subject: What You Can Expect From A Hearing Center [print this page] Did you know the greatest thing you can expect from visiting a hearing center is freedom? You may think that sounds odd, but if you're having trouble hearing you aren't living freely. People who suffer a low level of auditory loss do not enjoy life as well as they could.
If you've decided it's time for a change, here's what you can expect from your first appointment at a hearing center.
Q & A Time
You'll sit down with an auditory expert and explain just how well or how poorly you're hearing. Many questions will be asked of you in order to determine if your life would be enhanced by wearing an aid.
Pure Tone Evaluation
After the questioning time, comes a pure tone evaluation in a sound booth. You'll be told how you should respond to various tones when they're given to you.
Word Discrimination Test
This is crucial to determine how well you understand every day words. It's simple enough. Words are spoken and you repeat them back to the speaker. The volume is decreased slightly over the course of a few minutes. This procedure helps to evaluate the range of your hearing.
Speech Recognition Test
Similar to the word discrimination test, this examination is designed to determine your most comfortable level of hearing. One-syllable words are given to you. How you score on hearing and understanding these words will greatly help the specialist know which auditory aid will best help you.
The entire evaluation process usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour. It's also good to know you can be fitted for an auditory aid immediately following all of the above tests. There are many different devices to choose from, and most have been manufactured with state-of-the-art technology.
Most evaluation centers will allow you to purchase the aids on the same day as your test. And, if for any reason you change your mind after you purchase them, most states have a time period of about 30 days for you to return them for a full refund.
Once fitted, you may not even notice you're wearing an aid depending on the type of mechanism and your level of hearing loss. You'll definitely hear better and more clearly.
Your specialist will also instruct you on how to best take care of your new hearing implement, how to change the battery and how to put it on. The entire visit to a hearing center is geared for your benefit and comfort.
Wearing a hearing aid can certainly increase your chances of living more normally. After your initial adjustment period, you'll be able to experience the auditory freedom everyone deserves, and that's a pretty good feeling.
