When you are receiving treatment before getting hearing aids Fort Myers, there are two ways an audiologist can assess your condition. It can be difficult to know the difference between a hearing evaluation and a screening, but knowing what to expect before your audiology appointment can relieve much of your stress and anxiety.
Hearing Screenings
Screenings are the main hearing tests done by an audiologist, and they are a cost-effective option to determine the need for a hearing aid. After your screening, your health professional will determine whether you fail or pass. If you pass the test, you have no discernible hearing loss. If you fail, your audiologist will probably recommend that you receive an evaluation to calculate the extent of your hearing damage.
Hearing Evaluations
Hearing evaluations are much more involved than hearing screenings. During a hearing evaluation, the audiologist will test your hearing in a variety of ways. First, they will examine your eardrums and canals with an otoscope. In many cases, you will be able to view a video of what they are seeing. In some cases, the only thing causing hearing loss is a buildup of earwax.
Audiograms
These examinations are usually done in a soundproofed room. A hearing professional will use highly specialized equipment, and your hearing will be measured in terms of frequencies and decibels. The severity, type and pattern of your hearing loss will help the doctor determine the best hearing aids Fort Myers for you.
An audiologist may also do a speech exam, where you listen to short words at differing volumes. The audiologist will ask you to repeat back what you hear, and they will tell you what volume you need in order to hear sounds. Another test measures your ability to hear speech where there is background noise.
During the audiogram, your hearing professional may also do site of lesion testing. This test helps them determine the part of your ear in which the problem is located. Each ear will be tested, both separately and individually, and changes in signal intensity and ability to hear during noisy periods will be measured.
