hearing test

Hearing Test for Hearing Aids Overview

With the help of hearing aids, many people are able to hear conversations clearly again. Here is a straightforward guide on how they work and some hearing aids prescription tips to make them even more helpful.

 

What is a hearing aid?

A hearing aid is a device that amplifies sound so you can hear it. Many people with hearing problems may also use a hearing aid as a way to prevent tinnitus, or ringing or buzzing in the ears.

 

The hearing test

A hearing test is often one of the first things to happen when a person visits a hearing care center. The test will assess a person’s hearing, especially for potential hearing loss that might have been present prior to going into the center. A frequent part of the testing process is determining whether an individual is eligible for a certain type of hearing aid. This can be done by checking on how well their current device works, providing suggestions to improve the wearer’s quality of life and considering other factors like age and lifestyle.

 

Hearing aids prescriptions

Hearing aids are prescribed by both a specialist and an audiologist. The audiologist will then provide a hearing test for the patient. The audiologist takes into account the patient’s medical history, symptoms experienced, and the results of various tests to recommend the best hearing aid for that individual.

 

What to do with your hearing aid prescription

You now have a prescription for your hearing aid, and you’re looking forward to living a life where you can hear what you want, when you want. But how will it work? What are the possible side effects? Will it be uncomfortable? Will you be able to hear from the back of a plane? These are just a few questions you may want to consider. You can also contact ear professionals in the field of hearing to discuss what they think of your potential hearing aid prescription.

 

Tips for Buying Hearing Devices

There are many things to think about when purchasing a hearing aid. Durable, comfortable to wear and resistant against ear wax and moisture are just three of the factors you may want to consider. The battery life must be good and offer plenty people with different audio settings.

 

Different types of hearing aids exist and you will need help from an audiologist to determine which makes sense for your hearing problem. The most popular type is behind the ear because it can accommodate different needs and has a versatile design.

 

You don’t need to wear a bulky device with a hearing test for a hearing aid prescription. In-ear devices will provide the same benefits as those that are visible and do not offer any drawbacks

 

If your audiologist has given you a prescription, make sure you learn as much as you can about the device to make the most of it. And you should also give yourself time to get used to the sensation of wearing a device in or behind your ears. In due time you’ll get used to it, and you’ll notice the difference in sound.

 

There are many reasons why hearing test for hearing aids prescription work well, but mainly it’s because they use powerful, sophisticated computer chips that adjust sounds automatically throughout the day. In other words, they function just like human ears and become very comfortable. In addition, these devices are lightweight and won’t be a burden even if you wear them all day.

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aids Prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Screening for Hearing Loss Among Seniors in Hong Kong

When hearing loss begins with a person’s inability to recognize high frequency sounds, they miss the higher pitched consonants and hear only vowels. They begin confusing what they hear with another word that sounds similar and respond according to what they thought the word might be.

 

Family and friends may be too quick to label that person as suffering from dementia because their reactions and statements are not related with what the rest of what people had been talking about because he could hardly understand what he heard, if he is still able to hear anything, or the right signals aren’t getting through the auditory system to the cognitive processing or memory centers.

 

More so, elders who confuse words or are unable to hear even though they are aware they are being spoken to become anxious and frustrated. Many just choose to keep quiet instead of asking others to repeat what they said or ask that they speak louder. Some become aggressive or irritable when grandchildren, children and every caregiver lose their patience with them. They feel people do not like them because it takes too much effort and trouble to communicate.

 

While it is easy to notice when parents in their senior years begin to have problems with their eyesight, people with hearing problems can remain seated for a long period of time and not say anything about hearing little of the conversation and feeling isolated.

 

 

All of these could lead to depression.

 

This is why screening for hearing loss is recommended for every adult who has reached fifty going into their senior years to prevent hastening the onset of hearing impairment and its implications.

 

A thorough examination of the auditory canal and tympanic membrane can identify causes of  hearing loss.

 

The common screening tests include a whispered voice test and audioscopy.

