What to Expect From a Hearing Test for Patients in FL
Hearing tests are a normal part of maintaining your overall health and well-being. Occasionally, your primary care doctor may ask you to schedule a comprehensive evaluation to ensure your ears work well. As we age, hearing loss becomes more likely to occur, so it becomes even more essential to have your hearing regularly tested by an audiologist or other hearing care professional.
Below, the experts at Tri-County Hearing discuss important information about comprehensive hearing evaluations and what to expect from your appointment. Whether you’re interested in getting hearing aids or want to schedule a hearing test to see where you’re at currently, our hearing care centers are conveniently located throughout Florida. We also offer flexible virtual care and online hearing tests for patients. Contact our team to learn more about our comprehensive hearing evaluations.
What to Expect From a Hearing Evaluation
It can help to know what to expect when you schedule a hearing test with a hearing care provider. When you schedule a hearing evaluation with the clinical team at Tri-County Hearing, you can expect the following:
Initial Consultation
We’ll review your medical history and any concerns you have about hearing loss.
Physical Ear Examination
Following your initial consultation, your hearing care professional will inspect the inside of your ears for potential blockages, such as an injury to your eardrum or earwax buildup. Your provider will start by physically examining your ears, also called an otoscopy. They will look at your outer and inner ear canals to see if there are any apparent issues. By shining a light on your ear drum, your provider can see how the light is reflected, indicating its health.
Hearing Test
Your hearing test will be conducted in a quiet and calm environment while wearing headphones or noise-canceling earmuffs. Your hearing care professional will play a series of tones through the headphones, and you’ll be asked to signal, gesture, or press a button to let them know you hear the tone.
Tympanometry Test
This test evaluates the function of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). It allows your provider to see how your eardrum responds to pressure and how well it moves. It’s painless and usually only takes a couple of minutes.
Testing Your Acoustic Reflexes
Acoustic reflex testing assesses how well your eardrum protects you from loud noises. When a loud external sound is present, the eardrum should stiffen and contract in response. This test is typically conducted with the tympanometry test, with beeps progressively increasing in volume throughout the assessment.
Speech Testing
The ability to understand speech is one of the most important aspects of hearing. People need to be able to hear themselves and the people around them for an enjoyable and social life. Speech tests involve patients repeating words they can hear at normal speech levels without background noise. Testing your ability to understand speech gives your provider an accurate assessment of your hearing loss and individualized treatment needs.
What Does an Audiologist Do?
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in diagnosing, managing, and treating hearing, balance, and ear problems. They work in audiology, which is defined as the science of hearing and balance. Audiologists determine the type and severity of a patient’s hearing loss and develop a treatment plan.
What Other Services Does Tri-County Hearing Offer?
Our hearing solutions are tailored to your needs, preferences, lifestyle, and hearing loss type. We’ve designed our services to ensure all your needs can be met under one roof, whether you’re looking for hearing aids or tinnitus treatment. We offer a wide range of top-tier devices and technology, allowing you to better hear the world around you. We’ll discuss your medical history, hearing concerns, and lifestyle in depth to create an individualized and effective solution. At Tri-County Hearing, we offer the following hearing care services to patients throughout the region:
- Hearing Testing & Evaluation
- Hearing Aids & Treatment
- Tinnitus Testing & Treatment
- Hearing Protection
- Insurance Counseling
Why Are Regular Hearing Tests Important?
Some people don’t realize they have hearing loss because it often happens gradually over time. Scheduling regular hearing tests ensures you know where you’re at currently with your hearing health. If you address the problem early, you can help prevent several issues that can arise with untreated hearing loss.
Getting the Results of Your Test
Once you’ve completed your comprehensive hearing evaluation, you can consult with your hearing care professional. They will discuss your test results with you, and if they indicate signs of hearing loss, they’ll go over the next steps.
Convenient & Comfortable Care
From the moment you schedule your first hearing test with Tri-County Hearing, our team will do everything possible to ensure your experience is convenient, comfortable, and hassle-free from start to finish. Everyone deserves to receive the highest quality hearing health care. Patients throughout the region entrust their hearing care needs with us because we:
- Offer in-person, virtual, and curbside appointments with our hearing care professionals
- Communicate with your insurance company to verify the benefits of your medical plan
- Offer a wide range of hearing aid styles and types, allowing patients to go home with devices the same day
- Professionally fit your hearing aids to ensure their performance matches your prescription
- Offer a minimum 30-day risk-free trial on all our hearing devices
- Keep all our hearing care providers current on the industry’s best practices, latest research, and technology
Schedule a Hearing Examination With Tri-County Hearing Today
At Tri-County Hearing, we’re committed to ensuring your visit with us is comfortable and hassle-free from start to finish. Our hearing experts believe everyone deserves to hear the world around them more clearly. Comprehensive hearing evaluations are designed to connect you with hearing loss solutions that match your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. With years of experience providing comprehensive hearing care services throughout Florida, you can rest assured your hearing health is in good hands. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or schedule an appointment online for a comprehensive hearing evaluation.
