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If you have committed to getting your first hearing test, then let’s take it a step further! To get the most out of your visit there is some information about hearing loss you should familiarize yourself with and then a list can be made of questions that will help empower you on this important step to better hearing health.
What to Expect at Your Hearing Consultation
A consultation will require you to be honest and informative about your medical health, daily practices, and lifestyle. Your hearing health professional will require a brief history and background to help them with a comprehensive treatment plan.
A physical examination of your ears will be conducted using an otoscope.
Several hearing tests will be conducted in a soundproof space. After the test, your hearing professional with review your results with you and discuss treatment options if necessary.
The Types of Hearing Loss
There are three predominant types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are blocked and cannot enter the eardrum or middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when sound can no longer travel from the inner ear to the brain or the inner ear itself is damaged.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
Questions to Ask at a Hearing Consultation
- What type of hearing loss do I have?
The nature and severity of your condition will dictate your treatment. It’s best to communicate with your hearing professional and learn as much as possible about the details of your specific hearing loss whether it is mild, moderate or severe.
- Will the condition progress and if so, what can we do to be proactive?
Early detection is the key to prevention and so is continual monitoring. This will help you incorporate better hearing practices, new hearing technologies, and budget for future needs and follow up assessments.
- Which hearing aids are best suited to my needs?
Open and honest communication with your hearing health professional will serve you best. Let them know about your home and work environments when guiding you to the best hearing aids for your condition. For example, the type of sports or instruments you like to play or instruments, and if you like to attend the theater or musical venues.
- How can I be sure they are the right ones?
With hearing aids, the proof is in the pudding! At All Ear Doctors, we’ll fit you with hearing aids and you will experience the difference they make. We schedule follow-up visits to monitor you for progress. Some manufacturers offer trial periods with hearing aids – contact us to learn more.
- How about a warranty or insurance coverage?
This will depend upon the brand that you have chosen. Once again, read all the fine print and get homeowner’s insurance as an added measure of protection. Often the front desk staff are the ones to ask for help with insurance coverage if you haven’t done so already.
Adjusting to Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are an investment and having as much information as you need beforehand will help you with your expectations both for your senses and your wallet. Expect to buy hearing aids for both ears for a better hearing experience. Prepare yourself some time for modifications to your hearing aids and time to adjust to them.
Allow yourself time to acclimate to your hearing aids. Hearing is not the same for each ear which is why people will almost always need a pair. In fact, it has been shown in studies that the left ear picks up on music and the right ear is attuned to speech!
The complexity of sound is getting easier to navigate as technology is progressing rapidly to help those of us with hearing loss to maintain our auditory health. Dialogue with your hearing specialist will help determine what is best suited to your lifestyle. The more they know about your daily practices, the better they know which hearing aids will suit you as there is a myriad of options to choose from.
All Ear Doctors
All Ears Doctors is ready to guide and inform you of your hearing needs. When you have your first appointment with us, we feel confident that our knowledge and support will lead to the overall wellness of your hearing health. We are equipped and eager to assess your auditory needs and look forward to hearing from you. If you, or someone you love, suffers from the effects of hearing loss give us a call as soon as you can. We are here to get you started on a better, healthier and fuller life of hearing.