Your Hearing Evaluation
Do I really need a hearing test?
A study by the CDC ranks hearing loss as the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States, significantly impacting daily life.
Despite this, hearing assessments are often overlooked compared to other routine checkups like eye exams, dental cleanings, and blood pressure checks.
While age-related hearing loss is common, it can affect anyone at any age. Often slow to occur, many people do not realize it is happening- historically, the average time from hearing loss to time of treatment has been over five years! Regular assessments are crucial for establishing a baseline of your hearing and helping with early detection and intervention.
At McNamara Hearing, we go through all of our evaluations with the same thoroughness and attention to detail so that when we finish, you have a complete understanding of your hearing. Our evaluations offer a simple and powerful first step to a world of richer sound and deeper connections.
What to Expect During Your Hearing Evaluation
Most people find it helpful to bring a spouse, family member or friend to this visit. You will typically get more out of your visit if someone close to you can share in the experience.
The hearing care professional will also benefit from learning about your hearing abilities from someone close to you.
a) A Warm Welcome
Your hearing test begins with a friendly conversation! We will briefly review your medical history, and we’ll ask about your current hearing concerns, any changes you’ve notice lately, and any specific issues you’d like to address or goals you’d like to achieve.
Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have before the evaluation begins – we want you to feel comfortable and informed every step of the way.
b) A Physical Examination of Your Ears
A quick and painless video otoscopy is performed before your hearing test to gain valuable insights into your ear health. It is always interesting for our patients to be able to see inside their own ears, sometimes for the first time!
This exam allows us to assess the ear canal and eardrum for any obstructions like earwax, signs of infection, or structural abnormalities. By understanding the overall health of your ears, we can ensure the accuracy of your hearing test and tailor the process to address any potential underlying factors impacting your hearing.
c) Comprehensive Hearing Test
A hearing test is like a fitness check for your ears! It uses a variety of tasks to see how well you hear. You might hear quiet beeps at different tones to test different sound ranges. We’ll also play some spoken words and sentences, sometimes with background noise, to see how clearly you understand conversations.
There is a quick test where a gentle puff of air checks the health of your eardrum, and we use a special headset to see how your bones conduct sound. All these parts work together to give us a complete picture of your hearing.
d) Review Results with You
Once your hearing test is complete, we will walk you through the results of your audiogram, explain what the different lines mean, and discuss any areas where your hearing might be weaker.
We’ll answer your questions, address any concerns you have, and most importantly, work with you to personalize a treatment plan based on your specific goals and test results. This plan might include options like hearing aids, further testing, or different strategies to improve your hearing experience.