At a glance
Audiometry is a painless hearing test that measures how well you can hear sounds across a range of pitches and volumes. A trained specialist called an audiologist plays tones through headphones and asks you to respond each time you hear a sound, building a precise map of your hearing ability.
The test works by sending pure tones, each at a specific frequency (pitch) and intensity (loudness), into one ear at a time. Your responses show exactly where your hearing is normal and where sounds have to be made louder before you can detect them. This pinpoints both the degree of any hearing loss and whether the problem lies in the outer and middle ear or deeper in the inner ear and hearing nerve.
Medical Condition
Audiometry is ordered whenever a doctor needs an objective measurement of hearing function, whether as a first check or as ongoing monitoring of a known condition. It is suitable for adults and older children who can follow simple instructions during the test.
- Unexplained hearing loss in one or both ears
- Ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears (tinnitus)
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
- Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy places
- Dizziness or balance problems that may be linked to the inner ear
- Routine screening before starting certain medications known to affect hearing
- Monitoring hearing in people who work in loud environments
- Checking hearing before fitting a hearing aid or cochlear implant (an electronic device surgically placed in the inner ear)
- Follow-up after ear surgery or treatment for ear infections
Audiometry is not suitable in a small number of situations. Very young children, people with severe cognitive impairment, or those unable to cooperate with the response task may need a different type of hearing assessment, such as an ABR (auditory brainstem response) test, which does not require the patient to respond.
Risks & Complications
Audiometry is a non-invasive test and carries no meaningful physical risks. It involves no needles, no radiation, and no medication.
- Temporary mild discomfort from wearing headphones for the duration of the test
- Occasional anxiety in children or adults who find enclosed testing booths stressful
- A very small chance of an inaccurate result if there is earwax (cerumen) blocking the ear canal on the day of the test, which may require a repeat test after the wax is cleared
Preparation & Procedure
Audiometry requires very little preparation compared with most medical tests. There is no fasting, no need to stop medications, and no restrictions on smoking or alcohol specifically for this test.
Your doctor may clean your ear canal if there is visible wax before the appointment. Avoid loud noise, such as concerts or heavy machinery, for at least twelve hours before the test, as recent loud sound exposure can temporarily shift your hearing threshold and affect the results. Let the audiologist know about any ear infections, ear surgery, or hearing devices you currently use.
No blood tests or imaging scans are required before audiometry. In some clinics, a quick check called tympanometry (a test of how well your eardrum moves) is done in the same session to give the audiologist more information.
- You enter a soundproofed booth or quiet room and put on headphones or small earphones placed in the ear canal.
- The audiologist plays a series of tones, one at a time, at different pitches and volumes. You press a button or raise your hand each time you hear a sound, even if it is very faint.
- The same process is repeated for bone conduction: a small vibrating device is placed behind the ear to send sound directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.
- Some tests also include speech audiometry, where you listen to spoken words and repeat them back, measuring how clearly you can understand speech at different volume levels.
- The audiologist records all responses and produces an audiogram (a graph of your hearing results) that the referring doctor will review with you.
Aftercare
There is no recovery period after audiometry. You can drive, eat, work, and go about your day immediately after the test is finished. The audiologist or referring doctor will explain your audiogram results, usually on the same day or shortly after.
- No activity restrictions apply after the test.
- If hearing loss is confirmed, the doctor will discuss next steps, which may include further tests, a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or a hearing aid fitting.
- If the test was done to monitor a known condition or medication effect, your doctor will schedule repeat audiometry at the intervals they consider appropriate.
- If tinnitus or dizziness was the reason for the test, the audiogram results are combined with your other clinical findings before a management plan is discussed.
- Keep any follow-up appointments, as a single audiogram is a snapshot in time and some conditions require tracking over months or years.
Cost & What Determines It
The cost of audiometry varies considerably depending on where and how it is performed. A simple screening test in a basic clinic costs far less than a full diagnostic session that includes multiple subtests, specialist interpretation, and same-day consultation with an ENT doctor.
- Complexity of the session: a basic pure-tone test costs less than a full battery that includes bone conduction, speech audiometry, and tympanometry in the same appointment.
- Hospital class and country: private hospitals in major cities and international medical centres typically charge more than public or community clinics.
- Specialist involvement: a test interpreted by a consultant audiologist or ENT specialist carries a higher professional fee than one read by a general practitioner.
- Additional equipment: some facilities use more advanced equipment for specific diagnostic purposes, which can affect the overall fee.
- Whether the test is standalone or bundled into a broader ENT consultation or pre-operative assessment package.
Hospital packages often include the audiometry session itself, the audiogram printout, and a basic report. Items that may be billed separately include the ENT specialist consultation, tympanometry if not part of the standard package, and any follow-up tests such as an ABR or imaging of the inner ear.
BPJS Kesehatan and most Indonesian private insurance policies do not cover medical procedures performed abroad, so patients who travel overseas for audiometry usually pay out of pocket or through international private insurance that explicitly covers overseas care. Requesting a written cost estimate from the hospital before you travel is the most reliable way to understand the total amount you will need to prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does audiometry hurt?
Audiometry is painless. You sit in a quiet booth, wear headphones, and press a button whenever you hear a tone. Nothing enters the ear canal in a standard hearing test, so there is no discomfort at any point.
How long does an audiometry test take?
Most audiometry appointments take between 20 and 45 minutes from start to finish. The time can vary depending on how many types of hearing tests the specialist orders, such as pure-tone testing (listening for beeps at different pitches) or speech testing (repeating words you hear).
When will I get my audiometry results?
Your results are usually available immediately after the test, because the machine plots your hearing levels on a chart called an audiogram as the test runs. The ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat doctor) will then explain what the audiogram shows about your hearing at your same visit or shortly after.
How much does audiometry cost?
The cost depends mainly on the type of clinic or hospital you attend, whether the test is done as a standalone appointment or as part of a broader ENT assessment, and how many hearing tests are included in the session. A written cost estimate from the hospital gives you the most accurate figure for your specific situation.
This page is general information, not a substitute for medical advice. Every case is different. Your doctor decides what is right for you.
