Hearing Tests: Are They Required Before Buying Hearing Aids?

Perhaps you’ve recently noticed that your hearing has become a little worse and you’re unable to hear sounds or conversations as easily as you once could. A hearing aid seems like the next logical step – a means of improving and enhancing your hearing – but do you need to have a hearing test before buying a hearing aid?

Before choosing any medical treatment for hearing related concerns, a hearing test is usually a necessity. A hearing test is important as it will allow an audiologist to determine the cause of your hearing loss, as well as any underlying medical conditions that may have played a role in your diminishing hearing. 

Why are hearing Tests Important Before Buying a Hearing Aid? 

Instead of opting to buy a hearing without undertaking a hearing consultation, it’s best to book a hearing test so that your audiologist can properly evaluate your hearing loss and the causes behind it. By doing this, your audiologist will be in a better position to recommend a specific hearing aid that should make managing your hearing loss a little easier. 

Hearing loss is caused by lots of different things, which is why having an evaluation to determine the cause of your hearing loss is so vital. 

For instance, for someone living with tinnitus, they may hear a constant ringing in their ears. Luckily, there are devices that can help by decreasing the perception of these noises, making it easier to hear. Whereas, someone who has developed age-related loss of hearing will likely need a different type of device. 

That’s where a hearing test, to determine the cause of your hearing loss, can be invaluable, because it allows your audiologist to find the right device for you. 

How are Hearing Aid Evaluations Performed? 

When your audiologist performs a hearing test, they are assessing your hearing system for a number of different things. The testing process looks at a number of different things, including whether you are able to understand and recognize speech at a range of distances. 

The testing process can be used to work out how well you can hear a range of phrases and whether you’re able to understand the vibration that the bone behind the back of the ear picks up. It can determine the difference between different forms of hearing loss, making it easier for your audiologist to diagnose a specific type of hearing loss. 

When it comes to wearing a hearing aid, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what a hearing device can offer you. While hearing aids do a fantastic job of enhancing hearing and making it easier to hear, they aren’t able to reproduce natural hearing. Their technological capabilities are incredible, but they aren’t as advanced as the natural hearing system, so the results may be different to what you would expect from your natural hearing. However, they still offer a fantastic way to restore lost hearing and make everyday life far easier. 

What Other Factors Should You Consider? 

Once you’ve had an evaluation by your audiologist and they have diagnosed you with a hearing condition, the next step is to select your hearing aids. 

By speaking to an audiologist, you will gain all of the support that you need in relation to any hearing-related issues that you have. Your audiologist can explain what’s going on with your hearing in a clear and easy-to-understand way, before talking you through your options for treating or managing the condition. 

One of the first things to think about is your hearing needs and what your priorities are for your hearing. This is where your lifestyle factors come into the process and you need to think about what you want to get out of having hearing aids, such as being able to hear your favorite music more clearly, for instance and needing your hearing aids to have a music setting on them. 

It’s also worth thinking about the various features you can have your hearing aids equipped with. From Bluetooth connectivity to directional microphones, you can select a handful of features that will best compliment your lifestyle. Your audiologist will help you determine what features your hearing aid can be equipped with that you will benefit from. 

Contact us today to take control of your hearing

Whether you’ve noticed an issue with your hearing or you simply want to make sure that everything is as it should be, get in touch with Better Hearing of Madison County on (315) 363-7869 to book a hearing screening consultation.