HEAR4U
Hearing Tests
Hearing Testing & Hearing Services in Lake Charles, LA.
What To Expect During Your
Hearing Test Appointment
Detailed Case History
Taking a case history involves gathering comprehensive information about a patient’s medical, hearing, and social history. This includes inquiries about current symptoms, past medical conditions, medications, noise exposure, family history of hearing loss, and lifestyle factors. This information aids in diagnosing hearing problems and tailoring treatment plans.
Otoscopic Examination
An otoscopic examination involves visually inspecting the ear canal and eardrum using a video otoscope. This instrument allows clinicians to assess the ear’s external and middle structures for abnormalities, such as inflammation, wax buildup, infections, or structural issues. Video otoscopy is crucial in aiding the diagnosis of ear conditions and guiding appropriate treatment.
Speech Testing
Speech testing during a hearing exam assesses how well you understand spoken words. It involves presenting words or sentences at varying volumes. This helps determine your speech reception threshold (SRT) and speech discrimination, crucial for understanding everyday conversations, beyond just detecting sounds.
Pure Tone Testing
Audiometry is a diagnostic method used to evaluate hearing function by measuring an individual’s ability to perceive sounds at various frequencies and volumes. Audiometry assesses hearing thresholds, aiding in the identification of hearing loss types, degrees, and configurations. Pure Tone Audiometry is essential to diagnosis and treatment strategies. There are NO shortcuts to proper hearing assessment.
Why Hearing Tests are Important
A hearing test, conducted by a licensed professional hearing specialist, is the first step and treating hearing difficulties. It can involve a variety of tests that measure an individual’s ability to hear frequency, pitch, and range of tones. During your evaluation, Kirt Loupe will use specialized state of the art and latest up-to-date technology to assess your hearing and understanding capabilities. A thorough collection of patient history is also necessary to gain a more complete understanding of each individual’s sound perception and daily life-style activities.
Ten Reasons to Get a Hearing Test By A Professional
- Early detection of hearing loss
- Accurate and comprehensive assessment
- Identification of potential health risks associated with hearing loss
- Guidance for appropriate treatment strategies
- Implementation of timely interventions, such as hearing aids
- Promotion of effective communication
- Enhancement of social engagement
- Improved quality of life
- Monitoring of auditory health over time
- Identification of hearing issues in infants and children
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
18% of adults aged 20-69 have speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears from among those who report 5 or more years of exposure to very loud noise at work, as compared to 5.5 percent of adults with speech-frequency hearing loss in both ears who report no occupational noise exposure.
Hearing Loss Statistics in The U.S.
One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a link between hearing loss and age?
There is a strong relationship between age and reported hearing loss: 18 percent of American adults 45-64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65-74 years old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old or older have a hearing loss.
Why should I only trust a professional hearing specialist with my hearing?
Licensed hearing specialists are required by their State Boards to use callibrated, audiometic equipment to properly and accurately assess every evaluation. They must adhere to strict standards of hearing healthcare, in much the same way other practitioners in the medical industry are also required to do. Ongoing continuing education annually is required by their State Boards to renew the license to practice, and stay current with procedures and technological advances.
Who is the typical person suffering from tinnitus?
Of adults ages 65 and older in the United States, 12.3 percent of men and nearly 14 percent of women are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is identified more frequently in white individuals and the prevalence of tinnitus is almost twice as frequent in the South as in the Northeast.
How many adults could benefit from hearing aids?
Approximately 28.8 million adults in the United States alone could benefit from using hearing aids.
Are there different styles of hearing aids?
There are three basic styles of hearing aids. The styles differ by size, their placement on or inside the ear, and the degree to which they amplify sound. A hearing specialist is an expert in helping you determine which style is best for your specific needs.
From Our Patients
The charging station is so easy and not having to worry about changing batteries and batteries going dead on me at the most inopportune times is a huge plus. With these they keep their charge well past a days and nights work. They have never run out of charge on me during waking hours.
Having to talk on the phone was a nightmare for me but with the bluetooth system and having them paired to my phone is a god send. I can now talk on the phone anywhere I am. I no longer need to search for a quiet spot or go outside to be able to talk. One thing that I find special is the way you can adjust them from the app on your phone. That makes it so easy to adjust to different environments with a touch of button. The bottom line is I could not be happier with the performance of these new hearing aids and I am so glad I spent the money and got something that works so well for me.”