5 STEPS TO
BETTER HEARING
STEP 1:
3 minute online hearing test.
Step one is a really simple one and you can complete it in the comfort of your own home. You can us a computer, tablet or smartphone connected to in ear or on ear headphones.
It will take you exactly three minutes to complete.
Your reward for spending these minutes is a report which will give you a good indication of your hearing ability.
This is only a broad indicator and is not a substitute for a full audiometric test.
STEP 2:
In Clinic Hearing Assessment.
So you have completed the online test which has indicated possible hearing loss, or perhaps you are aware of the loss without even needing to do the test.
The next step will take place in our clinic – again there is no financial commitment on your part but you will be investing about an hour of your time.
In return you will receive a comprehensive in clinic hearing assessment including a physical examination of your ear canals and eardrums, hearing threshold testing and speech testing.
All results will be explained to you in clear terms.
Otoscopy Exam
An otoscopic exam is a visual check of the ears to determine the condition of the ear canal and ear drum.
Pure Tone Threshold Testing
A pure tone threshold testing is conducted in a sound-treated room with earphones or headphones. The listener is instructed to give a response when a given tone is heard even at the faintest level. The results are shown as an audiogram which shows the subjects ability at various pitches and volumes compared to average normal hearing.
Speech Testing
Speech tests may include repeating words to determine the softest level at which you can understand them, or listening to sentences to determine your most comfortable listening level. We will also measure your ability to follow speech in noise.
STEP 3:
Hearing Aid selection for real world assessment.
Having completed your in clinic assessment you will now have the option of progressing to a real world assessment.
The hearing aids you will be assessing are especially designed so that your hearing aid practitioner can program them to the correct level of technology based on your hearing tests and discussions of your lifestyle and areas of difficulty.
The aids will then be fitted to your ears and you will be shown how to insert and remove them and how to replace batteries, or recharge the aids if they are rechargeable.
After our unique evaluation of 5 step testing, you will leave with the answers and a solution that is designed just for.
Find out about our no obligation, hearing aid trial
STEP 4:
Real world assessment.
Now you have the great opportunity of taking the chosen hearing aids with you into our real world assessment where you will get to evaluate them in the listening situations of your daily life.
Again there is no financial commitment on your part and you will be able to allay many of the doubts and fears you may have had at the start of your journey.
During this time your assessment hearing aids are working hard by keeping a log of all the listening situations you are in. This provides great insights for step 5.
Your Hearing Difficulties
Your needs will depend to a great extent on your lifestyle and the listening situations which are important to you. Much emphasis will be placed on those situations in which you have hearing difficulty.
Hearing Aid Style
These days it is usually possible to fit most hearing losses with the style of the client's choosing. In guiding you to make the right choice of style we will always advise which would give the best hearing result and if possible match this with your style preference. Where the hearing loss, or perhaps the shape of your ear canal precludes your preferred style we will explain why this is and seek to find a suitable compromise.
Technology Level
Four levels of technology will ensure the right recommendation for your hearing loss and your lifestyle. Speech enhancement coupled with noise reduction and directional microphone technologies ensure effective hearing and understanding in difficult listening situations. Further benefit can be derived from connection to smart phones and other listening accessories such as TV links.
STEP 5:
Review of Real World Experience.
Having had the real world experience you return for an in clinic appointment to discuss the results with our hearing care practitioner and for him to hook up to the aids with the computer to analyse your results.
Your feedback is very important input to any fine tuning adjustments that may be needed.
Also crucial is what the hearing aids data logging can tell – from basic information like how many hours per day you have been using the hearing aids to more detailed analysis of the listening situations you have been in.
On completion of this review you may be in a position to make an informed decision either to become a permanent user of hearing aids or to carry on without them. You may also opt for an extension of your real world experience trial.
Experience the real world with our no obligation, hearing aid trial
Computer analysis of results
The hearing aids have been keeping a log of your usage of them while you have been trying them. This provides invaluable information for interpreting and reacting to our own view of the experience.
Log it all
Ultimately it's up to you. By now you and your practitioner have invested a significant amount of time in your real world hearing experience and you are still in no way financially committed. You've been on a journey involving a strong mixture of emotion and logic. By now you should be in a strong position to make the right decision about your long term hearing.
Your decision
Ultimately it's up to you. By now you and your practitioner have invested a significant amount of time in your real world hearing experience and you are still in no way financially committed. You've been on a journey involving a strong mixture of emotion and logic. By now you should be in a strong position to make the right decision about your long term hearing.