Adult Hearing Tests
Have you or your close ones noticed a hearing change?
Hearing Loss in Adults
Signs of hearing loss in adults you or a loved one may experience:
- Difficulty hearing in background noise
- Turning the TV or radio louder than others
- Asking people to repeat; saying ‘what’ often
- Difficulty understanding women’s and children’s voice
- When people are speaking feeling like they sound muffled
- Difficulty understanding people unless they are facing you
- Constant noise or ringing in the ears
As we age, our hearing may decline gradually, similar to changes in eyesight and other health issues. Taking steps to address and manage hearing loss or conditions early on can greatly improve your quality of life.
Currently, one in six Australians aged 60 and older is facing some form of hearing impairment, a problem that tends to deteriorate with age. Hearing loss can sneak up on us over time, making it difficult to detect as we develop coping strategies to deal with it. Typically, it is our family and friends who will be the first to notice the impact of hearing loss.
Information about our Adult Hearing Tests
A hearing assessment is a non-invasive way to check how well someone can hear different volumes and pitches of sounds. It can pick up on even the smallest changes in hearing, and determine if the issue is sensorineural (nerve or cochlea damage) or conductive (eardrum, ossicle bones, or fluid damage). The results will indicate a mild or severe hearing loss and whether hearing aids are necessary, or if other actions should be taken.
Our Audiologist will conduct a thorough hearing evaluation assessing you in a few different areas. This test will take approximately 1 hour and will include the following:
Tympanometry: this test is used to identify issues in the middle ear, such as the accumulation of fluid or wax, a perforated eardrum, or damage to the tiny bones in the middle ear. It also includes acoustic reflex testing to assess the function of the inner ear, cranial nerves, and brainstem. During the test, a soft plug is placed in each ear, one at a time, to change pressure, create noise, and monitor the ear’s responses to sound and different pressures. |
Absolutely! Your hearing test results will be shared with you during your appointment once all assessments are finished. Our audiologist will explain the results from the tests in a simple and easy-to-follow manner. Following this, recommendations and choices for hearing support, such as hearing aids, or other necessary steps will be talked over with you to ensure you are well-informed and at ease. Additionally, a detailed report of your test results will be given to both you (if requested) and your referring Doctor (if needed).
A referral is not required for a hearing test however, a GP or Specialists referral will entitle the patient to a nominal Medicare rebate. For some pension card holders, this service is free of charge.