Two people sitting at a desk looking at a piece of paper.

Hearing Test in Baton Rouge, LA

“They just aren’t speaking loud enough.”
“I could have sworn that’s what she said.”
“This restaurant is way too loud, no one can have a conversation!”

Do you ever find yourself saying things like this? Has it been suggested to you that you should have a hearing test? Hearing loss can be sudden, but more often it happens gradually making it hard to tell whether you need to have your hearing checked. In fact, it’s estimated that 44 million people have significant hearing loss in the United States and only a fraction of them seek help. This is especially surprising as hearing tests are simple, painless and can tell you almost immediately whether hearing aids or other treatments would help.

Do I Need a Hearing Test?

Ask yourself:

Do you have arguments over whether you misheard someone?
Do you have to constantly ask people to repeat themselves?
Do other people complain you have the TV or radio too loud?
Has someone suggested you go for a hearing test?
Are you straining to hear others at parties, in meetings, or other groups?
Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?
Do you have trouble hearing conversations in noisy environments?

If you answered yes to several of the questions above, you should probably have your ears tested and go for a full hearing evaluation.

How Often Should I Get a Hearing Test?

Adults should have their hearing evaluated every one to three years depending on what their hearing tests reveal. The more significant your hearing loss, the more frequently you should be tested.

How Do Hearing Tests Work?

Hearing tests fall into several categories. There are pure-tone hearing tests that will check whether you’re able to hear frequencies at different pitches. Speech tests ask patients to repeat words they hear through a headset. Then there are tests that measure air pressure in your middle ear, your brain frequencies when processing sounds, or emissions that your middle ear makes when exposed to sounds.

At ACL Hearing & Balance, we will likely evaluate your hearing using various tests, including:

Audiometric Test

This hearing test checks how well you can hear when having a conversation using high-frequency words that are commonly confused. You’ll repeat several words that you hear through earphones to make sure you’re able to discern sound combinations in speech. Audiometric tests measure hearing loss as a percent as well as a percent of words you heard accurately.

Tympanometry

This hearing test checks the middle ear using different tones and air pressure. It also helps evaluate how well the eardrum moves and the health of the conduction bones. If the eardrum and bones move less than normal, you may have a problem with your middle ear.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)

Otoacoustic emissions testing checks how well your inner ear is functioning. The cilia (or small hairs inside your ear) vibrate when exposed to noise, and OAEs are the sounds these vibrations make. People with hearing loss of more than 25 decibels will not produce OAEs.

Hearing Evaluations for Children

Concerned about your child’s hearing? We test patients of all ages.

Hearing loss in children can affect speech development, school performance, and social communication — and the earlier it’s identified, the better the outcomes. At ACL Hearing & Balance, we offer comprehensive pediatric hearing evaluations tailored to your child’s age and developmental level.

For younger children who can’t respond verbally, we use adapted test methods that make the process engaging and stress-free:

Play Audiometry (ages 3–5)

Your child responds to sounds by performing a simple play task — like dropping a toy in a bucket — rather than pressing a button. This makes the test feel like a game while still producing accurate results.

Visual Reinforced Audiometry (infants and toddlers)

Sounds are presented from a speaker, and when your child turns toward the sound, a toy or light reinforces the correct response. This allows us to test hearing thresholds even in very young children.

Standard audiometry (ages 5+)

Older children can typically respond by raising a hand or pressing a button, similar to adult testing.

If your child has failed a school hearing screening, has speech delays, or you’ve noticed they’re not responding to sounds normally, call us today to schedule an evaluation.

Book an appointment

Dizziness or balance problems? Your hearing test can be part of the answer.

Your inner ear doesn’t just control your ability to hear — it also plays a central role in your sense of balance. At ACL Hearing & Balance, our comprehensive evaluations include balance and vestibular assessment for patients experiencing:

Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation)
Unexplained falls or difficulty walking steadily
A feeling that the room is moving or tilting
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) combined with balance issues

These symptoms can indicate conditions like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s disease, or other vestibular disorders — many of which are highly treatable once properly diagnosed.

If you’re coming in for a hearing test and also experiencing dizziness or balance concerns, let us know when you schedule. We can incorporate the appropriate vestibular evaluation into your appointment so you leave with a complete picture of your inner ear health.

Schedule a hearing and balance evaluation

Your Hearing Matters!

Schedule a comprehensive hearing evaluation.

Call Us