Hearing Tests
Changes in hearing can affect how you communicate, focus, and interact throughout your day. At Mile High ENT, we provide in-office hearing evaluations to assess how well you hear and how your ears are functioning.
These evaluations include a series of tests designed to determine the presence, type, and degree of hearing loss. We use this information to understand the cause of your symptoms and guide you toward the appropriate next steps for your care.
Hearing Changes Can Have Many Causes
Hearing changes are not always permanent and are often linked to conditions affecting how the ear functions. At Mile High ENT, we focus on identifying what is contributing to your symptoms rather than assuming hearing loss is the only explanation.
Common causes may include:
Fluid buildup in the middle ear
Ear infections or inflammation
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Wax buildup or blockage
Changes within the inner ear
These issues can lead to muffled hearing, a sense of fullness in the ears, or difficulty following conversations. We use your test results to understand what is happening within the ear and how it may be affecting your hearing.
Expert Audiology Care by Dr. Megan Raffle
Dr. Raffle provides comprehensive audiology care, helping patients find the right hearing solutions.
- Doctor of Audiology – Northwestern University
- Specialized in Hearing Aids, Tinnitus & Dizziness
- Advanced Training in Hearing & Balance Disorders
- Focused on Improving Quality of Life
When to Consider an Audiology Evaluation
A hearing evaluation can be helpful at any stage, even if you have not noticed clear signs of hearing loss. Changes in hearing often develop gradually, and it is common for subtle differences to go unnoticed over time.
In many cases, people wait years before seeking care. Evaluating your hearing earlier allows us to identify changes sooner and guide you toward appropriate next steps, often with more options available.
At Mile High ENT, we use hearing evaluations to establish a clear understanding of your hearing and address concerns before they begin to affect your daily life.
If you are unsure whether your hearing has changed, a quick hearing check can help you better understand if an evaluation may be worth considering.
What a Hearing Evaluation Can Help Identify
A hearing test provides more than a simple result. It helps clarify what may be contributing to your symptoms and what direction makes the most sense moving forward.
Your evaluation may help identify:
At Mile High ENT, your results are carefully reviewed to determine whether changes may be temporary or ongoing and what they mean for your hearing.
Based on these findings, we determine the next step. This may include treatment, monitoring, or further evaluation to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Diagnostic Tests Included in Your Hearing Evaluation
Your evaluation may include a combination of tests to assess both your hearing ability and how your ears are functioning.
Pure-Tone Audiometry
Pure-tone audiometry is the most common test and the foundation of most hearing evaluations. You will listen to a series of tones at different pitches and volumes through headphones and indicate when you hear them.
The results are plotted on an audiogram, which shows the softest sounds you can hear at each frequency. This test helps identify the degree and type of hearing loss.
Bone Conduction Testing
Bone conduction test uses a small device placed behind the ear to send sound vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.
It helps us differentiate between types of hearing loss (conductive vs sensorineural) and identify whether the issue is related to blockage, middle ear function, or inner ear processing.
Speech Testing
Speech testing evaluates how well you hear and understand spoken words, not just tones. You may be asked to repeat words at different volume levels and identify speech in quiet or sometimes in background noise.
This test evaluates speech clarity and helps determine how hearing loss affects everyday communication.
Tympanometry
Tympanometry checks the function of your middle ear by measuring how your eardrum responds to changes in air pressure. It helps detect issues like fluid buildup, eardrum perforation, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or problems with the ear bones.
Tympanometry is especially helpful if you are experiencing fullness, pressure, or fluctuating hearing.
Acoustic Reflex Testing
Acoustic reflex test evaluates how the muscles in your middle ear respond to louder sounds. It helps us assess the integrity of the auditory pathway and gather additional information about middle ear and nerve function. This test can help support findings from other tests for a more complete diagnosis.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) (When Appropriate)
OAE testing measures sound waves produced by the inner ear (cochlea) in response to stimulation. This test can detect early signs of inner ear (cochlear) damage and identify subtle changes that may not yet appear on standard hearing tests.
OAE provides objective information about hearing function, especially when responses are difficult to measure behaviorally.
What to Expect During a Hearing Evaluation
A hearing test is designed to evaluate how well you hear and identify what may be contributing to any changes.
At Mile High ENT, your visit is designed to be straightforward, comfortable, and informative. The evaluation is non-invasive and typically completed during your visit in a comfortable, in-office setting.
We begin by understanding your symptoms, concerns, and how hearing changes may be affecting your daily life.
You will complete a series of non-invasive tests that measure hearing sensitivity, speech understanding, and how well your ears function.
We review your results with you and explain what they mean in easy-to-understand language, without unnecessary technical jargon.
What Happens After Your Hearing Test
After your evaluation, we will review your results with you and explain what they mean in clear, straightforward terms. Depending on your findings, next steps may include:
Treatment for underlying ear conditions
Monitoring changes in hearing over time
Additional evaluation if needed
Exploring hearing aids or other solutions if needed
The goal is not just to test your hearing, but to give you a clear understanding of your options and what makes the most sense for your daily life.
Hearing Tests & Hearing Solutions in Denver, CO
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or simply want a better understanding of your ear health, a hearing evaluation can provide clarity and direction. At Mile High ENT, we provide in-office hearing tests to provide clear answers and solutions about your hearing.
To schedule a consultation at Mile High ENT, please call us at 303-487-0834 or fill out our online appointment request form.