Did you know that only 17% of those who could benefit from a hearing aid actually use one? The first step in knowing if you could benefit from a hearing aid is to determine whether you have hearing loss. If you or a loved one think you may be suffering from hearing loss, contacting a compassionate and caring hearing healthcare professional, like the audiologists at Texas Professional Hearing Center can be the first step toward a happier, more fulfilled life.
Diagnostic evaluation
If you or a loved one have been referred to Texas Professional Hearing Center for an audiologic evaluation, there may be suspected hearing loss. Diagnostic hearing tests are a series of tools our hearing healthcare professionals have to determine the exact type and degree of hearing loss an individual has. From there, you and your team or caregivers can choose the best solution. The types of diagnostic hearing tests performed at Texas Professional Hearing Center include:
Pure-tone testing: A pure-tone test establishes the baseline of the quietest tones an individual can hear at varying frequencies. During a pure-tone test, a patient will be asked to listen to tones played through headphones and then asked to respond to those tones.
Bone-conduction testing: This test enables hearing healthcare professionals to pinpoint the origin of the hearing loss, especially if it is coming from the middle or inner ear.
Speech testing: Speech tests confirm the results of pure-tone tests. During speech tests, patients listen to words at different volumes and are asked to respond.
Industrial hearing screening
Unfortunately, hearing damage is a real effect of long-term exposure to loud noise and, for many people in America, noise is a hazard in the workplace. Common jobs with noisy environments include:
- Factory workers
- Construction workers or engineers
- Mill workers
- Musicians
- Airport personnel
Noise-induced hearing loss can be entirely preventable, especially in the workplace. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require standards and safety practices throughout the workplace to reduce the incidence of preventable hearing damage. In most cases, OSHA requires that any employee exposed to a timed weighted average of 85 decibels (dBA) participate in a hearing conservation program. The program includes hearing testing and employee training. Failure to comply with these tests can result in legal fees and fines.
At Texas Professional Hearing Center, our mobile hearing evaluation unit provides on-site hearing evaluation services. Our hearing specialists are certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation and can provide a full suite of hearing conservation services.