What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Reviewing Your Medical History

Your clinician will do whatever they can to get a complete picture of your hearing loss,
including asking about your medical history. They are assessing how you perceive your
hearing in comparison to how the people around you perceive your hearing.

Talking About Your Lifestyle

Next, the clinician will want to understand your particular hearing needs and your current
and past exposure to noise. Be prepared to discuss your hobbies, as well as your physical
activities and your occupation.

Hearing Test and Assessment

The hearing test will start with a physical examination of your ears. An otoscope is used by the clinician to view the inner workings of your ears. The otoscope doesn’t hurt, so don’t be nervous about this part. Several other non-invasive tests may be used to determine.

How Your Ears are Working Mechanically

Finally, the “hearing” part of the exam will begin. A pure-tone test and a speech recognition test may be used to assess your actual hearing levels. As these tests are performed, the results are recorded on a strip of paper known as an audiogram.

Understanding the Audiogram

After the hearing assessment, the clinican will review the audiogram and interpret the results for you. If the audiogram indicates that you have hearing loss, the clinician will discuss options with you.

Solution Options

Once the evaluation and assessment are complete, the hearing healthcare professional will explain your solution options. If it’s determined that hearing aids can help, you’ll get a personalized demonstration of the different instruments that are appropriate for your level of hearing loss as well as your preferences for size, color and features.