It is the position of the International Hearing Society that by age 21, all adults should have undergone an audiometric evaluation. Thereafter, an audiometric evaluation should occur every 3 years or as needed based upon:
- Decrease in quality of life
- Change in health status
- Onset or change of tinnitus
- Change in hearing
- Change in balance
- Onset of or change in vertigo or dizziness
- Head trauma or related injuries
- Introduction of or change in ototoxic medications
- Professional referral
An audiometric evaluation performed by a licensed professional includes:
- Pure tone air and bone thresholds
- Speech reception thresholds
- Word recognition scores in quiet and noise
- Unaided and aided sound field Speech in Noise (SIN) test
- Loudness level measurements (Uncomfortable Loudness Level (UCL) and Most Comfortable Level (MCL))
