Hearing Tests

Our team of hearing instrument practitioners are qualified to provide hearing tests that will give you a full understanding of your hearing health.

A hearing test is a quick and easy 4-part experience:

1

We Get to Know You

There are many components to evaluating your hearing needs and finding the solution that’s best for you. The assessment of your hearing by a Fraser Valley Beltone Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner involves more than a just a test of your physical hearing– although that’s an important part of your total hearing diagnosis. Your lifestyle and health and hearing history also play an important part in the evaluation.

2

Lifestyle Assessment

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hearing evaluation. Hearing aid solutions shouldn’t be provided simply by physically measuring hearing loss– as important as that is. At Fraser Valley Beltone, we also take your lifestyle into account. Many hearing aid providers offer free assessments, but if they don’t take into account your lifestyle, beware!

Outdoorsy? We’re glad to hear it. Please share some of your outdoor adventures with us. Do you enjoy restaurants and sometimes busy public places? We’d love to hear about that, too– and be able to customize a hearing solution for you based on your activities. For those facing hearing loss and change, sadly those otherwise invigorating environments can become distractions.

Even watching television can turn from a pleasure to a chore if you’re experience hearing loss. That’s why we’re here. To help bring bring back some pleasure to your favourite activities. We can’t guarantee the content of TV shows is going to get any better, but we can help you to hear what you’re watching.

3

Your Health and Hearing Health History

It may surprise you just how much your overall health can affect your hearing ability. Did you know, for example, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease are all linked to hearing loss.  Medications that you take may also play a part in hearing loss. As we assess your hearing and health history at Fraser Valley Beltone,  we’ll ask you about the prescriptions you take.  This is an important question because over-the-counter drugs are harmful to your hearing.

Here are some questions we typically ask.  They’re good ones to ask yourself before your hearing evaluation.

  • Have you been subjected to chronic loud noise during your life?
  • Is there hearing loss in your family?
  • Are one or two ears affected?
  • Do your ears ring?
  • Do you have dizziness or vertigo?
  • Did you have ear infections as a child?
  • Do you have ear pain?
  • Is it harder to hear the voices of men, women, or children?
  • Do you notice environments where it’s challenging to follow the conversation?
 

At this stage or your assessment, please don’t forget to tell us about anything else that relates to your hearing.

4

The Test

After we’ve assessed your lifestyle and health history, we’ll administer a “test”– which is actually several tests that measure how well you hear a variety of sounds, such as tones and speech. A baseline hearing screening is recommended at age 50, unless you’re experiencing symptoms of hearing loss sooner.

Your Fraser Valley Beltone hearing care professional will guide you through the steps of this set of hearing evaluations, including:

  • A visual examination of your ear using an otoscope
  • Air and bone conduction testing
  • Word discrimination testing
 

After your evaluation, we’ll show you your results on an audiogram– a visual representation of the sounds you’re hearing and the sounds you’re missing.  Your Fraser Valley Beltone hearing care professional will review your lifestyle and hearing goals with you and provide you with an in-office hearing aid demonstration of the hearing aids right for you, should you need a hearing aid.  Your hearing aid will be custom fit and programmed for you. We’ll also provide follow-up care to ensure you enjoy the very best possible experience with your hearing aid.