Here’s what you can expect when attending your first Audiology Appointment
If you have never visited a hearing care professional, you probably don’t know what to expect. You are in for a pleasant experience that is interesting, informative and a great start your journey to being able to communicate effectively again.
What to expect…
When you arrive for your visit, the audiologist will discuss your hearing, health and personal history to understand what factors may have influenced your hearing and also to acquire a better understanding of your personal hearing needs. In addition, a hearing assessment will be conducted. The hearing assessment is non-invasive and not painful or uncomfortable and consists of a number of different procedures. After the audiologist has interpreted the results of your hearing test, she will explain them clearly to you. Hereafter, you will develop a plan for the way forward.
Bring someone with you…
Most people find it comforting to bring a spouse, friend or family member to this visit. You will typically get more out of your visit if someone close to you can share in the experience. Bringing someone with you can also benefit the audiologist as it will enable them to learn about your hearing abilities from someone who interacts with you regularly.
Understanding your hearing…
To understand a hearing impairment, you first need to understand hearing. It is your brain that “hears”, using the sound that has been collected by your ears. Your hearing serves many purposes such as keeping you safe, locating where sound is coming from, helping you follow conversations and supporting your balance.
Your ears and brain form a system and work together. Your ears funnel information into the hearing system and your brain processes the information into sound and meaning. The more detailed the information your brain receives, the easier it is to identify and follow what is being said.
The audiologist can prepare a report of the hearing test results and provide a copy of the audiogram.
