Frequently Asked Questions
When should I send my patients for a hearing test?
We believe in promoting hearingcare as a key component of an overall wellbeing programme.
As with all health checks, baseline screening is essential in monitoring future potential problems.
We suggest that baseline testing is established around 45 years of age.
Hearing deterioration by ageing occurs slowly and research has shown most people wait 11 years to seek help. Promoting the need for regular checks helps earlier identification and more successful intervention.
Hearing aid use has been shown to offer a more fulfilled retired life.
Users report benefit socially, physically and psychologically.
What questions should I ask to help find out if someone has hearing difficulties?
Although there is no standard set of questions, the following can sometimes help to identify more common problems:-
If your patient answers "yes" to any of these questions, a hearing loss may be indicated. We would suggest baseline testing is carried out.
At what level of hearing loss are hearing aids required?
This is highly dependent on the individual. Some people can cope with a slight loss of hearing without any problems whereas the next person may struggle to follow conversation.
Audiometry only reveals objective measurement of threshold but cannot indicate reduced cognitive ability.
As soon as a person finds they are having difficulty following conversational speech, or missing out on environmental cues, they should have their hearing assessed.
Hearing aid technology now provides an adequate solution for any degree and type of hearing impairment.
One of my patients has hearing aids that they are not happy with. The supplier has tried to sort out her problem but they have been unable to. Are you able to see someone who has been supplied with hearing aids elsewhere and intervene?
Anyone is welcome if they have hearing aids or not. It is a sad fact that as hearing aids are becoming more advanced; they are increasingly becoming harder to fit.
We are seeing more and more people who have been supplied with high quality hearing aids, which have not been correctly set for them or where the suppler has let them down by moving away or retiring. In rare cases, they have been forced to cease trading by our regulatory body, The Hearing Aid Council. Sometimes only one visit can be all that it takes to retune a hearing aid correctly.
As we are independent, we are able to honour any existing manufacturers warranty in full.
Many of my patients, particularly children, have perforated ear drums following Otitis Media or have had grommets inserted and ask me whether its safe to go swimming. What advice can I give?
It is safe to swim with good quality swim plugs. We only recommend the use of anatomically produced custom-made products. These are made from addition-vulcanising super soft silicon which is water resistant and 100% buoyant. The plugs are individually manufactured to seal the ear and come in a wide range of bright and psychedelic colours to appeal to younger children. They are supplied in a special 'stay-dry' container for use at the pool or on the beach.
An aural impression is taken which is a quick, painless process. Swimplugs are only as good as the original impression and the skill of the laboratory involved. We only use the finest grade impression material and the support of the leading laboratory in Germany for these products. As we have to send the impressions abroad, there is a three-week turn around period for swimplugs
As the ear canal must be clear of debris before we can take impressions, we recommend the ear is cleared before an appointment as we are not licensed to do this at present. Due to the pathology, we suggest that this is done with micro suction or a Jobsons Horn.