Online hearing tests can be a helpful way to determine your hearing health before seeking out care from an audiologist. However, they do not provide the full picture of your hearing that an in-person exam can.
There are two main types of online tests: speech-in-noise (SIN) and pure-tone audiometry. Here is why online hearing tests can be used to determine hearing health.
Accuracy
The most important thing to know about online hearing tests is that they aren’t an exact replacement for professional testing. They’re a good screening tool, but if the results are inconclusive or inaccurate, a person must seek out an in-person hearing test before receiving any treatment or prescriptions.
The best types of online hearing tests such as Audi Hearing online hearing test are those that audiologists or neuroscientists validate. These professionals understand how human ears process sound, and they can make online hearing tests that are accurate enough to program custom hearing aids.
In general, if an online test says that it’s “validated,” it means that it has been scientifically evaluated and proven to be accurate, suggests Sara Serpanos, a hearing expert at the World Health Organization. She also recommends looking for test-makers who are transparent about their limitations and honest when the results are inconclusive.
Convenience
Online tests are a great way to determine your hearing health without having to leave the comfort of your home. They can help you identify signs of hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding speech in noise or pain in the ear, and guide you to a professional for a physical examination of your ears.
Most of these tests are free and offer results by email or on a screen immediately after completion. Some also provide follow-up care with a hearing care specialist or audiologist, which can be scheduled and facilitated through emails or phone calls.
There are several different types of tests, ranging from simple to complex. Some, such as a pure-tone air-conduction threshold test, measure the quietest sounds you can hear and help track mild-onset hearing loss or early-stage hearing loss that could be treated with hearing aids.
Others, such as a speech and noise test, play real-life sounds and speech excerpts in varying levels of background noise to measure how well you can understand speech. These tests can be accurate and convenient.
The main drawback of an online test is that it does not replace a hearing professional’s thorough examination of your ears. It can be especially true for older adults prone to hearing loss due to age.
Ease of Use
Online tests have become a popular way to determine hearing health. These tests can save time and money by not requiring the person to travel to a hearing clinic. They can also help reduce the average seven-year waiting period for a person to make an appointment with a hearing professional.
While many digital health tests are free, choosing one that is accurate and unbiased is important. These tests should be designed to help you understand your hearing loss and provide the information you need to decide on your hearing health.
In addition to providing a comprehensive analysis of your hearing, the best online test will allow you to schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional to discuss your results in more depth and find the best solution for your needs. A great test will also give you access to a range of hearing aids and assist you in finding the right fit.
Reliability
Online hearing tests have proven their reliability and validity and are often used as a starting point for diagnosing hearing loss. However, they are not an accurate substitute for a professional hearing test given by an audiologist in a sound-proof booth.
Reliability is the probability that a product or system will perform its intended function adequately for a defined period or operate in a defined environment without failure.
While reliability can be applied to products and services, it also applies to people, as it refers to how they will function under different conditions.
The word reliability is also used to describe a computer’s test ability to consistently produce similar results, even when using different versions of the same operating system. Generally speaking, computers are viewed as reliable because they can be trusted to perform their tasks accurately and quickly.