Get In Touch Anytime!

Hearing loss often occurs so gradually that the individual may not be aware of a problem. In fact, it is not uncommon for a hearing loss to be first detected by a family member, who is having to speak louder or repeat themselves. Early signs of hearing loss include:

1. Turning the TV or radio volume louder than other family members prefer.
2. Difficulty understanding speech in a background of noise, for instance in restaurants.
3. More difficulty hearing children and women than men.
4. Difficulty hearing in meetings.
5. Difficulty hearing at public speaking events.
6. Ringing in the ear(s) when no external sound is present.
7. Having things repeated frequently.
8. Difficulty hearing people “with low voices.”

Hearing loss often occurs so gradually that the individual may not be aware of a problem. In fact, it is not uncommon for a hearing loss to be first detected by a family member, who is having to speak louder or repeat themselves. Early signs of hearing loss include:

1. Turning the TV or radio volume louder than other family members prefer.
2. Difficulty understanding speech in a background of noise, for instance in restaurants.
3. More difficulty hearing children and women than men.
4. Difficulty hearing in meetings.
5. Difficulty hearing at public speaking events.
6. Ringing in the ear(s) when no external sound is present.
7. Having things repeated frequently.
8. Difficulty hearing people “with low voices.”

If you suspect that you have a hearing loss, consult with an audiologist. An audiologist is trained to identify whether a hearing loss requires medical or non-medical treatment and will refer you to the appropriate medical specialist when necessary. The audiologist will identify, diagnose, treat and manage your hearing loss.

History
The audiologist will perform a thorough assessment of the hearing mechanism, beginning with a history interview. History questions will focus on the following areas:

1. Conditions at birth or during adolescence that may have an impact on hearing.
2. Exposure to workplace, military, or recreational noise.
3. Medications prescribed for medical conditions.
4. Past surgeries.
5. Family traits and hereditary anomalies that may be associated with hearing loss.
Visual Inspection of Outer Ear and Ear Drum
Following the history, the audiologist will examine the outer ear with an otoscope or video otoscope. The audiologist can observe any damage caused by the use of cotton applicators (“Q-tips”), trauma, or chronic infection. The audiologist can also observe the condition of the ear drum and determine whether the ear canal may have a buildup of earwax causing a hearing loss.

Audiologicial Evaluation
After considering a patient’s history and performing a visual inspection of the outer ear, the audiologist will perform an audiological evaluation composed of a series of tests. These test may include but are not limited to:

1. Tympanometry to assess the status of the middle ear.
2. Pure tone thresholds by air conduction and often by bone conduction to determine the degree and type of hearing loss.
3. Tests of speech threshold and speech recognition to assess comprehension of complex signals.
4. Special tests of auditory function, such as otoacoustic emissions, brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER), or balance testing.