Hearing Professionals, Hearing Tests & Technology

Part 2 of 3

by David Nicholas, RN, MSN

Don't be afraid to explore technology!

Hearing Professionals

If you have not yet met with an Ear, Nose, & Throat physician (ENT) and either an Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist, you should meet with them soon. An ENT checks for medical reasons you are not hearing well and can provide an initial diagnosis. Common causes include:

Trauma.

Genetic or hereditary conditions.

Diseases or tumors.

Being around certain chemicals or loud noises.

After assessing you, they can build a plan for any medical issues. They may also recommend other hearing service providers to you.

Next, you may want to see an audiologist or a hearing instrument specialist. An audiologist specializes in evaluating and managing hearing loss. They can test your hearing and advise on devices that may be helpful. A Hearing Instrument Specialist is similar but typically provides testing & advice for hearing aids. (If you have not already seen an ENT, they may suggest a great one.)

Often, the severity, suddenness, and causes of your hearing loss may help guide you to which one you should see first.

Before your first visit, make a list of your physicians, allergies, medications (including strength and times), and personal and family medical history. If you have other symptoms, like tinnitus or vertigo, write those down too. It is also helpful to describe when your hearing loss first began and when you have the most challenging time hearing, like in crowded restaurants or meetings. I also suggest you list all your questions – yes, all of them – and keep them handy on your phone. A good hearing professional will help you answer most, if not all, of these. You may also want to bring a close family member or friend to that appointment as an extra set of ears to help describe when you don't hear well.

Hearing Tests

After meeting with one of the hearing professionals, you will most likely have a hearing test. Although these are conducted slightly differently in different places, they are painless and usually quick (less than an hour). First, they will look in your ears for any apparent problems. They will then lead you into a quiet room and, using headphones, you will be played a series of tones and asked to listen to and repeat different words. It is normal if you get nervous about these tests – I've been through several now – and still get nervous each time. Keep breathing. You are fine.

The hearing test teaches you more about your hearing. It can help determine what type of hearing loss you have: conductive, sensorineural, or mixed (both). It also creates an audiogram or picture of your hearing. The audiogram shows what tone(s) you have difficulty hearing and the volume needed to hear those tones. The audiogram will also show the degree of your hearing loss, usually as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. This hearing test will give you a good sign of hearing devices and strategies that may work for you. These hearing tests can also show how your hearing changes over time and how helpful different treatments are for you. (When you get the results, ask for a copy, and save a copy on your phone as well!)

**Illustration credit Hough Ear Institute

Technology

Many devices are on the market, some of which are likely to help you. There are hearing aids, smartphone apps, cochlear implants, bone conduction headphones, hearing loops, real-time closed captioning and text-to-speech devices, and many more. In addition, most computers, tablets, and phones now have built-in assistive technologies. In short, there's more technology available for the hard-of-hearing now than ever before. Your hearing professionals can guide you to the things that work best for your specific situation. So take advantage of their advice, but don’t be hesitant to experiment boldly!

(And if your technology requires batteries, chargers, or extra components, always be sure to have spares with you!)

Putting it all together

Your hearing professionals and hearing test will be excellent guides as you move forward. Next month, we will talk about Moving Forward & Communicating Effectively in all situations.

About the writer:

David Nicholas, RN, MSN, has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Angelo State University. He is passionate about people and living well and he oversees one of the most successful rehabilitation hospitals in the Southwest. Five years ago, David already had partial hearing loss in his right ear but then suffered complete hearing loss in his left ear. He is married with two children and a pack of unruly dogs. He loves to barbecue, spend time with his family and help others.