Hearing Tests

Maybe you already know you or a family member is dealing with hearing loss.  Then again, it may be happening so gradually that you aren’t quite aware that it’s even an issue.  Unlike many conditions, hearing loss is often difficult to detect in its early stages.    By visiting Ear to Ear Hearing Solutions, you can have your hearing properly assessed.  Even a slight hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life.  There is no reason for anyone to miss all of the important sounds in life.

Hearing loss often occurs slowly and has many causes, such as exposure to noise or aging.  The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) strongly advises people to use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs when they are in noisy environments or activities.

What is a Hearing Assessment?

If you have less than normal hearing or suspect hearing loss, a visit to Ear to Ear Hearing Solutions will help to determine the extent of hearing loss and provide a consultation for the best solution.  We will conduct a complete scientific hearing evaluation to evaluate your hearing.  Your results will be combined into a report known as an audiogram, which is a standard way of representing a person’s hearing loss.  Most audiograms cover the limited range of sound, which is most important for clear understanding of speech.  Your audiogram results will be reviewed with you in detail to help you decide what options would deliver optimal results.

Who Should be Assessed for Hearing Loss?

While more than 30% of people over the age of 65 have some type of hearing loss, 14% of those between 45 and 64 have hearing loss.  For those between the ages of 18 and 44, close to 8 million have hearing loss.   Adults should be screened at least every 10 years through age 50 and at 3-year intervals after.

Why Should I Get a Hearing Assessment?

Hearing loss can interfere with your quality of life, restricting your ability to interact with others, causing misunderstandings and fatigue, heightening stress and filtering out the myriad of sound experiences that give pleasure and meaning to life.  It may be a natural part of the aging process, but few of us want to admit that we are growing older.  Research shows that untreated hearing loss can:

• Increase stress, exacerbating other health issues, including anxiety and depression
• Isolate individuals and keep them from enjoying friends, family and other activities

Hearing loss is a medical condition that requires consultation and comprehensive testing.  No matter the cause of your hearing loss, it is a serious condition that disconnects people from the world around them.  Contact Ear to Ear Hearing Solutions for an assessment, and take a step towards better hearing.

Sample Hearing Test

Click here to download a copy of the Ear To Ear Hearing Solutions Hearing Test

1. Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room?	Yes	No
2. Do you sometimes feel that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly?	Yes	No
3. Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand a speaker at a public meeting or a religious service?	Yes	No
4. Do you find yourself asking people to speak up or repeat themselves?	Yes	No
5. Do you find men's voices easier to understand than women's?	Yes	No
6. Do you experience difficulty understanding soft or whispered speech?	Yes	No
7. Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding speech on the telephone?	Yes	No
8. Do you experience ringing or noises in your ears?	Yes	No
9. Do you hear better with one ear than the other?	Yes	No

If you have answered "Yes" to one or more of these questions, you may have some degree of hearing loss. Please call us at (630) 305-0537 to arrange a Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation with Dr. Prather or click here to send us a request for an appointment .