It can be hard to admit when it happens, but hearing loss comes for most of us in time—because of this, having your hearing evaluated should be something all adults over the age of 60 need to prioritize. One in three adults between the ages of 65-74 has some degree of hearing loss.
Those are pretty steep odds for anyone over 60. The longer hearing loss goes without being diagnosed, the higher the chances of complications are. Yearly hearing evaluations should not be overlooked, and El Dorado Hearing is an excellent location for hearing testing in Tucson, AZ.
Hearing Evaluations at El Dorado Hearing of Tucson
To assist in managing your hearing loss, we provide complete hearing evaluations at El Dorado Hearing. Our hearing specialists are highly experienced and provide you with an in-depth hearing assessment to evaluate whether you have hearing loss and the extent to which the loss affects you.
A hearing evaluation is more comprehensive than a simple hearing screening (where you undergo a quick pass/fail test). Since an evaluation identifies what type of hearing loss you have, what degree of hearing loss is present, and other vital factors, it’s essential to have one yearly. A hearing screening alone isn’t enough.
Below are the general stages of our hearing testing process to help you understand what a hearing evaluation at El Dorado Hearing involves.
Pre-Evaluation Consultation
Before any testing, one of our compassionate hearing instrument specialists sits with you for a pre-hearing evaluation consultation. Because there is a wealth of information, you are welcome to bring someone along to your hearing evaluation to help you remember everything discussed and to provide insights from their perspective.
During this consultation, our hearing specialist will discuss what brought you in for an evaluation, your medical history, and other topics to understand how hearing loss may have already impacted your life.
Ear Canal Inspections
To begin testing, our hearing specialists will check your ear canal and tympanic membrane (eardrum). It is possible to have cerumen (earwax) blockage, leading to temporary hearing loss. However, if left unattended, cerumen can damage the tympanic membrane, leading to permanent hearing loss. Also, in some cases, hearing loss is caused by damage to the tympanic membrane.
After our specialists check your outer ear and the visible portion of your middle ear, they will move on to the next part of the hearing evaluation.
Sound Hearing Tests
The sound test portion of our hearing evaluation will require you to enter our soundproof booth, so no outside sounds interfere with our tests. Once in the booth, the following tests will take place:
- Pure tone testing – With headphones on you, our hearing specialists will play various tones. As these sounds are played, you’ll be asked to indicate when you hear them. These tones will be at different volume levels and pitches to assess any high-frequency hearing loss and at what volume level you begin not to hear clearly.
- Bone conduction testing – To assess how the sound-conducting bones behind your ears are functioning, our hearing specialist will place a device behind your ears. Like the pure tone test, you will be asked to indicate when you hear the tones played.
Speech Hearing Tests
Once our hearing specialists complete the sound-specific tests, they will have you go through two speech hearing tests.
- Speech reception – Our hearing specialists will assess your ability to hear spoken words. Hearing loss makes it difficult to hear certain consonants. This test will check if your ability to perceive speech is impaired.
- Word recognition – Untreated hearing loss can also make recognizing words difficult, as the connection between the ear and brain is damaged by hearing loss. Our hearing specialists will check for this issue by saying a series of words and asking you to repeat them.
If you brought someone to your hearing evaluation, our hearing specialists might ask them to read off a list of words. This test assesses if your hearing is more attuned to those who you talk to regularly.
Post-Evaluation Consultation
After finishing all the tests, our hearing instrument specialists will sit down with you to discuss the results. Sometimes, this consultation will confirm that your hearing is in good shape, and our specialists will make recommendations to help keep your hearing healthy.
When hearing loss is present, our hearing specialists will discuss the extent of your hearing loss. And depending on what type of hearing loss you have, what options are available for correction. If you have sensorineural hearing loss, hearing aids are the best route to correcting your hearing loss.
Hearing Aid Demo
There are many types of hearing aids available. You can even test several different hearing aids in our office. Our hearing specialists will help you determine what hearing aids are best for your hearing loss and lifestyle.
Once you have decided what hearing aids you prefer, the hearing specialist will place the order and contact you once they are in. With certain hearing aids, we can extend a trial period, so you can be confident the hearing aids you have chosen are right for you in all circumstances.
Have Your Hearing Tested at El Dorado Hearing of Tucson
For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make EL Dorado Hearing of Tucson first on your list. We strive to make our hearing offices a comfortable place where everyone feels welcome.
If you are ready to regain control of your hearing, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and expert hearing specialists!
info@ElDoradoHearing.com
