COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Pure Tone Threshold Tests
Both bone conduction and air conduction threshold testing are used to measure the level of
hearing. The two tests are similar in that they each use pure tones to test your hearing but differ in the means of testing. Air conduction testing sends the tone to the ear through headphones while bone conduction testing uses a bone oscillator that delivers the sound through the mastoid bone, which is the bone right behind the ear, directly to the inner ear. By skipping the outer and middle ears, bone conduction testing can help narrow down the location of the hearing loss. This test is commonly known as the “beeping” test.
Word Recognition/Discrimination
Since humans don’t spend most of their time listening to beeping sounds, understanding how well your auditory system processes speech is important. This is where word recognition testing is crucial—it gives us the information that is most meaningful to the patient and audiologist. Ideally this testing is done in the patient’s native language and uses the gold
standard of recorded speech stimuli. Word Recognition/Discrimination measurements are key indicators of how well an individual will do with hearing aids.
Tympanometary Test
An audiologist can narrow down the location of your hearing loss by performing a tympanometry and acoustic reflex decay test. This audiological evaluation assesses the middle ear and determines how well your ear drum performs against different level of air pressure. It can also detect the presence of fluid in the middle ear, in which case your hearing loss is likely temporary and easily treated by a medical doctor.
Speech in Noise Testing
Speech in noise testing, such as the QuickSIN or BKB SIN, evaluates how well you understand speech in a noisy, real-world setting. Since people with hearing loss most often report
difficulty discerning speech in a noisy environment, this assessment can help your audiologist choose the right hearing aid to best suit your hearing needs.
Tinnitus, which is a hearing disorder characterized by a ringing in the ears, may not have a cure but there are ways to relieve the symptoms. After undergoing a series of tests for a tinnitus evaluation, we can help you create a plan to receive some much-needed tinnitus relief.
Tinnitus treatment often consists of disguising the ringing in the ears with a more soothing background noise. Hearing aids also offer tinnitus relief, especially for people who also have hearing loss. By pairing hearing aids with other sounds that mask the tinnitus, it makes it easier to block out the ringing in the ears and focus on the more pleasant sounds.
If you’re ready to get to the root of your hearing loss, schedule an audiological evaluation with Visalia Hearing Center today.
TINNITUS EVALUATION AND TREATMENT
HEARING AIDS
It’s not uncommon for people to experience hearing loss, especially as they age. In fact, hearing loss affects an estimated 17 percent of American adults with nearly half of adults over the age of 75 experiencing it, according to a report by the National Institute of Health.
Fortunately, if your hearing isn’t what it used to be, there’s no need to worry. Hearing aids provide a way for people to improve their quality of life through better hearing. Whether the hearing loss is caused by aging, genetics, injury or other environmental factors, Visalia Hearing Center has a solution that can help.
At Visalia Hearing Center, you’ll find a wide selection of custom fitting prescription hearing aids as well as options for hearing aid repair. Simply put, if you need any type of hearing aid service, we’re happy to offer our expertise and guidance.
CUSTOM FITTING, PRESCRIPTION HEARING AIDS
In order for hearing aids to work to their full potential, you will want to seek custom fitting, prescription hearing aids. You’ll find several varieties of hearing aids, including Behind-the-Ear, Receiver-in-the-Ear, In-the-Canal, Completely-in-the-Canal and more. Choosing which type of hearing aid is right for you will be dependent upon many factors including the level of hearing loss, the shape of your ear and what works best for your lifestyle.
HEARING AID REPAIR AND HEARING AID SERVICE
Are you having difficulties with your hearing aids in Tulare County? Bring your hearing aid to Visalia Hearing Center for quick and easy repairs. Most in-warranty repairs can be completed while you wait and you’ll be back to being able to hear clearly in less time than you may think. Regardless of the brand of hearing aid, our team can most likely help fix it!
