Hearing Tests and Evaluations

Is sound reaching your inner ear or is something interfering with its passage? Are the tiny structures that transmit sound to the cochlea and auditory nerve for decoding by the brain working properly?

Sometimes hearing loss can occur due to problems with the eardrum or the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, the three tiny bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. These middle ear problems can affect just one or both ears.

Hearing loss is most frequently caused by a deterioration of tiny sensory cells within the inner ear. They are very delicate structures and can be injured by loud noise, certain medications, genetic factors, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and just plain aging. These factors typically affect both ears equally.

During the hearing evaluation you will listen through headphones in a special room insulated from ambient sounds. We will conduct audiometric testing. During this test you listen for tones at different pitches and different intensity levels while we map out a graph (audiogram) of you hearing sensitivity. Using this audiogram we can determine if you have impaired hearing and if so, the level of severity.

Severity levels are mild, moderate, moderately-severe, severe and profound. It is possible to have mild loss in the low pitches and severe hearing loss in the high-pitches. This is a common hearing loss configuration found in individuals who can “hear but can’t understand” or who perceive that “everybody mumbles.” Whatever the degree and configuration of your hearing loss we will counsel you regarding the benefits you can expect from hearing aids and recommend a range of models and manufacturers to chose from.

If we determine that a hearing aid will help you, we will recommend devices that best match your lifestyle and preferences.

This may mean a device that is small and invisible, one that is rechargeable for easy maintenance, or one that works best in noisy environments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidelines designed to prevent you from obtaining hearing aids that merely mask an underlying disease process that may be causing your hearing loss.

Our thorough history taking and comprehensive testing uncovers any possible medical issues with your hearing nerve or middle ear.

The FDA considers any of the following symptoms Red Flags that warrant further evaluation before purchasing hearing aids. If you think that you have any of the eight symptoms below, schedule an appointment with us. We will perform a thorough audiological assessment and provide appropriate referrals when necessary.

1. Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.
2. History of active drainage from the ear in the previous 90 days.
3. History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the previous 90 days.
4. Acute or chronic dizziness.
5. Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the previous 90 days.
6. Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than 15 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.
7. Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal.
8. Pain or discomfort in the ear.

At Hear So Good we are licensed medical professionals and take your health seriously. In addition to referring you to appropriate medical specialists for the eight FDA Red Flags prior to fitting you with hearing aids, we also refer you for one or both of  the following findings.

• A significant hearing difference between your ears and other findings that indicate there is a chance that the hearing nerve is affected.
• A sudden change in tinnitus (ear ringing/noise) severity.