Advance Hearing Tests at Comprehensive Hearing Solutions in Houma, LA

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 Comprehensive Hearing Solutions, 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 to individuals. 

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, such as fitting appropriate hearing aids or exploring other treatment options.


Ready to reconnect with the world around you? Enjoy the clarity of better hearing again. Call 985-297-7084 today to schedule your hearing assessment with an Audiologist at Comprehensive Hearing Solutions in Houma, LA.

Hearing Tests at Comprehensive Hearing Solutions, Houma, LA

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.

Tympanometry:

By gently pushing air into your ear, this test measures how well your eardrum moves. The results will show us if your eardrum is too stiff, has fluid behind it, or has a hole in it.

Otoacoustic Emissions Testing:

During this diagnostic, a small probe is placed into the ear canal. The probe measures tiny, inaudible sounds that your ears make in response to detected sound stimuli. If these reactionary sounds are not present or cannot be prompted, it could be a sign that hearing loss is present.

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.

There are several other types of tests available, each dedicated to revealing a certain aspect of your hearing health. We’ll examine your overall symptoms and determine which hearing tests best meet your needs.

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, speech, or tones while a hearing specialist observes and notes your responses.

It’s common to undergo multiple diagnostics during your hearing test, as each screening is designed to evaluate a different type of hearing loss. Once all diagnostic tests have been completed, we’ll evaluate your results.

Young girl in a hearing booth having her hearing tested.

What Does a Hearing Test Show?

Hearing tests, such as audiometry, are designed to provide hearing specialists with enough information to determine the cause, type, and extent of hearing loss. 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:

audio frequencies

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

clipboard

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 treatment plan.

From Your Hearing Test Results to the Right Hearing Aid 

Once your hearing evaluation at Comprehensive Hearing Solutions is complete, your audiologist will review your results with you and, if hearing aids are recommended, guide you through selecting the right device for your hearing profile and daily life. 

Not all hearing aids are the same — and the right choice depends on more than just the degree of your hearing loss. Here’s how we approach it: 

Your Lifestyle Matters Someone who spends most of their time in quiet, one-on-one conversations has different needs than someone who attends live events, travels frequently, or works in loud environments. We’ll ask about your daily routine to match you with technology that fits how you actually live. 

Hearing Aid Styles Available in Houma 

We fit patients with all major hearing aid styles, including: 

  • Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) — The most popular choice: discreet, comfortable, and suitable for a wide range of hearing loss levels. Available with Bluetooth streaming and rechargeable batteries. 
  • Behind-the-Ear (BTE) — Reliable and powerful, best suited for more significant hearing loss or patients who prefer easier handling. 
  • In-the-Ear (ITE) / In-the-Canal (ITC) — Custom-fitted to your ear shape, ideal for mild to moderate hearing loss with a preference for an in-ear fit. 
  • Completely-in-Canal (CIC) / Invisible-in-Canal (IIC) — The most discreet option, nearly invisible when worn. 

Modern Hearing Aid Technology 

Today’s hearing aids are far more than amplifiers. At Comprehensive Hearing Solutions, we offer devices with: 

  • Bluetooth connectivity for streaming calls, music, and TV audio directly to your aids 
  • Rechargeable batteries that last a full day on a single charge 
  • AI-powered automatic environment adjustment that shifts between noise settings without manual input 
  • Multi-directional microphones that isolate speech and reduce background noise 

Whether you’re a first-time hearing aid wearer or looking to upgrade aging technology, we’ll walk you through every option — with no pressure — so you can make a confident, informed decision. 

Call 985-297-7084 to schedule your hearing evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Tests in Houma, LA 

Not at all. All of our hearing tests are non-invasive and painless. Tympanometry involves a gentle puff of air into the ear canal, and OAE testing uses a small soft probe — neither causes any discomfort. 

No referral is required to schedule a hearing evaluation at Comprehensive Hearing Solutions. You can call or schedule online directly. 

Yes, this is one of the most common early signs of hearing loss. High-frequency loss often affects consonant sounds (like s, f, and th), making speech sound muffled or unclear even when the volume seems adequate. A speech recognition test during your evaluation will identify this specifically. 

Most patients with bilateral hearing loss benefit from wearing two hearing aids. Binaural fitting improves your ability to locate where sounds are coming from and significantly improves speech clarity in noisy environments compared to a single device. 

Adults over 50 or anyone with known risk factors (noise exposure history, family history of hearing loss, tinnitus) should have their hearing tested annually. Even if no loss is present, establishing a baseline makes future changes easier to detect and manage. 

Coverage varies by plan. Our team will help verify your benefits before your appointment so you know what to expect. Call us at 985-297-7084 and we'll check your coverage at no charge. 

Your audiologist will review your results immediately following the evaluation. If hearing aids are recommended, we'll discuss your options, lifestyle needs, and budget — and you're never pressured to make a decision on the spot.