Hearing Screening: what you need to know

Do you feel like you are not hearing as well as you used to, but do not know where to start? The first step is simple: a hearing screening. Quick, painless and without a prescription, it allows you to evaluate in a few minutes whether your hearing requires attention. Here is everything you need to know.

1. Hearing screening vs. hearing assessment: what is the difference?

A hearing screening is a quick test (10 to 15 minutes) that detects a possible decline in hearing. It requires no invasive equipment and is the first step in your hearing journey.

If the screening reveals an anomaly or suspected hearing loss, your audiologist will propose a comprehensive hearing assessment — a more in-depth examination that includes several specific tests to precisely evaluate your hearing ability.

2. How the screening works

During a hearing screening at Son Pour Son, your audiologist proceeds in several steps:

• Preliminary interview — a few questions about your lifestyle, noise exposure and daily difficulties.
• Otoscopy — a quick examination of the ear canal to check for earwax blockage or any visible abnormality.
• Tonal audiometry — in a soundproofed booth, you listen to sounds of varying frequency and intensity and indicate which ones you hear. This test produces your audiogram.

3. Understanding your audiogram

The audiogram is a graphic representation of your hearing thresholds in decibels (dB) for each frequency in hertz (Hz). Speech frequencies range from 250 Hz to 4,000 Hz.

Normal hearing shows thresholds below 20 dB. Beyond that, we speak of mild (20–40 dB), moderate (40–70 dB), severe (70–90 dB) or profound (over 90 dB) hearing loss. Your audiologist will explain the results and what they mean for your daily life.

4. Screening at an audiologist or ENT specialist?

Both professionals intervene at different stages:

• The ENT specialist diagnoses ear conditions (sudden deafness, otitis, vertigo, pain). Their examination is essential in the presence of medical symptoms. In the case of confirmed hearing loss, the doctor — ENT or GP — can issue a hearing aid prescription, required for access to 100 % Santé devices.
• The audiologist evaluates your hearing function, advises on possible hearing aids and provides follow-up. Screening and assessment at the audiologist can be carried out without a prescription.

5. After screening: what next?

If your screening reveals no anomaly, it serves as a useful reference for monitoring your hearing over time. If hearing loss is detected, your audiologist will propose a comprehensive assessment and, if necessary, a free trial of hearing aids suited to your profile.

Do not hesitate to book an appointment at the Son Pour Son clinic in Aigre, at the Maison de Santé Départementale — hearing screening is free and with no commitment.