Is It Time for a Hearing Test?
First of all it’s never a bad idea to get your hearing checked even if you don’t think you’re having any problems hearing. A baseline assessment of your hearing can always be used as a comparison years from now when you think you might be having a problem. Here are a few signs that it’s time to get your hearing checked.
FAQ
What is an Audiologist?
An audiologist is a professional who diagnoses and treats hearing problems. An audiologist has received an Au.D. (Doctorate in Audiology), or a Master’s or Doctoral degree from an accredited university graduate program in audiology.
If you or a family member suspect that you have a hearing problem contact an audiologist. After carefully reviewing your health history and evaluating your hearing, an audiologist will determine whether your condition might be medically treatable and will refer you to an appropriate professional.
If your condition is not medically treatable, he or she will review any recommendations for audiologic care or treatment which may include hearing aids.
What is age related hearing loss?
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, comes on gradually as a person gets older. It seems to run in families and may occur because of changes in the inner ear and auditory nerve. Presbycusis may make it hard for a person to tolerate loud sounds or to hear what others are saying. Age-related hearing loss usually occurs in both ears, affecting them equally. The loss is gradual, so someone with presbycusis may not realize that he or she has lost some of his or her ability to hear.
Why am I losing my hearing?
Hearing loss happens for different reasons. Many people lose their hearing slowly as they age. This condition is known as presbycusis. Doctors do not know why presbycusis affects some people more than others, but it seems to run in families.
Another reason for hearing loss with aging may be years of exposure to loud noise. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss. Many construction workers, farmers, musicians, airport workers, yard and tree care workers, and people in the armed forces have hearing problems even in their younger and middle years because of too much exposure to loud noise.
Hearing loss can also be caused by viral or bacterial infections, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medicines.
Is it possible to lose your hearing suddenly?
Approximately 4,000 new cases of sudden deafness occur each year in the United States. Hearing loss affects only 1 ear in 9 out of 10 people who experience sudden deafness. Only 10 to 15 percent of patients with sudden deafness know what caused their loss.
What to Expect
Detailed History
We’ll begin by taking a detailed history. We’ll ask a series of questions about your medical, work and personal life as it relates to your ears and your hearing.
Pure Tone Audiometry
This is what you probably think of as a “hearing test”. Your hearing levels are measured using tones; providing us with sensitivity levels to sound and discrimination ability.
Physical Examination
The next step is an examination of your ears. We’ll thoroughly examine your ears for any physical condition that might indicate a need for a medical referral.
Speech Audiometry
You may be asked to repeat a series of words presented under different listening situations, providing us with additional information beyond pure tones.
Convincing Someone They Need a Hearing Test
You are married to, live with or love someone who is clearly struggling to hear. How do you convince them that it’s time to get their hearing checked?
The quickest way to bring someone around to the realization that they might be having a problem hearing is to stop being a human hearing aid. Frequent repetitions, tolerating the volume louder than you know it should be and repeating someone else’s conversation to them is a sign that you are becoming their hearing aids. The average person waits for 5 – 7 years to do something about their hearing loss. The sooner they do something about the problem, the happy everyone will be.
Personalized Care
We evaluate each patient’s hearing loss with the uniqueness they deserve.
Exceptional & Friendly Staff
One of our greatest assets, patients tell us often how well we work together as a team.
Superior Patient Communication
Our staff will calmly guide each patient along the path to better hearing with a clearly defined and detailed plan.