“Get your hearing checked!” This was a frequent shout in our household, directed my way. As the years move forward and the silver tries to slip into the hair color, some things change, whether or not we like it. The thought of having to wear hearing aids brought my morale to an all-time low, yet another thing I could no longer control. I was embarrassed, thinking that everyone who saw the tiny filaments attached to my ears would no longer see me but see ‘old’. However, I no longer heard the birds that I used to hear (using climate change as an excuse for their declared absence). I lived with ‘Turn your TV down’ emanating from other rooms too often. I missed out on portions of conversations with friends and at work. I couldn’t hear the person on the other end of the telephone on speaker mode. Were they all right? Was my hearing faltering? It didn’t seem so to me. However, I finally caved and made the appointment.
This scenario is replayed time after time in families with aging members and others with premature hearing loss. Not all hearing loss is age-related but may also be because of trauma to the ear or brain, genetics, certain diseases, or other cause. Making that first appointment is the hardest, but afterward, it is the yellow brick road to better hearing and a new appreciation of life.
So, what happens during a hearing exam? While each hearing professional and clinic may do things differently, these are some basics to expect, none of which are invasive or painful. A typical hearing exam may include:
Forms. The plethora of usual forms must be completed, including medical history and HIPAA, is standard practice.
Discussion. The hearing professional will ask the patient to assess their hearing abilities and how they may impact their life, and whether work, hobbies, or social activities may include loud noises. There may also inquire about any balance or dizziness difficulties, ringing in the ears, and other questions that may help them assess current hearing capabilities.
Physical examination of the ears. The provider will use light to peer inside the ear canal to look for wax buildup or other obstruction or damage. If wax or other blockage is found, they may wish to remove it using a specialized tool.
Tympanometry. Quite a big word that translates to a test that evaluates how the eardrum, or tympanic membrane, responds to sound. A small device with a cushioned earplug is inserted in the ear, and the clinician uses air and sound to measure the eardrum’s reaction.
Audiometry test. The patient is escorted into a sound-proofed booth, asked to put on provided headphones. A series of high and low-pitched tones follow, one ear at a time, and the patient must push the button when a sound is heard from a small device, or raise a finger. This allows them to see the range or ranges of any potential auditory loss. The same test may be repeated with other devices attached behind the ears.
Speech test. While still in the sound-proofed cabin, the clinician will speak a list of chosen words into a microphone softly or use recorded words and ask the patient to repeat them. A low volume is used to further assess the patient’s hearing level in each ear or both together.
Upon completion of the various exams, the audiologist will discuss the results. An audiogram, or graph showing the findings from the audiometry tests will be explained. If the patient has marked loss, the appropriate hearing aids or treatment will be advised. Most clinics carry stocks of the different devices, and should the patient opt to begin corrective hearing measures, its usage and care will be thoroughly explained and demonstrated. The patient will be shown how to insert the devices correctly, then given the opportunity to try themselves, shown how to change batteries, clean the appliances, store them, and regulate them. Any other necessary treatments will be recommended and how to proceed, if so.
The whole procedure takes less than an hour, is painless, and is the pathway to a better quality of life. When I got my hearing aids, it took me about a week to get used to all the unfamiliar noise. This ‘noise’, as I call it, was everyday sounds that one hears with average abilities, but not having heard them for so long, it was overwhelming at first. I also found my equilibrium seemed off with all these sounds entering my head at once. I consulted with my physical therapist, who tailored a series of exercises to strengthen my core and improve balance.
A whole new life was out there to enjoy that I didn’t realize I had been missing. I discovered the birds had never left, now chortling away in full force, and I had simply not been hearing them. I can watch television at a reasonable level and don’t have to rely on closed captioning to please the rest of the household. I can join in conversations without the embarrassment of only catching a few words here and there. Most people don’t even notice that I’m wearing hearing aids unless I point it out. My world has changed, and yours can too. Take the first step. Make the appointment. Get your hearing checked!
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