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Birmingham Hearing Tests
Hearing Tests
in Birmingham, AL
If you’re experiencing issues with your hearing, then your doctor might want you to take a hearing test. Hearing tests are essential for establishing a baseline of listening ability and to help plan treatments for improvement. As adults age, hearing loss becomes more and more likely; about 15% of people between the ages of 45 and 65 have some moderate degree of hearing loss already. Typically, Birmingham hearing test patients will have their audiology exam performed by a local ENT doctor once every few years to gauge progress.
How is your Hearing?
Why are Hearing Tests Important?
Hearing tests are important because hearing loss can either be caused by something benign or insidious. Having a trained ENT doctor nearby who can properly diagnose your hearing issues can make the difference between a restored, protected listening ability and further loss or even total deafness.
For most people, hearing loss is gradual. You might not even know you have a problem hearing until someone tells you that you’re shouting or listening to music or television too loudly. This is why it’s important to have your hearing checked by a local ENT regularly to keep on top of things before they become intractable or dangerous.
There are also social issues that come with the loss of hearing. Older adults in particular who don’t treat their hearing loss are more often left out of social events they’d otherwise participate in as they can’t experience it properly. Hearing loss leads to isolation, as it is frequently described as an embarrassing condition.
What are Common Causes of Hearing Loss?
Patients looking for hearing tests near Birmingham typically have some form of hearing loss that can be related to:
- being around loud sounds at work too much
- mowing the lawn
- using power tools
- listening to loud music
- impacted ear wax
- head impacts
- ear infections
- drug reactions
- genetic hearing issues
What to Expect During a Hearing Test
When you come in for a Birmingham hearing test, the whole process will take less than half an hour. Hearing tests are painless, and you will not be startled by the sounds used for them.
Each ear will be checked for hearing loss in a soundproof booth where you will be listening to various volumes and pitches of noises with a pair of headphones. You might also be asked to listen to people talking at different volumes to see what you can understand and repeat.
Hearing Test Results
Getting a local ENT to perform a hearing test on you won’t result in a pass-or-fail grade; listening quality is a spectrum. It’s possible to measure in decibels each ear’s ability to hear and adjust them accordingly with an appropriate treatment plan.
You might be surprised to learn just how severe your hearing loss is, as it has a tendency to creep up on you over time, but don’t be alarmed. Your doctor will be able to provide you with a roadmap of treatment back to better hearing.
Hearing Loss Treatments
Birmingham ENT patients who have undergone a hearing test and had their results professionally evaluated will typically be given a few options for treatments which can include:
1) Hearing Aids
Far from the clunky hearing aids of grandpa’s time, modern hearing aids are much smaller and function better than ever before. Some hearing aids can even fit inside your ear.
2) Preventative Education
It will be important for you to understand how to safeguard your ears to protect the hearing skills you still have, regardless of their level of diminishment. Your local ENT doctor will be able to educate you on the best practices to make sure your ears function well for the long run.
3) Surgical Hearing Restoration
For some patients, surgical options are available to help restore their hearing. This might be in the form of implanting a hearing device or addressing a problem with either the inner or outer ear so that sound can properly travel through it.
Get Your Hearing Tested Today
It’s never too early to start looking after your hearing; you might not even know that you’re losing it. Scott Robertson’s nearby ENT clinic can provide hearing tests around Birmingham for patients seeking proactive treatment as well as those who want to restore their hearing back to functional levels and better. Reach out to us via phone or email to learn more about our services and protect your hearing today!
Contact
2001 Providence Park
Birmingham, AL 35242
Office: (205) 598-6060
Fax: (205) 407-4072
Office Hours
Mon - Thur
7:30am - 5:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 12:00pm
Sat - Sun
Closed
Areas Served
ENT Services
Patients
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The office of J. Scott Robertson MD PC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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