Hearing is part of our general well being and our ability to communicate with our surroundings. Hearing is much more than just the sense of hearing, it is an integral part of connection, being present and communicating with our world. For children, hearing is one of the most important aspects of language acquisition.
Are you or your loved ones experiencing hearing difficulties? Does your family feel you cannot hear them well enough? Do your watch the television at high volumes or ask “What” often?
Our team of Audiologists at The Speech and Hearing Clinic – בית האוזן והשפה will perform a thorough hearing test that will provide information regarding your hearing abilities. If necessary, further recommendations will be made and we are here to guide you through your hearing journey.
We will start by saying that a hearing test should be performed if there is even the slightest concern, at any age.
Every hearing test begins with asking the patient questions regarding their hearing health and medical background. Our Audiologists dedicate time to listening to your hearing needs and understanding what impact the hearing difficulties have on your quality of life.
Experienced Audiologists administer the hearing test in an audiological sound proof room, with the most advanced audiological equipment. The aim of the hearing test is to confirm whether there is a hearing loss or hearing is within normal limits. In the case of a hearing loss, the Audiologist will make further recommendations regarding doctor referrals or hearing aid options if necessary.
Audiometry is the foundation for the hearing test. It measures the patients hearing thresholds at different frequencies – each ear is tested separately. In the event of a hearing loss, this test provides information regarding the type of hearing loss and its severity.
שמיעה היא לא רק פונקציה של זיהוי צלילים, אלא, גם פונקציה של הבנת השפה. כחלק מהבדיקה המקיפה, אנו מבצעים בדיקת SPEECH TESTING (בדיקות דיבור) אשר נותנות מידע לגבי יכולת הבחנת הדיבור.
Do you suffer from pressure in the ears, fluid in the ears or recurrent ear infections?
Our middle ear has a very important role in our hearing and tympanometry is aimed at testing middle ear functioning. We measure the eardrums movement in response to air pressure changes in the ear canal. This test can provide information regarding to possible causes of the hearing difficulties or hearing loss.
This test is dedicated to patients that complain of pressure in their ears, autophonia – hearing your own voice inside your head or noises in the ears. These complaints are similar to what people experience when taking off or landing on an airplane.
A questionnaire will be used as well as a test with air pressure changes so as to assess if the eustachian tube is functioning as it should.
There are cases that the standard hearing test of 250-8000 Hz is not sufficient and the Audiologist or referring Doctor may request testing Ultra high frequencies so as to provide further information regarding the hearing ability. There are cases where the standard hearing test results are within the norm, and a hearing loss is found in the extended high frequency range. This information is important for the Doctor and Audiologist to know.
Tinnitus is a common complaint among people who come for hearing tests, as it can greatly impact one’s quality of life. Tinnitus can can lead to sleep disturbances, impact one’s mood, mental health, and even attention abilities. At The Speech and Hearing Clinic – בית האוזן והשפה- we try to understand the source or cause of the tinnitus. Possible causes of tinnitus include: hearing loss, noise exposure, certain medications, underlying diseases, psychological factors, or ear injuries. At the Speech and Hearing Clinic – בית האוזן והשפה- we conduct hearing tests and additional assessments (such as relevant questionnaires) that provide psycho-acoustic information regarding the tinnitus. Additional tests may be necessary as recommended by the treating medical team. Currently, there is no single treatment that can resolve tinnitus. However, we offer solutions from the audiological perspective by means of hearing aid fiitings and maskers that can divert attention from the ringing noise. However, it is important to note that their are additional treatments available and our Audiologists will recommend as necessary.