How Hearing Tests Work in Canada: What to Expect
A plain-language walkthrough of common hearing test steps, what results mean, and what your audiogram can (and can’t) tell you.
The goal of a hearing test
A hearing test measures how softly you can hear different pitches, and how clearly you understand speech.
Results are often shown on an audiogram — a chart that maps hearing thresholds across pitches.
Typical steps (what happens in the room)
- A short history (noise exposure, ear infections, tinnitus, medications)
- Looking in the ear (otoscopy)
- Pure-tone testing with headphones
- Speech testing (repeat words at different volumes)
- Sometimes: middle-ear testing (tympanometry) depending on symptoms
Understanding your audiogram (quick interpretation)
Lower numbers (closer to 0 dB HL) usually mean you hear softer sounds.
Hearing loss is often described by degree (mild, moderate, severe) and type (conductive, sensorineural, mixed).
Your lived experience matters: many people struggle most with speech in noise — which isn’t fully captured by tone thresholds alone.
Who can provide hearing tests in Canada?
In Canada, hearing care is regulated at the provincial level. Depending on your province and the situation, tests may be provided by an audiologist or (in some cases) a hearing instrument practitioner.
If you’re checking credentials, look for your province’s regulator. Example (Ontario): the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) has a public register.
Red flags: when to seek assessment sooner
- Sudden hearing loss (hours to days)
- New one-sided hearing loss or one ear suddenly much worse
- Severe ear pain, drainage, or fever
- Dizziness/vertigo or new neurological symptoms
Sources
We aim to use reputable Canadian and international health sources. If a link changes, try searching the title on the publisher’s site.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. If you have sudden hearing loss or urgent symptoms, seek medical care promptly.