The Importance of Routine Hearing Tests
OUR FOCUS IS ON HEARING HEALTH, NOT HEARING LOSS!
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent and fastest growing chronic health conditions facing Canadians today. Hearing loss can affect individuals young and old and for a variety of reasons – the most common causes being exposure to loud noises and aging.
Our focus is on hearing health at Sackville and Alderney Hearing Centres - educating our patients on how to be proactive with their hearing health from the beginning so that they can experience positive and healthy aging.
We recommend a baseline hearing assessment from our certified audiologists during early adulthood and repeat assessments every 5-10 years for people under the age of 55. The frequency at which your hearing should be assessed will be determined by your registered audiologist and is dependent on risk factors such as family history of hearing loss, occupational or recreational noise exposure, and medical conditions such as, but not limited to, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Adults over the age of 55 should have their hearing assessed every two years.
If at any point in time a hearing loss is diagnosed, annual hearing assessments are advised until the hearing loss has stabilized. Our clinics in Lower Sackville and Downtown Dartmouth offer comprehensive diagnostic hearing assessments by registered audiologists. You do not need a doctor’s referral to have your hearing checked.
What Happens During A Hearing Test
Case History
Before your appointment begins, you will be asked to complete a case history information form. This form asks questions about your hearing, medical conditions related to your hearing and prescription medications.
At the beginning of your appointment, your audiologist will review your case history form with you and may ask additional questions. For example, your audiologist may ask you to describe the specific situations in which you are having trouble hearing.
Otoscopy
Your audiologist will look in each ear using an otoscopic light. This allows your audiologist to see any abnormalities such as excessive wax, inflammation, injury or signs of infection in the ear canal and/or on the eardrum. Our clinics are also equipped with a video otoscope which allows patients to see the inside of their ear canal during otoscopy.
Testing of the Middle Ear
Sound must first travel past the eardrum and through the middle ear space before it can reach the inner ear where hearing begins to take place. To ensure that sound is traveling as it should, your audiologist will do a "pressure" test using specialized equipment to check the mobility of your eardrum and the three small bones (ossicles) in your middle ear. This testing also assesses the presence of your acoustic reflexes – an involuntary protective mechanism found in the middle ear.
Threshold and Speech Testing in Sound Booth
You will then sit inside a sound-insulated booth with insert or over-the-ear earphones and will be asked to repeat words at different loudness levels. This testing determines the softest level at which you can hear speech and how well you understand speech in optimal listening situations. You will then be asked to push a button when you hear tones at different loudness levels and different frequencies. This testing determines your threshold of hearing. If a hearing loss is found, your audiologist will also test your hearing via bone conduction using a headband with a bone vibrator attached. This type of testing is used to confirm type of hearing loss.
Extended High-Frequency Audiometry
Extended high frequencies (EHFs) refer to sounds beyond 8000 Hz. The assessment of EHFs is useful in determining the ototoxic (damaging) effects of certain medications such as chemotherapy drugs and for early detection of noise-induced hearing loss. Extended high-frequency audiometry is currently only available in our Alderney Hearing Centre location.
Speech-In-Noise Testing
If your audiologist feels it is necessary, additional speech-in-noise testing may also be done. This testing assesses the degree of difficulty you are having while trying to listen in noisy places such as restaurants, small groups and parties.
Did you know ...
Our hearing assessments are only $90 and take less than an hour to complete! This includes sending a report to your doctor, if necessary.
Book Your Hearing Test Today!
RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEARING TESTS
The results of your hearing assessment will be recorded on a form called an audiogram, which will be reviewed with you immediately following your assessment. The audiogram reflects your level of hearing in frequencies (pitch) and decibels (loudness). If necessary, your audiologist will educate you on the type, pattern and degree of your hearing loss. They will also educate you on how your hearing loss may be affecting your ability to understand words during normal conversational speech in quiet and in noise.
- If the results of your hearing assessment suggest the presence of some disease process, your audiologist will refer you for further medical testing and treatment.
- If a hearing loss is detected and there is no need for further medical testing, your audiologist will recommend rehabilitative options, such as hearing aids and assistive listening devices. They will also provide additional supports such as counselling and aural rehabilitation.
WAX REMOVAL
Our Lower Sackville and Dartmouth clinics only offer wax removal services to our hearing aid clients. Our clinicians use microsuction to remove wax from clients’s ears. Microsuction is considered the safest method of wax removal as it allows constant observation of the ear canal and does not involve the use of water which reduces the risk of infection.
When necessary, our clinicians will also use curettage which removes the wax via a small scoop-shaped instrument.
Ear wax softening by use of drops is required before wax removal appointments. Please visit one of our clinics to pick up Audiologist's Choice wax removal drops and instructions on method and duration of use. Wax removal drops are not recommended for clients with perforated eardrums.
Get Your Hearing Checked Regularly
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent and fastest-growing chronic health conditions facing Canadians today. Whether you are an older adult or a child starting school, it is important to have your hearing assessed regularly by a registered audiologist. You do not need a doctor's referral to have your hearing tested. Book your hearing test with us today! Servicing Halifax and surrounding areas.
The hearing test guidelines below have been adapted from various hearing health organizations across North America.
HEARING TEST GUIDELINES
Infancy to Adolescence:
- Newborn hearing screening
- Before starting school
- Annually from kindergarten to grade 3
- Grade 7
- Grade 11
Adults (18 yr. to 55 yr.):
- Every 5-10 years
- Every 2 years for individuals with risk factors for hearing loss (see below)
Older Adults (55 yr. +):
- Every 2 years
*If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, your hearing should be checked annually until your hearing loss is stable. Once your hearing loss is stable, you should have your hearing checked every two years.
RISK FACTORS FOR HEARING LOSS:
- Occupational noise exposure (e.g. farming, construction, factory work, etc.)
- Recreational noise exposure (e.g. loud music, hunting, motorcycling, etc.)
- Having an immediate family member with hearing loss
- Use of some medications
- Some illnesses (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, meningitis, etc.)
- Head trauma
Learn about causes of hearing loss.
