It All Starts With Our Simple 3-Step Process

Hearing impairment affects more than just your ability to hear — it affects your quality of life.

Allegany Hearing & Balance Center stresses the importance of a complete, accurate, and timely hearing test. The hearing evaluation is just the beginning of your treatment, and it’s essential to starting your unique care plan in motion and taking action on your hearing loss. Your in-depth hearing evaluation will help us craft a treatment plan that renews your ability to hear, allowing you to truly hear your best and live life your best on your terms.

Learn about the patient journey

 

Step One: The Interview

The interview is a critical step in the process that is personalized to your specific listening situations and goals. In this step we’ll determine the nature of your hearing concerns and uncover any specific areas requiring further attention. Some typical questions you’ll want to prepare for are:

  • What listening situations do you want to hear better in?
  • How are your hearing concerns impacting you and others in your life?
  • How much background noise do you experience on a daily basis?

Audiologist Shyler talking to patient

 

Step Two: The Hearing Review

The hearing review is an important step in understanding how the auditory system helps us hear and how each part of the ear plays a critical role in the way we interpret sound from our environments. We’ll conduct a hearing exam and a diagnostic test that will identify where and why there may be moments lacking clarity in hearing or understanding – referred to as Sound Void®.

  • A middle-ear evaluation measures how your eardrum and hearing react to varying degrees of air pressure
  • A speech assessment measures how well you hear and understand ordinary conversation at different volumes

 

Step Three: Treatment Solutions

We will determine your course of treatment based on your hearing test results, hearing goals and listening lifestyle. Treatment solutions can include:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How is hearing tested in newborns?
Before your child leaves the hospital, they’re given an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test. When sleeping, an earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are played, and the ear’s response is measured. If the newborn does not have a hearing impairment, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal being measured by the microphone. When a baby does have a hearing loss, no echo can be measured on the OAE test. Please see our section about child hearing loss for more information on hearing impairment and preventive measures for all ages.
How long does a hearing test take?
Approximately 20 minutes.
How often should I get my hearing tested?
This depends on lifestyle as well as age. If you are exposed to loud noises, we recommend an annual hearing test, whether there are signs of hearing loss or not. If you are over 50, we also recommend you get a baseline test, even if you have no symptoms of hearing loss. If you are exhibiting signs and symptoms of hearing loss, please call today to schedule an appointment. Signs include but are not limited to:
• Feeling that people mumble
• Having to turn up the volume on your television, telephone, or personal listening devices
• Trouble following conversations in in noisy places (concerts, restaurants)