Hearing screenings
Hearing Screenings in Great Neck, NY
A short, straightforward check that answers one question: is it worth looking at your hearing more closely?
What a hearing screening is for
Not everyone who wonders about their hearing needs a full diagnostic workup on day one. A screening is the lighter option — a brief check of whether you detect tones at a handful of important pitches at a set volume.
The outcome is deliberately simple. Either nothing suggests a concern at the levels tested, or the screening indicates that a closer look is worthwhile. It does not tell you the degree or type of any hearing loss, and it does not measure how well you understand speech. That is not a shortcoming; it is what makes a screening quick.
When a screening makes sense
- You have no specific difficulty but want a quick check
- An employer, physician or family member suggested you get your hearing looked at
- You are approaching an age where you would like to start paying attention to hearing
- You want a low-commitment first step before deciding on a full evaluation
When to go straight to a full evaluation
If you are already noticing difficulty — conversations in noise, the phone, the television, asking for repeats — a comprehensive audiological evaluation is generally the better appointment. A screening in that situation often just confirms what you already suspect and adds a second visit.
The same is true if you have new ringing in the ears, a history of significant noise exposure, or a family history of hearing loss.
If your screening indicates a concern
We will explain what the screening showed and schedule a full evaluation. From there, the conversation may include hearing aids, assistive listening technology, medical referral, or simply a recheck at your next annual hearing wellness exam.
Screening vs. evaluation
Which appointment do you actually need?
Both start with the same question — how is your hearing? — but they answer it at very different depths.
Hearing screening
A short check at selected frequencies, producing a pass or refer result.
- Brief appointment
- Tells you whether further testing is advisable
- Useful when you have no specific complaint
- Does not measure speech understanding or type of hearing loss
Comprehensive evaluation
A full diagnostic appointment producing an audiogram and a plan.
- Approximately one hour
- Measures degree and type of hearing loss at each pitch
- Includes speech testing and middle ear assessment
- Produces a baseline you can be compared against later
Questions
Hearing screening FAQs
What is a hearing screening?
A hearing screening is a brief check of whether you can detect tones at a few key pitches at a set volume. It produces a straightforward result — either your hearing is within expected limits for that check, or a full evaluation is recommended. It is a filter, not a diagnosis.
How is a screening different from a hearing evaluation?
A screening answers one question: is a closer look warranted? A comprehensive audiological evaluation answers many — how much hearing has changed, at which pitches, whether it affects one ear or both, how clearly you understand speech, and how your middle ear is functioning. If a screening indicates a concern, a full evaluation is the next step.
Should I book a screening or a full evaluation?
If you already notice difficulty — in restaurants, on the phone, or with the television — a comprehensive evaluation is usually the better use of your visit, because it produces the information needed to act. A screening makes more sense when you have no particular complaint and simply want to check.
How long does a hearing screening take?
Considerably less time than a full evaluation. A screening is designed to be brief.
Can children have a hearing screening?
Please contact our office to discuss whether we are able to see a particular patient, as suitable testing depends on age and ability to participate. [AUDIOLOGIST NAME] can advise on the right setting for a child's hearing assessment.
Related services
- Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations A full diagnostic assessment that measures how you hear tones and understand speech, and explains what the results mean in everyday terms.
- Annual Hearing Wellness Exams A yearly check that establishes your baseline and tracks change over time, the same way you monitor vision or blood pressure.
- Hearing Aids Guidance on styles and technology levels, matched to your hearing, your budget and the situations you actually struggle in.
Not sure where to start?
A screening takes very little time and tells you whether a closer look is worthwhile. Request one at our Great Neck office.
Elite Audiology PC · 233 E Shore Rd, Suite 210, Great Neck, NY 11023