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Ryan Holden, H.A.D.
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Jan 14, 2026
If you’ve been struggling to follow conversations, find yourself turning up the TV, or feel like people “mumble” more than they used to, it might be time for a hearing test. At Golden State Hearing Aid Center, we understand that taking the first step toward better hearing can feel intimidating — especially if you’ve never had your hearing tested before. Our goal is to make the process clear, comfortable, and helpful from start to finish.
Here’s what you can expect when you come in for a hearing test.
Step 1: A Warm Welcome and Conversation About Your Hearing
When you arrive, our Patient Care Coordinator will greet you and confirm your information before bringing you back for your appointment. We begin every visit with a short conversation about your hearing history and day-to-day listening needs.
You’ll have a chance to describe where you notice the most difficulty — whether it’s understanding conversations in noise, hearing the TV clearly, or keeping up during group discussions. We’ll also ask about any prior hearing tests, noise exposure, or medications that could affect hearing.
This helps us understand your communication needs so we can tailor your test and recommendations to your lifestyle.
Step 2: Seeing Inside Your Ears Together
Next, we’ll take a look inside your ears using a video otoscope. This allows both you and your provider to see the ear canal and eardrum together on a computer monitor.
This step helps us check for earwax buildup or anything that might affect your test results. If we notice anything unusual, we’ll explain what we see and may recommend that you follow up with your physician or an ear specialist before continuing.
Most patients find this part of the visit fascinating — it’s not every day you get to see what’s going on inside your own ears!
Step 3: Your Hearing Test
Once we’ve confirmed your ears are ready for testing, we’ll begin your hearing test. You’ll sit comfortably in a sound-treated room wearing headphones while listening to a series of tones at different pitches and volumes. You’ll respond each time you hear a sound.
This helps us determine the softest sounds you can hear at various frequencies and create a visual chart called an audiogram.
In addition to pure-tone testing, we also perform speech understanding tests and a Quick Speech-in-Noise (QuickSIN) test with every appointment. The QuickSIN helps us measure how well you understand speech in background noise — one of the most common challenges people experience in real-world listening situations.
Together, these tests help us understand both how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them and how clearly you can understand speech in noise.
Step 4: Reviewing and Explaining Your Results
After the test, we’ll sit down together and go over your results in clear, easy-to-understand terms. You’ll see your audiogram and QuickSIN results and learn what they mean in everyday listening situations.
We’ll discuss whether your hearing is within normal limits or shows signs of reduced sensitivity and explain how those findings might relate to what you’ve been experiencing. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions, and we’ll make sure everything is explained in a way that makes sense.
Step 5: Developing a Personalized Hearing Plan
If your test shows a hearing loss, we’ll work with you to create a personalized hearing plan — because improving hearing involves more than just choosing hearing aids.
Your plan may include:
Modern hearing technology, selected and programmed for your specific hearing profile
Real Ear Measurements (REM) to verify accurate, individualized fitting
Auditory training programs, such as LACE AI, to help improve listening in noisy environments
Communication strategies to make conversations easier
Regular follow-ups and care to keep your devices performing their best
Our goal is to help you stay connected and confident in every listening environment. Hearing aids are an important tool, but they’re just one part of a broader approach to better hearing.
Step 6: Ongoing Support and Care
Better hearing is a journey, not a one-time event. Our hearing care plans include follow-up visits, hearing aid cleanings, performance checks, and adjustments as needed.
If your devices ever need to be serviced, we can help with temporary loaner options. And for those who want to continue improving listening skills, we offer LACE AI — a home-based training program proven to help people understand speech in noise more easily.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Schedule a Hearing Test
Hearing changes often occur gradually, and many people don’t realize how much they’ve been missing until they get tested. Getting a hearing test is quick, comfortable, and informative — and it provides a clear picture of how well you’re hearing today.
Even if your hearing is normal, establishing a baseline is valuable for comparison in the future.
Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing
A hearing test at Golden State Hearing Aid Center is a comfortable, educational experience designed to help you better understand your hearing and available options.
If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing — or it’s simply been a few years since your last test — contact us today to schedule an appointment. Our team will walk you through each step and help you take the first step toward hearing life more clearly.
