OUR PROCESS
INITIAL APPOINTMENT: Our initial appointment include history taking, ear canal examination, diagnostic evaluation of your hearing thresholds and discussion of possible hearing solutions if required.
You will be asked many questions about your hearing history, including the extent to which you feel your current hearing level is impacting on your everyday life. It’s vital we gain a detailed picture of your hearing difficulties and understand your lifestyle, your hearing needs and motivation to improve your hearing and quality of life, so we can tailor a personal hearing solution for you.
The diagnostic testing encompasses both sounds and speech. You will need to participate actively in these tests, which require your concentration but are otherwise painless.
This detailed assessment can take up to 60 minutes.
A full diagnostic hearing test usually comprises :
PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY: Pure tone audiometry determines the degree, shape and type of hearing loss in each ear. It also indicates whether further referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist is required.
TYMPANOMETRY: Tympanometry is used to assess middle ear function. This test can identify if there is a perforation in the eardrum; middle ear fluid; patent grommet; eustachian tube dysfunction and other medical conditions of the ear.
SPEECH AUDIOMETRY: Speech Audiometry is used to confirm our audiometric results and to help the audiologist assess if a hearing aid would be of benefit to you.
WHAT WILL THE RESULTS SHOW? Once the diagnostic hearing test is complete, your clinician will present you with a thorough explanation of your test results, with plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions. Depending on the results, we will advise you on whether amplification would be of benefit or not and guide you through the options. We aim to ensure you have a full understanding of your hearing loss and how it relates to the problems you are experiencing. We will send a report with the results to your GP or your referrer as well.
HEARING AID FITTING: Michael has extensive audiological experience and views the hearing aid fitting as both a scientific and collaborative process, ensuring the best results are obtained.
Current hearing aids have advanced computer circuitry that must be programmed to each individual ear. Because of this, a series verification processes are carried out to prescribe and fit each aid. Throughout the process, we will consult with you to determine how you feel about the sound of your devices, with adjustments made accordingly to suit your preferences.
Thorough explanations of care and maintenance. We will explain the cleaning and maintenance required for your devices in detail and ensure you have everything you need to get you started.
We will recommend when and where and how much to use the aids in relation to your personal goals which we discussed with you in earlier appointments.
We will make sure you know how you can ask questions, get help, spare parts etc. to keep you on track.
FOLLOW UP: All hearing aid fittings are then reviewed in our Follow Up appointment about 1-2 weeks later. This is your chance to ask more questions and get adjustments to the hearing aid sound after experiencing them in different situations and for us to do some objective testing on how much the hearing aids are helping you with the problems initially highlighted.
We made need to see you again –Not only do we love to hear about all the places you have found to try your new hearing, but sometimes it takes time for fine tuning to get things sounding just right. Arundel Hearing Centre has no limit to the number of follow up appointments for new hearing aid fittings – once you’re committed to amplification, it’s our job to achieve the best possible result.
ANNUAL AUDIOLOGY REVIEWS: Our friendly administrative team will keep you up to date with reminders of when you are due for an annual review of your hearing. The review appointments consist of a hearing test as well as a computer evaluation of your hearing aid settings and any adjustments required to ensure the aids suit your current hearing levels. This is also a good time for us to catch up on any lifestyle changes or different listening goals you may have.