So, you have made the leap and finally scheduled an appointment with an audiologist. Congratulations! You have taken a big first step to take charge of your hearing healthcare. If you are visiting an audiologist because you have concerns about your hearing, this blog will help prepare you to go into your appointment with appropriate questions to ask.

What is involved in a hearing evaluation?

At Hear Now, we start your consultation by discussing your history and your concerns about your hearing health. A professional will know the right questions to ask and whether further testing will need to be done. Then, we will look inside of your ears with an otoscope to see if there are any blockages or obstructions. Finally, your hearing test will be conducted in a sound booth and will consist of two parts: a sequence of beeps or sounds will be played to determine which frequencies you can and cannot hear, and the second part explores your capacity to understand speech.

What type of hearing loss do I have?

There are many components that come together that allow you to hear. Your ear is made up of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The brain plays a vital role in deciphering the signals being sent from your ears. The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss. This is caused by damage to the inner ear in the cochlea, the hair cells, or the hearing nerve and prevents sounds vibrations from being captured and sending accurate signals to the brain. A conductive hearing loss is caused by damage to the external and/or middle ear that creates a physical barrier that stops sound from entering. Sensorineural hearing loss is frequently treated with hearing aids whereas conductive hearing loss may require a medical or surgical treatment.

How can I prevent things from getting worse?

Just because you may already have a hearing loss, that does not mean you no longer have to protect your hearing. Your audiologist will ask you questions about your lifestyle and environment to determine if there is an ongoing hazard you should be protected from. For example, a hunter may want to wear custom hearing protection that allows speech to be heard while protecting their ears from loud gunshot noises.

What are the different types of hearing aids?

There is a wide selection of hearing aids available to meet your hearing healthcare needs. They vary in brands, styles, and technology levels. Both your needs and preferences will be assessed to find the right match for you. Once the hearing aids have been picked out, they will be fit to your specific hearing levels. Over time, your needs can change, and your hearing aids will need to be adjusted.

Are you ready to take the first step to take care of your hearing health? Our team at Hear Now is here to help! Contact us now with any questions you have and to schedule your hearing evaluation.