Hearing Test in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a hearing test?
A hearing test is a set of simple, painless measurements that show how well each of your ears picks up sound and where along the hearing pathway any problem sits. The two tests used most often are pure-tone audiometry, which checks the quietest sounds you can hear at different pitches, and tympanometry, a gentle pressure test that shows how the eardrum and the small space behind it are working.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, hearing tests are carried out within the ENT clinic, so the results go straight to the ENT surgeon who examines your ears. The wider range of ear, nose and throat care is described on the Otolaryngology (E.N.T) page.
Who needs it
A hearing test helps anyone who has noticed a change in their hearing. Common reasons include turning the television up higher than others like, asking people to repeat themselves, struggling to follow conversation in a busy restaurant or majlis, ringing in one or both ears, a feeling of fullness in the ear, or hearing that seems different between the two sides.
Children are often tested when a parent or teacher notices delayed speech, inattention in class, or a child who sits very close to the screen. Repeated ear infections and glue ear are frequent reasons for testing in younger children. Adults who work around loud machinery, and people with a family history of hearing loss, also benefit from a baseline test. Treatment for infections of the ear is covered on the ear infection treatment page.
What happens
The appointment begins with your ENT surgeon looking into each ear. This step matters: a plug of wax, or fluid from an infection, can make a hearing test look worse than your true hearing, so any blockage is dealt with first and the test is then done on clear ears.
For pure-tone audiometry you sit in a quiet, sound-treated booth wearing headphones. A series of beeps is played at different pitches, from low hums to high whistles, and at gradually softer volumes. You press a button or raise a hand each time you hear one, even when it is very faint. A small band placed behind the ear then plays sounds through the bone of the skull, which helps separate problems in the outer and middle ear from problems in the inner ear.
For tympanometry a soft tip rests in the entrance of the ear canal and gently changes the air pressure for a moment while it measures how the eardrum moves. It feels like a brief pressure change, similar to a lift or an aeroplane descending.
The results are plotted on an audiogram, a chart showing pitch from low to high across the page and loudness from top to bottom. Your ENT surgeon explains the pattern for each ear. Conductive hearing loss means sound is held back on its way in, for example by wax, fluid behind the eardrum or a perforation, and is often treatable. Sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear or hearing nerve, as seen with age or noise exposure, and is usually managed with hearing aids or other support.
Children's testing is adapted to age. Toddlers may turn towards a sound to see a lighted toy, and older children often play a listening game, placing a block in a box each time they hear a beep. Where a specialised infant test is needed, it is arranged by referral.
Preparing for it
Mention when you book that you would like a hearing test, so time in the booth is set aside. If you use ear drops for wax, ask the clinic whether to use them beforehand. Try to avoid loud noise, such as concerts or power tools, for a day before the test, since noise can temporarily dull hearing.
Bring any previous audiograms and a list of your medicines. If you already wear hearing aids, bring them. For a child, bring a favourite toy and a snack, and plan the visit for a time of day when they are usually rested.
Afterwards
You can return to normal activities straight away. If your hearing is normal, the audiogram gives a useful baseline for comparison later. If a treatable cause is found, such as fluid or a perforation, your ENT surgeon discusses the next step. If hearing aids may help, fitting is provided by an audiologist through hearing aid fitting. For severe or profound loss, assessment for a cochlear implant is arranged by referral to a specialist programme, as explained on the cochlear implant evaluation page.
Swimmers in UAE pools and people who fly often should mention ear symptoms at follow-up, since water exposure and pressure changes in flight both affect the ear.
Call the hospital if you notice new ear pain, discharge, or ringing after your appointment. Seek urgent care the same day for sudden hearing loss in one ear, as early treatment gives the best chance of recovery.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover a hearing test when it is part of an ENT consultation for symptoms. Screening without symptoms, hearing aids and implant assessment are treated differently by many insurers and may need pre-approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a hearing test painful?
A hearing test is painless: you listen to beeps through headphones and press a button, and the eardrum pressure test feels only like a brief change in pressure, similar to flying.
Why does the doctor look in my ears before the hearing test?
The ears are examined first because wax or fluid in the ear can make a hearing test look worse than your true hearing, so any blockage is cleared before testing to give an accurate result.
What does an audiogram show?
An audiogram is a chart showing the softest sounds each ear can hear at low, middle and high pitches, and it helps your ENT surgeon tell whether hearing loss is conductive (in the outer or middle ear) or sensorineural (in the inner ear or hearing nerve).
Can young children have a hearing test?
Children of any age can have their hearing checked using methods adapted to their age, such as turning towards a sound as toddlers or playing a listening game as older children, and specialised infant tests are arranged by referral when needed.
What are the risks and limitations of a hearing test?
A hearing test carries essentially no physical risk, though its main limitation is that results depend on clear ears and on concentration, so wax, a cold, tiredness or a restless child can affect accuracy and a repeat test is sometimes advised.
Do you fit hearing aids after the test?
Hearing aid fitting is provided by an audiologist through referral, and your ENT surgeon explains whether hearing aids are likely to help based on your audiogram before arranging it.
Does air conditioning or dust affect my hearing test?
Dust, air conditioning and sinus congestion can leave the ear feeling blocked by affecting the Eustachian tube, which may show on the pressure test, so mention any recent cold or sinus symptoms when you attend.
Is a hearing test covered by insurance in the UAE?
Most UAE insurance plans cover a hearing test when it is requested as part of an ENT consultation for symptoms, while screening, hearing aids and implant assessment may need pre-approval, which Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can check on 06 599 7777.
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