Hearing Loss Consultation

Step 1: Listening

We take time to listen to your hearing health experience, your symptoms and the impact on your life.
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Step 2: Testing

We then perform two in-depth clinical examinations, one to look at the health of the ears and the second to test your hearing.

• Otoscopy – using a digital video otoscope, a clinician will inspect the health of your ears
• Audiometry  – a series of sounds played to measure the sounds and tones you can hear.
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Step 3: Talking

We discuss the test results and evaluate your hearing health and if you need hearing aids. Your next appointment is booked for ease, and your hearing aids will be fitted at that next session.

During the consultation, no decisions about your treatment have to be made. We understand it can take time to adjust to the idea that you may need help with your hearing.

Your hearing consultation results are stored and saved securely, so you can return at another appointment if you prefer. Alternatively, and what most patients do, after discussing which hearing aids are best for you, we order and book a return visit for your hearing aids to be fitted.
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What Is Hearing Loss?

Hearing Loss is a general term we use to describe when we can’t hear. There are different types of hearing loss and different levels of severity. Hearing loss can be described clinically as mild, moderate, severe or profound. Hearing loss can be something people are born with or can be brought on by various causes. The main reason is age.
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It's the impact of the hearing loss that matters...

Once hearing loss has occurred, the damage is sadly irreversible; however, hearing aids can improve your hearing by making sounds louder and clearer.

The technological advancement in hearing aids is incredible. For many patients, wearing hearing aids can mean the difference between enjoying their career and retiring too soon.
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Age-Related Hearing Loss

Hearing loss due to ageing and other factors is known as Presbycusis and is commonly referred to as age-related Hearing Loss, sometimes represented by the acronym ARHL. As the name suggests, our ability to hear as we age can diminish, but the condition is multifactorial, and other issues, as well as age, contribute. The other factors include genetics and lifestyle. Everyone is different. Just as one person may age differently from the next, your hearing may be better or worse than someone born in the same year.
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Genetics and Hearing Loss

Clinical research shows that genetics play a role in when age-related hearing loss may occur. Knowing your family history is helpful for every medical condition. Realistically, it’s not always possible to retrace, but we encourage our patients to discuss and share with their families, especially if the hearing has declined early. The more we share and discuss hearing health, the more normal getting our hearing checked and managed will be.
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Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors can also contribute to age-related hearing loss, as well. Nights spent in loud clubs in the 60s,70s, 80s, and 90s or jobs in industry without hearing protection could now be taking their toll in combination with age-related hearing loss.

Hearing Loss is gradual and happens over many years. Hearing loss will creep up on you; others may notice it before you do. This subtlety in loss can mean it’s harder to recognise or pinpoint the moment when it went from ok to not feeling right.

Age-related hearing loss isn’t something you have to accept or alter your life to accommodate. With the proper care, you can live your life to the full in any environment without compromise. Being tuned into your hearing health is important because hearing loss happens over time. We often don’t notice it. Like other parts of your body, there are symptoms.

Hearing loss can result from noise exposure. This type is called Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

Exposure to noise levels over 85 decibels for prolonged periods can cause damage to your hearing. This damage is irreversible, but hearing aids improve the clarity and volume of the sound and hearing protection can prevent further damage to the hearing.
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What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

• Struggling with the TV and turning the sound up
• Struggling with noise
• Avoiding busy places
• Declining social invitations.

If you have any of these symptoms, please book in with our trained audiologists for a hearing loss consultation.
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Otoscopy

Otoscopy is a clinical technique to examine parts of the ear, ear canal and ear drum. The medical device we use to do this is called an Otoscope. If you have ever had a quick examination at your GPs, they may have used a basic version. The Otoscope we use in practice is much more sophisticated.

The Otoscope has a narrow end called the speculum; a new cover is used for each ear, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of hygiene in the clinic. This is gently inserted into the ear by our expert audiologists. This is painless and a procedure that our clinicians have performed on thousands of patients.

The clinician will inspect the external auditory canal and ear drum. We look for abnormalities or obstructions like wax and check that both ears are anatomically healthy.

This examination takes just a few moments for both ears.  
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Audiometric test

An audiometry test is the way we evaluate your ability to hear sounds. You are measuring two elements, your ability to hear different volumes and tones or frequencies.  

The volume of sound is measured in decibels (dB), and the tone of sound by speed, cycles per second, in Hertz (Hz).

Wearing over-the-head headphones, we will play you a series of sounds. These sounds will be a combination of varying frequencies at different volumes. We also examine how you recognise certain words, as consonants can be harder to hear if hearing loss is present.  

The information is presented in an audiogram graph and will indicate how well you can hear based on standardised measurements.

Based on the hearing test results, we can determine if you have a hearing loss, the type, severity and the best way to manage it. Hearing then can be improved using hearing aids.
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What Happens After My Hearing Test?

After discussing your hearing test results and if you need hearing aids, we will secure an appointment for you to return and have your hearing aids fitted. Getting used to hearing aids can take some adjustments, so we use this appointment to demonstrate everything you need to know about your hearing aids. Like all appointments, you are welcome to bring a friend or relative.

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Book a Test or Treatment Online

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