Comprehensive Hearing Assessment

Prices:
Comprehensive Hearing Assessment: £45
Our comprehensive hearing test will take between 60 and 90 minutes.
This includes a personalised detailed report explaining the hearing test results, the nature of the hearing loss and the hearing aid technology choices available.
Initial Basic Hearing Check: Free

You can be assured of a professional care in all diagnostic procedures. Hearing assessments are undertaken in a sound-free environment and tailored to meet individual requirements.

There are up to six tests which we may need to perform depending upon your individual needs and these will take between an hour to an hour and a half usually, so please allow plenty of time.

Your hearing test proceedure can include:

• Video otoscopy (fibre optic camera)
• Puretone audiometry
• Speech audiometry
• Tympanometry
• REM (real ear measurements)
• Hearing instrument simulation

Medical History and Ear Examination
A consultation form will be completed and you will  be asked questions regarding relevant past medical history such as: past ear infections, viruses, noise exposure.

Once we have discussed your hearing background we will conduct an ear examination using a video otoscope. The ear examination will look for any signs of infection, wax build up and generally check that the external auditory canal and eardrum are functioning correctly.

Hearing Test
Once we have concluded your ear exam we will begin the hearing test.
There may be up to six tests performed, depending upon your individual requirements.

• Video otoscopy (fibre optic camera)
  A video otoscope: this uses fibre optic illumination and a high resolution colour video camera to record the ear canal and ear drum. By projecting the image on a monitor you will be able to view the status of the ear canal and ear drum. Images of the ear are stored and can be viewed or printed as needed. If at this point we find that the reason for your hearing loss is due to a build up of wax, we can stop the hearing test and instead progress with wax removal treatment.

• Puretone audiometry
  This determines the softest sounds you can hear.
  You will be in a quiet room preventing you from hearing outside noise. You will wear either headphones  through which tones at varying volumes and frequencies will be presented. You will be asked to push a button each time you hear a tone and for the duration of that tone

• Speech audiometry
  You will hear a series of words and asked to repeat what you have heard. Your answers will be scored and will help to establish the level of speech discrimination.

• Tympanometry (middle ear function)
  This tests middle ear function and the elasticity of the ear drums. A small probe with a dome is placed at the entrance of the ear and presents increasing and decreasing air pressures. The instrument will then record your measurements and show your results on a tympanogram.

• REM (real ear measurements)
  A bone conduction band is placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear which vibrates the sound through the cochlea (hearing nerve). Again you will be asked to press on the button each time you hear a tone and for the duration of that tone. This test does not include the mechanical function of the hearing and will determine the nature of the hearing loss.

• Hearing instrument simulation
  This test will determine your full range of hearing. A series of tones will be presented at increasing volume and you state when it becomes uncomfortably loud for you.

What Happens after my Hearing Test?

Once we have finished the hearing test we will explain your results.

The next step will be to discuss the options that will be appropriate for your needs, taking into consideration:

• Personal case history
• Lifestyle
• Personal results of hearing tests
• Hearing aid technology suited to your needs
• The cost of suitable hearing aids
• Your cosmetic requirements