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What is involved in a HEARING TEST?
The Consultation is carried out free of charge within the
comfort of your own home by an experienced Hearing Aid Audiologist
with a minimum of 8 years experience. A
detailed case history is taken concentrating on any hearing and
communication difficulties that may affect your lifestyle. We will
then carry out a full examination of the outer ear to establish
the condition of the auricle (pinna), ear canal and eardrums to
check if the ear is healthy or whether any abnormalities are present;
if the latter is the case we will refer you to your G.P.
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We will then
perform a thorough hearing test, which will produce an audiogram showing
whether you have a hearing loss or not, if the test indicates a loss we
will be able to show and explain the extent of any such loss. Basically,
the audiogram is the product of the hearing test, more precisely it is
a graphical representation showing the loudness (intensity) levels at
which specific pitches (frequencies) can only just be heard in each ear
(hearing threshold), as well as some of the loudest sounds that we can
hear without causing discomfort. The procedure for the audiometric test
is:
- Pure tones
(beeps and buzzes) are presented to each ear via a set of headphones
(air conduction test). The tones range from 250 Hz through to 8000Hz.
These frequencies are used as they best represent everyday speech sounds
and environmental sounds.
- The person
being tested either raises a hand or presses a response button every
time a sound is heard or a sound is thought to be heard (the finger
raised or button pressed should be for the duration of the tone presented).
- The loudness
of the tones are decreased until you can only just hear the sounds,
this process will determine your hearing threshold.
- The same
procedure is then repeated by placing a bone conductor which fits behind
one ear (on the mastoid process of the worse ear). The tones used for
this test are only 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz.
- If necessary
masking will then be applied. Masking is basically the blotting out
of one cochlea response (through a distracting stimulus) while the opposite
ear is tested in isolation.
- Another
test is also carried out, this is threshold of discomfort. The threshold
of discomfort (TOD) or Uncomfortable Level (UCL) is the intensity (loudness)
level of sound, which causes an awareness of the impending onset of
physical discomfort (i.e. when sounds become too loud for physical comfort).
In normal hearing people this is 120dB HL (threshold of pain being normally
about 140dB HL).
- All the
results are recorded on the audiogram to produce a graphical representation
of the test person's hearing.
Not everyone
has a hearing loss, but for those who do there are many ways that they
can be helped. It may be that from the test it becomes apparent that a
person's problem can be improved by medication or by surgery, in which
case they will be refered to their GP. Those losses that can't be improved
in this way can often be improved by hearing instruments or special listening
devices. Although even the most advanced and sophisticated hearing instruments
cannot fully restore someone's hearing, they can improve it considerably,
hence giving a better quality of life.
- After
determining the exact nature of your hearing, the results will be reviewed
together in detail, and related back to any problems that you have indicated
during your case history to try and explain every detail carefully.
If an aidable hearing loss exists then we will provide impartial professional
advice on the various solutions that will best suit you and your listening
requirements, this may involve hearing instruments, listening devices
or other forms of help.
- If you
decide that you wish to proceed with improving your hearing and you
have discussed and selected the instruments that best suit your hearing
loss and lifestyle then an exact impression of your ear(s)will be taken.
This will ensure that when your instrument(s) is made by the relevant
manufacturer or ear mould lab, they can produce an instrument(s) or
mould(s) that fits the ear(s) exactly for comfort and also to ensure
it stays in the ear without falling out. Once the impression(s) is sent
off it will take approximately 1-2 weeks for the instrument(s) or mould(s)
to be returned.
- We will
then contact you to make a convenient appointment for your initial fitting.
Our Hearing Aid Audiologist will check the fit of the instrument(s)
and either program the instrument(s) via a computer or make manual adjustments
using a small screwdriver. You will be shown how to:
o Insert, remove and use your instrument(s) competently
o Clean, care and look after your instrument(s)
o Change the batteries and how to obtain new batteries
o Review your listening needs and expectations and discuss the most
suitable rehabilitation program for your particular lifestyle
- A follow
up appointment will be made after a few weeks to assess your progress
and experiences in relation to your rehabilitation program.
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We
do provide free ongoing customer support service, which includes free
home visits to provide you with the back up and attention that your
hearing deserves. We pride ourselves on the quality of our aftercare
service and aim to provide a service which is of the highest quality
and is second to none. If an instrument(s) is supplied we do provide
a 30 day money back guarantee.
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