How is hearing tested?
Hearing is evaluated by an audiologist, who is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing problems.
What happens during an evaluation?
During a hearing evaluation, our audiologist:
- Takes your history to help us determine a potential cause for hearing loss. These questions may include:
- Have been exposed to high levels of noise (occupational or recreational)?
- Do you have a family history of hearing loss?
- Do you have a history of ear infections/drainage from the ear?
- Do you suffer from tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, chirping) in either ear?
- Have you ever worn hearing aids? - If so, what types of problems do you have with them?
- Inspects your ear with an otoscope
- Conducts a variety of specialized auditory assessments (these tests are typically conducted in a sound-treated room with calibrated equipment)
- Interprets and explains the test results to you
Test Results and Counselling:
Following your hearing test, our Doctor of Audology will explain the test to you and make any recommendations based on your personal history, your hearing test and through a personal conversation with you. At HEAR Toronto and HEAR Saugeen, we take pride in offering long, unhurried appointments so we can be sure that you understand your test results and can offer our advice on what the next steps should be. These steps may include:
- A Hearing Aid Evaluatoin (HAE) where we talk about various options for amplification.
- Referral to your family doctor or an Ear Nose and Throat physician for treatment or further testing.
- A recommendation to monitor your hearing annually
- Advice and counselling about using behavioural communication strategies to improve your communication abilities - whether with or without hearing aids.