What should you know about NIHL audiometry?

During pure-tone audiometry, you wear headphones or insert earphones and respond whenever you hear a tone. The clinician tests each ear at different pitches and loudness levels, then records the quietest sounds you can detect. Noise-related hearing loss often affects higher pitches first, but the pattern needs interpretation alongside your work, recreation, medicines, infections, and ear examination. The result can distinguish a hearing threshold change from a blocked ear, although audiometry alone does not identify every cause. Earwax buildup can interfere with hearing and may need attention before testing; read about [Earwax Buildup](/conditions/earwax-buildup/).

Tell the clinic about recent loud-noise exposure, ringing, dizziness, ear pain, discharge, and any hearing protection you use. Avoid loud sound before the appointment when the clinician advises this, because a recent exposure can temporarily change your responses. During the test, stay still, concentrate on the tones, and respond even when a sound is faint. Do not guess repeatedly or wait for a louder tone. Take the report to the clinician who ordered it; it may guide hearing protection, monitoring, communication support, or referral. More detail about the process is available in [Hearing Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/hearing-test/).

Arrange prompt medical assessment for sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear, rather than waiting for a routine audiogram. Seek urgent help for hearing change with severe dizziness, facial weakness, a severe headache, head injury, or neurological symptoms. New one-sided hearing loss with repeated vertigo also deserves specialist review; Meniere's Disease is one condition clinicians may consider, but a hearing result cannot confirm it. For gradual loss, book an appointment if conversations, alarms, or work sounds are becoming difficult, even without pain.

Ask which type of audiometry is planned, whether your ears need examination first, and what pattern the result shows. Ask how to protect remaining hearing, when to repeat the test, and whether tinnitus, dizziness, or work-related exposure changes the next step.