Hearing clinics are places where you can get a hearing test and be fitted with a hearing aid. They also provide other services for people who have hearing loss.
Having hearing problems can be a big problem, especially if it affects your social life. It can make it hard to maintain relationships, which can lead to frustration and isolation.
Diagnosis
Audiologists have a long list of tests they perform in order to determine the root cause of hearing loss. These include otoscopy (an examination of the eardrum), tympanometry (a test of the middle ear) and a pure-tone test.
In a nutshell, the pure-tone test requires the patient to raise his/her hand or press a button when he/she hears a specific sound. Combined with a speech reception threshold measurement, this is one of the most accurate ways to detect mild hearing loss.
Before the appointment, the audiologist will likely collect information about your health, lifestyle and any noise exposure in your job or hobbies. These questions may be verbally or prompted in a printed questionnaire or pre-appointment app. This initial intake is important for your audiologist to get an understanding of your hearing needs. Establishing rapport and respect from the beginning is key to building trust and a positive experience for both parties. This can take time, but it’s well worth the effort to help you keep your hearing healthy.
Treatment
Hearing clinics can provide a variety of treatment options for hearing loss. These include removing excess earwax, treating underlying conditions (such as fluid in the ear), or using hearing aids. If medical treatments are unsuccessful, a hearing healthcare professional may explore more invasive treatment options such as surgery or cochlear implants.
Getting fitted for hearing aids improves communication, emotional and physical health and cognitive function. It also helps people with hearing loss maintain relationships and prevents social isolation. It can even help prevent mental health issues. Having a pair of hearing aids also makes it easier to enjoy TV shows and movies as they aren’t muffled or hard to follow. Finding a hearing clinic that provides these services near you is easy with Healthy Hearing’s large directory of trusted, consumer-reviewed clinics. You can also use our clinic locator to find a VA clinic that offers hearing care to veterans. Regardless of your age, addressing your hearing health is essential to maintaining your health and quality of life.
Preventive Care
Hearing clinics offer a range of preventive care services that can help you stay healthy and keep your family healthy. This includes health screenings and annual check-ups, as well as vaccines and other services that can help you avoid or delay getting sick or keep a condition from worsening.
Preventive care helps you catch problems early and make sure you get the best treatment possible, which is why it is so important. Under the Affordable Care Act, many preventive medical services are covered at 100% without any cost-sharing (copays or deductibles) when you see a doctor or healthcare professional within our network.
However, there are some situations when a visit may be classified as diagnostic and you would need to pay. This is especially true for visits that are billed for an evaluation of a medical problem you already have, such as a physical exam, or a diagnostic test, such as a CT scan or ultrasound.
Education
Education is an important part of any hearing health practice. Audiology clinics offer a range of education services, including workshops, audiology outreach events, and public screenings.
Education and rehabilitation programs are designed to promote the self-management of hearing loss, provide information about devices and services available, and teach communication and listening strategies (ASHA, 2016b; Boothroyd, 2007; Sweetow and Palmer, 2005). Often, these programs include psychosocial support for individuals who are newly diagnosed or in their late stages of hearing loss.
In addition to providing in-person education, audiology clinics have also been known to offer supplemental online or multimedia educational and m-health programs (Ferguson et al. 2016, 2020; Gomez and Ferguson, 2020). These options may be helpful for those who have challenges with traveling to an in-person clinic for services or who live in rural settings, where access to services is limited.
Leave a Comment
You must be <a href="https://cialisoverthecounternorx.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fcialisoverthecounternorx.com%2Fhearing-clinics%2F">logged in</a> to post a comment.