BRANDS OF HEARING AIDS
At Visalia Hearing Center, you’ll find most of the major brands of hearing aids conveniently located under one roof.
Here are the top hearing aid brands that we fit and support, listed in alphabetical order:
- Oticon
- Phonak
- ReSound
- Starkey
- Signia
- Unitron
- Widex
Visalia Hearing Center believes all these companies provide excellent hearing technology and we are proud to say that we have happy and successful patients in each of these hearing aid brands. Based off our extensive training and expertise we are able to apply most hearing technologies to their full potential to help patients hear at their best. As we always say, it’s not really about the brand of hearing aid, it’s about having that technology personalized and prescribed to an individual’s unique needs.
Second Opinion Clinic & Hearing Aid Adoption
YES, if you were fit with hearing aids elsewhere but continue to struggle and want a second opinion….or…. if you were fit with hearing aids out of the area and recently moved to Tulare County and want to establish care with a new doctor, we can help!
NEXT STEP TO FINDING THE RIGHT HEARING AIDS
Not sure where to begin to find the perfect hearing aids for you? Contact Visalia Hearing Center to let us assist you in discovering the ideal match for hearing aids in Tulare County. We’ll help you find the right hearing aids to fit both your budget and unique hearing needs. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
From working on a construction site to playing music in a band, there is a wide variety of activities that produce loud noises that could potentially damage someone’s hearing. If you find yourself frequently experiencing sounds at a high volume, whether at work or leisure, you may find that it’s time to invest in high quality hearing protection that will not only make your life more pleasant now but will also protect your hearing from future complications.
According to the World Health Organization, you can safely listen to a decibel volume of 85 for eight hours without damaging your hearing. For comparison, normal conversation averages 60 decibels, a garbage disposal runs at 80 and a lawn mower registers around 90. On the high end, live music often hits around 110 decibels, power tools often top 100 and a shotgun hits 160.
At Visalia Hearing Center, we offer many different types of hearing protection to safeguard your ears for years to come.
EAR PROTECTION FOR LOUD OCCUPATIONS
For professions who deal with loud noises on a regular basis, like police officers, pilots and construction workers, molded ear plugs can offer much needed hearing protection. For example, the noise level of a building site often reaches 105 decibels, which can cause hearing damage in as little as four minutes. Ear plugs can reduce that noise level to a more appropriate volume.
HEARING PROTECTION FOR HOBBYISTS
Ear plugs are also beneficial for hunters, motorcyclists and wood workers, among other hobbies that involve ear-piercing sounds. Ear plugs reduce the odds of future hearing loss by limiting the level of sound that makes its way into the eardrum.
EAR PLUGS FOR LIGHT SLEEPERS
People who are sensitive to any noise while sleeping should consider molded ear plugs to avoid being woken up in the middle of the night by random sounds. Ear plugs are also beneficial for people who travel frequently and need to catch a few winks on a crowded flight. After all, the importance of quality sleep is something that should never be overlooked.
Regardless of your reason for seeking ear protection, Visalia Hearing Center has the expertise to match you with the ideal form of hearing protection for your needs. Please contact us with any questions.
Hearing Protection
Adult Hearing
Hearing loss can be sudden or it can happen gradually making you wonder why….
- EVERYONE MUMBLES
- YOUR TV IS LOUDER THAN OTHERS LIKE
- YOU CAN’T HEAR WELL ON THE TELEPHONE
- YOU’RE MISSING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AT WORK
- YOUR EARS ARE RINGING
- IT’S NO FUN TO EAT OUT, GO TO CHURCH OR VISIT FAMILY
Did you know that people with untreated hearing loss
- GO TO THE HOSPITAL MORE
- FALL MORE
- LOSE BRAIN CELLS FASTER IN THE LANGUAGE AND MEMORY CENTERS
- HAVE MORE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
- FEEL ISOLATED SOCIALLY MORE THAN THEIR NORMAL HEARING PEERS?