 

Older patients who admit to having difficulty hearing may be referred directly for audiometry

 

 

Audiometric testing is required to confirm hearing loss

 

A patient’s environment history can identify risk factors for hearing loss, especially noise exposure and use of ototoxic medications.

 

A lot of other conditions can interfere with the conduction of sound vibrations to the inner ear and their conversion to electrical impulses sent to the brain for processing.

 

Modern methods are continuously being developed to aid the more commonly used audiometric testing.

 

There has been a study conducted that the tablet-based pure-tone test and word-in-noise test are reliable and valid  screening tools for hearing loss among the elderly in Hong Kong elderly.

 

Whatever options are chosen, it is widely known that the Hong Kong health authorities give the best health care service to their elderly and these include programs to screen for loss of hearing to alleviate future problems.

 

 

If you think you suffer with hearing loss and need a hearing aid, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Why A Newborn Hearing Test Is Necessary (Even Without The Law)

Yes, it has a federal law in the United States requiring a newborn hearing test before an infant is discharged from the hospital. But it isn’t the single reason why parents should consent to a hearing test for their newborn babies!

 

Indeed, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends newborn hearing screenings. If a newborn didn’t undergo a hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital for any reason, the Academy recommends it by one month of age. In case of hearing issues, the baby should be enrolled in an early intervention program as early as three months or six months, at the latest.

 

This brings us to the question: Why are hearing screening tests so necessary that federal law and the AAP requires it?

 

Sense for Learning

 

Babies learn by listening to the sounds around them and develop their speech through their sense of hearing, too. Keep in mind, too, that the sense of hearing is so important in the womb – babies have been shown to turn their head and/or body toward the source of the sound.

 

This is the reason why obstetricians-gynecologists recommend pregnant mothers talk to their unborn babies and listen to music. These activities can enhance a baby’s sense of hearing when in the womb.

 

The newborn screening and diagnosis are of crucial importance in determining whether your baby has hearing-related issues, such as being hard of hearing or deaf. Without them, it’s difficult to know about the changes in hearing in the first months and years of your baby’s life.

 

Don’t rely on your personal observations about your baby’s response to external sounds, such as being startled by a loud sound or turning his head toward the sound. Such a response doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby can actually hear all external sounds. Babies who are either hard of hearing or deaf may hear certain sounds but may be unable to hear enough to hear and understand the spoken language.

 

Early Intervention as a Must

 

Infants who are hard of hearing or deaf need the right level of care and support from their parents and family, as well as the appropriate early intervention services. The wholistic approach is a must in the baby’s healthy development.

 

Otherwise, your baby’s communication skills in general and language skills in particular will be adversely affected, if he’s diagnosed later on to be hard of hearing or deaf. Indeed, a missed diagnosis hearing loss will also have adverse impact on your child’s socio-emotional development, academic achievements, and quality of life.

 

The earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. This is the general rule for infants with hearing issues, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends early intervention as early as six months old.

 

If you think your infant need a hearing test, please contact us for further consulation. We are a Hong Kong hearing & speech centre offering hearing test & assessment and hearing aid prescription.

 

 

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

https://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Who Needs to Undergo a Hearing Test?

Hearing test or audiometric test evaluates a person’s ability to hear. It particularly measures the ability of a sound to reach the person’s brain.  A hearing test can help specialists address hearing loss, and allow the patient to improve the quality of his life.

 

Anyone can have hearing loss. Even the healthiest of individuals may suffer from it. The problem with hearing loss is that it can progress gradually you may not even realize it is happening to you.

However, hearing tests are usually recommended to the following people: Continue reading

What to Expect on Your First Hearing Test

You’ve been contemplating on undergoing a hearing test for many years, but it’s only now that you have mustered the courage to do so. Now that you are booked for your very first hearing test, it is likely that you have some butterflies in your stomach. Maybe you’re unsure on what to bring, what to prepare, and what to expect from it.
 

If you’re worried that the procedure will take a lot of time, then fret not as a hearing test will only take an hour. It’s also painless so there’s no need to worry about getting aches from it. And it is relatively cheap. Continue reading

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HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Rm 02, 5/F.,
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