Experiencing hearing loss?

The next step is a thorough evaluation. Before considering your treatment options, we need to determine the specific causes of your hearing loss. After a series of questions, we may recommend any of the following hearing evaluations.

Need a Hearing Test?

Here’s what to expect at your visit. You’ll be given a questionnaire about your hearing and communication needs that will help us get an idea of what you’re hoping for from your appointment. Once you’re all checked in, your provider will invite you into one of our consult rooms and ask a series of medical and communication questions. Your provider will then give you a brief introduction to the auditory system and address any questions you may have. This process helps us set the stage for the appointment, address your primary concerns and to later set goals for your individual treatment plan. 

You will then be brought into one of our sound booths and set up with a pair of headphones or inserts. Each of the booths have a built-in microphone that will allow you to communicate with your provider at any point. Your provider will be just outside the booth, giving you instructions through your headphones for each assessment. You will be asked to raise your hand in response to various beeps and repeat back words. 

Afterward, we will assess the movement of your eardrum, middle ear function, and inner ear hair cells using another piece of equipment. These assessments work a lot like sonar, in that a signal gets sent out and your auditory system sends a signal back. You won’t be required to respond for this part, so feel free to relax- you’ve earned it.

Lastly, depending on your original concerns and assessment results, you may be asked to take a Cognivue assessment. Using a rotating dial, you will play a series of games that look at the different ways sound is being processed in your brain. This information not only allows the provider to fine-tune their treatment recommendations but also helps us to figure out what other factors might be contributing to your communication concerns.

It’s important to remember that there is no “passing” or “failing” your functional hearing assessment. Rather, we are gathering information that will help us to better understand your individual auditory system and come up with a treatment plan together.