tests that are not so innocent, and they have the potential to be seriously damaging. Some tests deliver pressure, and headphone volume levels that should be outlawed--extremes you would likely never encounter in daily life.

I know of people who walked into an audiology office with wonderful lives, and walked out with a *wall* of severe tinnitus and hyperacusis that completely destroyed their lives--forever. I know of people whose only regret in life is ever seeing an audiologist.

Does that answer your question?

 

So I should cancel the appointment ?

 

No, you can ask your audiologist not to perform any tests which would expose you to noise above for example 90-100 db. I am going as well next week and I am planning to demand that.

 

It's your decision as to which tests are *absolutely necessary* for you.

I'll add one other comment: Medical personnel are *very experienced in coaxing patients* to complete uncomfortable or painful tests--and in downplaying dangers. This was also a factor in the experiences I mentioned above.

 

What would be the benefit of allowing someone to put 100 decibels into your ears?