The Hearing Consultation
Other tests , checks and services we offer
The QuickSIN test : a measure of how well you can hear in noise .
You should allow an hour or so for the appointment . Your hearing healthcare professional will start by asking if you think you have a hearing problem or if it ’ s someone else that ’ s noticed ( a family member ’ s opinion of your hearing can be very useful ). You ’ ll be asked about your general health , your medical history , current / previous employment , interests etc . to establish any risk factors that may have caused a hearing loss .
Your ear canals will be examined with our video otoscope , showing you any anatomical evidence as to why you may have a hearing loss , such as scarring on the ear drum from a previous ear infection .
Your response to the quietest sounds will be recorded with an audiometric test . You will be asked to sit in a sound-proof booth with a set of headphones on and listen to a range of tones of varying volumes . You need to press a button for the duration of each sound that you hear . The audiogram is a visual representation of how well you hear and reveals the degree and type of hearing loss .
There are other testing procedures which may be carried out such as a speech audiometry test , which provides an indication of how well you can understand important speech sounds . There is also Tympanometry , which is an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear , by checking the mobility of the ear drum and bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal .
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LACE Auditory Training : A DVD course you can do at home to improve your listening skills .
Client Oriented Scale of Improvement record ( COSI ): A helpful goal-oriented record of what specific hearing problems you ’ d like to fix .
Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life Questionnaire ( SADL ): A mid-term check that you are still motivated and heading in the right direction .
If you have tinnitus :
The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory test : To help you quantify how you feel about your tinnitus .
Tinnitus Matching tests ( Pitch and Loudness ): Carried out to measure your tinnitus and assist in fine-tuning your hearing aids .
And if you have potential problems in managing your hearing aids on your own :
Snellen chart : a quick and simple eye test .
Finger sensitivity assessments : to check that you are able to handle the hearing aids .
If your Hearing Care Professional offers these services , then this may indicate more attention to detail on their part .