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 the assessment, our Audiologist or Doctor of Audiology will explain the results to you and make any recommendations based on your personal history and your hearing test. At Pure Audiology & Hearing Aid Services, 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:
- Hearing Aid Evaluation (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
- 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
Why should hearing loss be evaluated by an audiologist?
Although hearing care is available through a number of providers, Audiologists are uniquely qualified to prevent, identify, assess and treat auditory disorders including hearing loss. Audiologists undergo extensive academic and clinical training (Master’s and/or Doctoral degrees) and, like physicians, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists, are regulated healthcare professionals. This means that audiologists are held to stringent practice standards and that the public is assured of safe and effective treatments.
Audiologists:
- Hold a graduate degree (either Master’s or Doctoral) from an accredited university program
- Are regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)
At Pure Audiology & Hearing Aid Services, we continually partake in continuing education to keep our skills and knowledge base current and to ensure that we are knowledgable about the most recent advances in hearing aid technology.
Hearing quiz
Check YES or NO to each item for yourself or for a friend:
1. Do you experience ringing or noises in your ears?
2. Do you hear better with one ear than the other?
3. Have any of your relatives had a hearing loss?
4. Have you had significant noise exposure at work, recreation or in military service?
5. Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room?
6. Do you sometimes feel people are mumbling or not speaking clearly?
7. Do you experience difficulty following dialog in theatre?
8. Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand a speaker at a public meeting or religious service?
9. Do you sometimes find yourself asking people to speak up or to repeat themselves?
10. Do you find men’s voices easier to understand than women’s?
11. Do you experience difficulty understanding soft or whispered speech?
12. Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding speech or words on the telephone?
13. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when meeting new people?
14. Does a hearing problem cause you to be nervous?
15. Does a hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives or neighbours less often then you like?
16. Does a hearing problem cause you to talk to family members less often then you would like?
17. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel depressed?
18. Do you feel handicapped by a hearing problem?