Regular hearing tests are important at any age: even a moderate decrease in hearing acuity can affect the quality of life. This is especially true for children, in whom hearing loss can negatively affect language and speech development, learning and socialization, as well as for adults who often have to strain during conversations or turn up the volume in order to be heard. When a person constantly asks to repeat what has been said or feels ringing or buzzing in the ears – these are alarming symptoms, in such cases you should immediately consult a hearing specialist or an otolaryngologist. For example, if you noticed that it is difficult for the child to distinguish sounds or to keep his attention in kindergarten or school, or you yourself began to ask others to speak more intelligibly – this is a signal that you need to undergo a hearing diagnosis. It is necessary to regularly check hearing even without obvious complaints – this helps to detect deviations in the early stages.
When to contact an audiologist
The main signs indicating the need for a hearing examination:
- Children: do not respond to sounds, speak worse than their peers, “skip” the endings of words, or their academic performance suddenly drops.
- Adults: it is difficult to distinguish a conversation against a background of noise, they are constantly asked to repeat what was said, or they turn on the TV or smartphone at an ever-increasing volume.
- All age groups: Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing) or a feeling of stuffiness in the ears – this may indicate a possible hearing impairment.
If even some of these symptoms are present, a comprehensive hearing examination in the clinic is necessary. The MEDICENTER medical center offers diagnostics for adults and children – this allows timely detection of problems and the appointment of medical treatment, surgical intervention or compensation of irreversible impairment with hearing aids.
Hearing diagnostic methods
At MEDICENTER, a comprehensive hearing examination includes several basic methods:
- Consultations of an audiologist, otolaryngologist, otosurgeon, hearing aid specialist. During the examination, the ENT doctor (otolaryngologist) performs an otoscopy (examination of the ear canal and eardrum). A deaf doctor specializes in hearing disorders: he interprets the results of audiometry and other tests, conducts additional studies (acoustic reflexes, evoked potentials, etc.) and prescribes further treatment or rehabilitation.
- Subjective audiometry (tonal and speech) is the main method of hearing examination. During the test, the patient in a soundproof cabin hears sounds of different frequencies and volumes through headphones. Based on the results of the measurements, an audiogram is created – a graph showing the threshold of hearing sensitivity at different frequencies. Based on the audiogram, the audiologist assesses the degree and type of hearing impairment.
- Impedance measurement (tympanometry, acoustic reflexes) – middle ear test. The device changes the pressure in the outer ear and measures the mobility of the eardrum and the sound conductivity of the auditory ossicles. This allows you to detect problems with the Eustachian tube, inflammation or the presence of fluid in the middle ear.
Thus, hearing diagnostics at the MEDICENTER is a set of procedures that includes a visual examination, measurement of hearing threshold, examination of auditory reflexes and the condition of the middle ear using special equipment. This approach provides an accurate diagnosis and allows you to optimally solve the problem – from conservative treatment and surgical intervention to the selection of a hearing aid.
Advantages of examination at the MEDICENTER
- Comprehensive approach: in the clinic, all types of examinations are performed on site – from endoscopy of ENT organs, tonal and speech audiometry to impedancemetry (tympanometry). This saves you time and ensures that no aspect of the ear condition is overlooked.
- Experienced specialists: the reception is conducted by certified audiologists and otolaryngologists, ENT surgeons, hearing prosthetists. All audiograms are interpreted individually and you receive clear recommendations for prevention or treatment.
- Modern equipment: the MADSEN Itera II professional audiometer and other equipment are used for research. Tests are carried out in a soundproof cabin, which ensures the accuracy of measurements.
- Selection of a hearing aid: immediately after the diagnosis, if necessary, the doctor can select a hearing solution. The MEDICENTER presents devices of the leading ReSound brand – from budget models to modern (“invisible”) solutions with Bluetooth. An audiologist will help choose the optimal model based on the diagnosed hearing impairment and the patient’s lifestyle.
- Adjustment (programming) and adaptation: after selecting a hearing aid, our specialists adjust it so that the sound is as natural and comfortable as possible. Testing is carried out with the wireless transmitter turned on – this allows you to evaluate changes in sound perception and adjust the device parameters during adaptation.
- A quick turnkey solution: thanks to a wide range of services, the patient can receive the results of an examination, treatment or hearing aid in one place. This approach avoids the complications of delayed diagnosis, as uncompensated hearing loss can lead to social isolation and other health problems.
The MEDICENTER clinic provides comfortable conditions and modern service: we value the trust of patients and do everything possible to preserve your hearing. You can make an appointment for a hearing examination at the MEDICENTER by phone or through the clinic’s website. Keep your hearing normal – timely diagnosis will help prevent disorders and prescribe the right treatment or correction. Make an appointment for a comprehensive hearing diagnosis today and receive professional hearing care.