Hearing Assessments
A Complete Hearing Assessment Is Your First Step to Better Hearing
Your list of health care priorities probably includes getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked on a regular basis as well as an annual physical, eye tests and hearing care, but what about your hearing? In spite of the fact that WHO statistics show hearing loss to be the third most common physical condition behind arthritis and heart disease, hardly any of the 1 in 8 individuals effected have their hearing tested on a frequent basis.
Hearing loss comes on gradually and you don’t notice the day-to-day decline. Consequently, you will probably learn about your hearing loss from family and friends before you recognize it yourself. Our greatest concern is that when left untreated, hearing loss continues to worsen, leading to broken relationships, decreased productivity, risks of other serious health conditions, and cognitive and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Living a productive, rewarding, and independent lifestyle is the greatest benefit you will receive from seeking help for your hearing loss.
Your first step to better hearing is a complete hearing assessment.
Why Do People Put Off Hearing Tests?
If you are like most people, you put off scheduling a hearing test due to misinformation about hearing loss and the value of detecting it early. Consider the following myths or misconceptions related to hearing loss and the truth to help clear them up.
“Honest, professional, good at explaining and teaching – highly recommend this business.”
– Karen C.
“My Hearing Loss Doesn’t Bother Anybody.”
You are the person most harmed by your hearing loss. In addition to reducing your quality of life, untreated hearing loss can put you at risk for developing mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and isolation; it can lead to cognitive decline and the early onset of dementia; and it can contribute to other physical health issues.
Hearing loss strains relationships at work and home because of communication problems and a greater dependence on others to help make up for your hearing deficiency.
“If I Were Losing My Hearing, I’d Be The First To Know.”
Can you see the grass growing in your yard? Hearing loss, just like growing grass, comes on so slowly that you won’t know it until it becomes a serious problem.
For most people, the struggle to communicate with friends, family, and coworkers continues to worsen in spite of the fact that the people who care about you most are pointing it out.
The truth is, you will probably be the last person to know about your hearing loss unless you have frequent hearing tests.
“I Just Need To Turn Up The Volume And People Need To Talk Louder.”
Although loudness is one element of hearing loss, the majority relate to decreased hearing clarity. When you struggle to hear in a noisy environment, can’t distinguish one consonant from another, or struggle to understand conversations with women and children, the problem is clarity and not volume.
Amplifying distorted sound only amplifies the distortion, making things worse.
“Only Old People Have Hearing Loss.”
Although age-related deterioration is among the most common causes of hearing loss, damage to your hearing can also come from an excessive noise event, prolonged exposure to noise, continuous use of ototoxic drugs, genetics, diseases, brain injuries, and other causes that impact individuals of all ages.
Nearly 20% of the adult population in the US, including individuals between the ages of 18 and 44, experience some form of hearing loss.
“A Hearing Test Won’t Fix My Hearing.”
You’re right, a hearing test won’t fix your hearing, but it serves as a gateway to identifying the severity and type of hearing loss you are experiencing.
From a hearing test, we are able to determine how to proceed with restoring much, if not all, of your hearing, so you can get back to the productive, rewarding, and independent lifestyle you’re used to.
Even when your hearing tests normal, it helps to establish a baseline against which any future hearing loss can be measured.
Additionally, your hearing test will provide the parameters we use to custom program your hearing device in order to produce the best results.
“Hearing Aids Are Ugly, Troublesome, And Embarrassing.”
Hearing aids are only one of the various options used to treat hearing loss. However, the stigma attached to them is often connected to those bulky, fastidious devices your parents or grandparents wore. In reality, modern hearing aids are streamlined, lightweight, stylish, and come with powerful clarity and connectivity features due to advanced digital technology. Continuing innovation allows hearing aid wearers to enjoy more and more benefits while meeting lifestyle and personal preferences.
Schedule a Hearing Assessment
A complete hearing assessment is your first step toward regaining the independent and rewarding lifestyle you are missing due to hearing loss. An open and honest discussion about your hearing issues with a hearing care professional along with the right testing makes it possible to provide hearing care solutions that fit your unique circumstances. If you or a loved one has hearing challenges, your best solution is to schedule a hearing assessment to find out why.
What Happens During A Hearing Test?
You can rest assured that a hearing test is a relaxing, non-invasive experience that won’t take up a lot of your time. Your hearing test at Inland Hearing is best described in four steps.
Step 1.
We Welcome You to Our Office
You can expect a warm greeting from our staff the moment you walk through the door. COVID-19 protocols make it difficult to offer you a cup of coffee and a doughnut, but we do everything we can to create a safe, comfortable, and professional environment to meet your needs. Any necessary paperwork is usually taken care of before you arrive, so we can limit the amount of time you spend in our waiting room.
Step 2.
A Friendly Conversation
Our hearing assessment begins with a friendly conversation about your lifestyle, occupation, health, and medication history, hobbies, and other activities in which you participate. Besides allowing us to get to know you better, this conversation provides critical information related to the cause of your hearing challenges as well as allowing us to provide individualized care that fits how you live.
Step 3.
Diagnostic Tests
What most people would consider to be the “official” hearing test starts with a physical examination of your ears and ear canal to identify any inflammation, growths, or obstructions that limit the conduction of sound to your middle and inner ear.
We will fit you with a set of high-quality headphones and seat you inside a soundproof booth for the next part of your test. Using an audiometer, we will transmit a range of sounds or spoken words at various frequencies and volume levels into the headphones and you will respond to each sound you hear.
We will also do bone conduction testing, which bypasses the outer and inner ear in order to evaluate how well your inner ear structures process sound. This test helps us to distinguish conductive hearing loss from sensorineural hearing loss.
Step 4.
Discussing Your Test Results
Unlike many tests, you’ll receive the results from your hearing test as soon as we finish. With your test results in hand, we will sit down for a second candid conversation to explain what they mean. We’ll also discuss treatment options that meet your hearing needs as well as your lifestyle and personal preferences. When your hearing tests normal, we will provide solutions that might include better quality hearing protection or suggested lifestyle changes that help prevent further damage to your hearing.