Services
Hearing Tests
A hearing test offers a measure of a person's hearing sensitivity across the entire spectrum of frequencies. This is often the first step for any hearing loss treatment program. Getting tested early and regularly is the key to maintaining good hearing health.
What does a hearing test involve?
Consultation: We'll ask you a couple of questions about your health history first. This is to rule out any other causes of hearing loss. We'll also learn a bit more about your hearing loss experience: when you usually encounter symptoms, whether it happened gradually or unexpectedly, or whether you had any illnesses or injuries that could have exacerbated the hearing problems.
Ear examination: To ensure that there is no blockage (wax) or injury, we observe inside your ear with an otoscope.
Hearing tests: We'll then run some tests, including a pure-tone test (to test your ability to recognize frequencies of sound) as well as a speech recognition test. A series of sounds will be played through headphones and asked to respond in some way that you have heard the sound by pressing a button. Hearing loss can be worse on one side than the other, so the tests are performed in one ear and then the other. There could be other tests required, depending on the results, but this will be clarified if they are needed.
Results: Finally, we'll plot your results on an audiogram, a graphic representation of your hearing abilities. We explain the results to you and recommend the next steps if we notice a hearing loss issue.
Hearing Aid Fittings
Choosing a good pair of hearing aids is just the beginning. The hearing fitting is a two-step process that requires programming the hearing aids to your particular hearing specifications and making changes to ensure that we have the right amplification levels.
To ensure that they are secure, we will check the physical fit of the hearing aids in your ear. The physical fit of the device is essential to ensure they don't fall out. A good fit also reduces the whistling or feedback you might experience.
Once the fitting of your hearing aids has been completed, we will start programming your hearing aids to ensure that they function correctly with your hearing loss levels and sound preferences.
It may take a while to adapt your hearing aids to their optimum performance level for your needs so that additional fitting appointments may be needed. Be patient and remember that the more you use your hearing aids, the easier it is to train your brain to readapt to the sounds it has been missing for so long.
Hearing Aid Repairs
If you have issues with your hearing aids, we're here to get your equipment back in order.
Your hearing aid will be inspected, your battery tested, and any clear signs of damage checked. We will remove dirt and debris and, if appropriate, inspect and replace the wax filter.
We can fix a range of hearing aid issues in the house, most of the time while you wait! Some fixes are as simple as changing the battery, receiver, or ear hook. Other issues can also be addressed with a deep cleaning and dehumidification of your hearing aids. Other fixes are more involved and will require us to send them to the manufacturer.
Even if you haven't ordered your devices from our office, contact us for help. There is no challenge with hearing aids that we haven't faced before!
Tinnitus Treatment
There is currently no clinically proven remedy for most cases of chronic tinnitus, particularly the vast majority of cases caused by sensorineural hearing loss. There is a continuing search for a definitive solution, and real progress is being made, but there is currently no scientifically validated way to eradicate the experience of tinnitus.
However, excellent resources exist to help patients control their condition, therapies that decrease the perceived severity, omnipresence, and tinnitus burden. To help you manage your tinnitus, we have a variety of treatments. Don't suffer in silence! For more details, contact us today.