|
As we become adults there are many times that we need to seek medical attention. We have all gotten the occasional flu or cold or even some other symptom where we ran to the doctor to see what it was so we could get it cured. Many times, though, we neglect some very obvious maintenance items. One area of neglect is in the senses. We all tend to take for granted the fact that we can see, hear, taste and smell. Of these, hearing is one of the senses that seems to be neglected the most. Audio loss as you age is just something that happens to nearly all of us. Because of this it is not uncommon for many people, especially seniors, to have this loss. This can at times go completely undetected. How many times have you talked to someone who is elderly and you found you had to repeat yourself? If you are elderly how many times have you asked someone to speak up because you were having difficulty understanding them? To avoid this embarrassing situation and to catch this problem before it becomes serious you need to make an appointment with an audiologist and have a complete hearing test done. At the appointment the doctor will use an audiometer to administer the hearing test. This device produces tones at a specific set of frequencies and volume levels. You will be seated in a sound proof room while the exam is going on. Once the exam is in progress, to convey to the doctor you have heard the tone you will either raise your hand or press a button. As the test proceeds the audiologist will plot your results on a graph based on the decibel levels and varying loudness you recognized. With this graph the doctor can see at a glance which frequencies you are not recognizing normally. In addition your doctor may also perform an in noise exam. This hearing test measures a person's ability to recognize normal speech in quiet spaces and around noise. This test usually consists of the patient repeating a sentence or set of sentences in both a quiet environment and in an environment that has competing noise levels introduced form different directions. This is to measure the maximum signal to noise ratio present in a room where you can recognize the sentences being spoken and then repeat them back correctly at least 50% of the time. If it is determined that your loss is significant enough for you to need some assistance there are several things that can be done about it. A mechanical aid is the most common device that will be recommended. There are several types available. One of the most common is the ITE or in the ear aid. These devices fit in the outer bowl of the ear and are generally custom made to fit each ear. They can be used in mild hearing loss and even in some severe loss. There are also other options available such as behind the ear aides, canal aides, which are surgically implanted, and even extended wear aids. To decide which is best for you just talk with your audiologist to see what system would best help your situation. Don't let your hearing slip away. Get more information about Tacoma, WA hearing test at: http://www.miracle-ear-tacoma.com.
Related Articles -
tacoma, wa hearing test,
|
