The Process of a Hearing Test
Miracle-Ear has been in the business of helping patients hear for over 60 years. The company was founded by Ken Dahlberg, Jr., a World War II veteran who invented a pillow radio which was meant to help wounded veterans hear better while recovering in the hospital. This idea, as well as the company Dahlberg launched from it, Dahlberg, Inc. later became the foundation for Miracle-Ear.
Hearing centers in and around Cleveland, OH offer patients a free initial hearing test. Before starting the test, the patient will first discuss their listening and hearing needs with the hearing consultant, and they will also provide the consultant with a complete medical history. Sometimes, issues are present that cannot be resolved with hearing aids, and the hearing consultant will refer the patient to a medical professional to resolve those issues.
The first hearing test is usually a 60 to 90 minute appointment, and Miracle-Ear hearing centers will usually ask patients to bring along a companion. The companion should be the patient’s primary communication partner on a daily basis, so often it’s suggested that the companion is their spouse or adult child. The companion will be asked to be involved in the entire testing process; they are beneficial to the hearing test because they will often know more about the patient’s hearing loss than the patient! They can also be used for verification purposes, too.
The consultant will first examine the patient’s ears with a video otoscope, and then test the patient with speech and tone tests to determine their level of hearing loss. It is not uncommon for people to want to avoid admitting they are suffering from a hearing loss. However, getting a hearing test is extremely important, especially over the age of 55. If hearing loss goes untreated for too long, many consequences, mostly concerning quality of life, could occur. Untreated hearing loss will put a person’s physical, emotional, mental and social well-being at risk. Depression and isolation can result from ignoring hearing loss, and in some cases, even economic issues could arise as a result of unaided hearing loss. Communication in relationships can suffer, and some physical issues could occur as well, such as dizziness or hypertension. Miracle-Ear recommends that if you are concerned about your hearing, you should get tested at a hearing center, no matter what age you are.