At Platinum Hearing Aids, we understand that it can be hard to come to terms with the fact that your hearing is impaired. In fact, many people live in denial for years before finally deciding to seek medical advice about their hearing issues. Because of this, we offer hearing tests in the Detroit-area for those who believe that they might, or a loved one might, be suffering from a hearing impairment.
While it might be a no-brainer to go get a hearing test if your hearing is significantly impaired, those who are only experiencing minor hearing issues might not be as likely to schedule a hearing test with an audiologist. As hearing professionals, it is our suggestion that you seek medical advice from an audiologist regardless of the level of impairment that you are experiencing — even if you are on the fence about whether or not you have a hearing issue.
Continue reading to learn more about hearing tests, how to tell if you might need one, and how to book an appointment with your local audiologist in Detroit.
Check With Your Primary Care Physician
If you ever suspect that you or a loved one might have a hearing impairment, it is important to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. When it comes to hearing issues, there are some that are preventable and easily diagnosed by a general physician. Earwax buildup, ear infections, and other common causes for hearing loss are often diagnosable and treatable by your general care provider.
If your general care provider can’t diagnose a cause for your hearing loss, they will refer you to an audiologist to schedule further testing.
So You’ve Been Referred to Platinum Hearing Aids…
It is very common for patients that have experienced hearing loss to be referred to our Detroit audiology office. Upon referral, a member of our staff will ask you about your health and hearing history, conduct a lifestyle assessment, and conduct a hearing test to diagnose your unique hearing needs.
Your Health and Hearing History
Most people associate hearing issues with age. In reality, hearing impairments can be experienced by a person of any age — whether they are one year old or 100 years old. Pre-existing conditions can often cause hearing loss — but most people are shocked to learn that a person’s general health can also affect their hearing. Common health issues that can lead to hearing loss are diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and more.
In order to best understand your health and hearing history, a member of our team will ask you:
- If anyone in your family has hearing loss
- If your hearing is impaired in one or both ears
- Whether or not you have ever come in contact with chronic or acute loud sounds
- If you have pain, discomfort, or ringing in your ears
- Whether or not certain environments challenge your ability to hear
Upon compiling your health and hearing history, a member of our team might be able to better understand the stresses that your auditory system has experienced in your lifetime.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
There are a wide variety of symptoms or actions that might indicate whether or not someone is experiencing hearing impairment. Some of the most common signs of hearing loss are:
- Muffling of sound or speech
- Difficulty understanding words (especially in crowded environments)
- Inability to hear distinguished consonants
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, slow their speech, or lip reading when others speak
- Needing to use excessive volume on the television or radio
- Withdrawal from conversations
- Avoidance of social events and settings
- Twisting your neck or body to listen
- Missing calls, doorbells, or alarms
In short, if you have to strain yourself to hear or increase the volume to hear, you might want to consider scheduling a hearing test at our Detroit office.
Your Detroit Hearing Test
At Platinum Hearing Aids, your hearing test will include several small tests that help our audiologists determine what sounds that you can and can’t hear. In addition, your ear will be visually inspected using an otoscope to determine if there are any structural issues with your ear. Lastly, we will conduct and air and bone test and a word discrimination test.
Once testing is complete, our hearing specialists will discuss our findings and suggest a hearing plan and hearing solutions that could be beneficial to you in the future.
Schedule a Hearing Test in Detroit Today!
At Platinum Hearing Aids, we are excited to welcome new patients for hearing tests and hearing solutions. We urge you to make a list of questions and concerns that you might have about your hearing prior to your visit so that we can provide you with the best possible experience.
We are always happy to welcome new patients to Platinum Hearing Aids! To schedule your hearing test, please contact us online or call either of our two locations:
- Allen Park office at 313-381-4810.
- Southfield office at 248-304-7772.
We can also be reached via our toll-free number at 1-(877)771-EARS(3277). We look forward to welcoming you to Platinum Hearing Aids, where we are committed to enhancing our patients’ hearing.
