Hearing Testing in Fort Myers, FL

If you believe you are suffering from hearing loss, help is available in Fort Myers at Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance. If any of the following statements apply to you, it’s important to get your hearing checked by one of our staff.

  • When meeting someone for the first time, you are unable to hear them clearly.
  • You listen to the television or radio at a volume level which is uncomfortably loud for others in the room.
  • You frequently ask people you are speaking with to repeat themselves because it sounds as if they are mumbling or their speech is muffled.
  • You have frequent ringing in your ears that doesn’t go away.
  • You find it difficult to hear conversations in noisy places – such as restaurants, airports or parties.
  • You are unable to hear important sounds that occur during your day, including the alarm clock, cell phone notifications or the timer bell on the oven.
  • You have trouble hearing phone conversations, particularly cell phone conversations or phone calls with a great deal of background noise.
  • You feel as if your inability to hear is impairing your social life.
  • You find yourself trying to read lips.

If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, call or text Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance at 239-946-5409 and make an appointment for a hearing test in Fort Myers.

Hearing Tests at Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance, Fort Meyers, FL

There are several different types of hearing tests available.

Audiometry:

Perhaps the most commonly known hearing test, this diagnostic involves using headphones to listen to sounds of varying tones and volumes. When you hear a sound in your left ear, you are instructed to raise your left hand, for example. We will track and mark the responses.

Auditory Brainstem Response:

This test is designed to measure the ease with which sound signals are sent between your ear and brain. Two small earbuds will be placed in your ears and a few electrodes will be secured to your scalp. The diagnostic will then measure the strength of the electrical signals produced by sound.

Otoacoustic Emissions Testing:

During this diagnostic, a small probe is placed into the ear canal. The probe measures tiny, inaudible sounds that your ears make in response to detected sound stimuli. If these reactionary sounds are not present or cannot be prompted, it could be a sign that hearing loss is present.

Speech testing:

It’s one thing to hear tones. It’s another to hear well enough to discern speech. That’s why we’ll conduct a speech test where we ask you to repeat a pre-set list of words and phrases. This will reveal whether you’re hearing speech with clarity.

Tympanometry:

By gently pushing air into your ear, this test measures how well your eardrum moves and is an important hearing test for your middle ear. The results will show us if your eardrum is too stiff, has fluid behind it, or has a hole in it.

There are several other types of tests available, each dedicated to revealing a certain aspect of your hearing health. We’ll examine your overall symptoms and determine which hearing tests best meet your needs.

What Does a Hearing Test Detect?

A hearing test can detect issues as simple as an earwax obstruction, or as serious as permanent hearing loss. During your hearing test at Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance in Fort Myers, we will measure the threshold at which you are able to hear specific sounds by having you listen to a series of tones at different volumes. The hearing test will also measure how well you hear and understand speech. This may include testing to determine how well you hear speech when there is considerable background noise.

After the test is completed, your hearing aid professional will create an audiogram that shows your hearing sensitivity. Using frequencies measured in Hertz (Hz), and loudness measured in decibels, the audiogram measures the lowest volume levels at which you can hear certain sounds. The louder it takes for a sound to be heard, the greater the level of hearing loss.

We will review your hearing test results with you and determine your degree of hearing loss. Afterward, you can discuss potential treatment options and which hearing aids will work best for your situation.

How to Read Your Hearing Test Results

The normal range of hearing for a healthy adult is considered between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Most sounds we hear are between 250 and 6,000 Hz. A healthy adult should be able to hear sounds between 1 and 20 decibels at any frequency. Hearing loss of 25 decibels or less is considered typical hearing loss for an adult, and a hearing aid probably isn’t required.

Mild

Adults with hearing loss in the 26 to 40-decibel range are said to have mild hearing loss. Symptoms include difficulty understanding quiet conversations or difficulty hearing speech from across the room.

Moderate

Hearing loss in the 41 to 55-decibel range is defined as moderate hearing loss. Those with moderate hearing loss have difficulty hearing conversations at normal volume levels, and listening in noisy environments is extremely difficult.

Moderately Severe

If you have hearing loss in the 56 to 70-decibel range, it is considered moderately severe hearing loss. Symptoms include difficulty hearing quiet conversations or ringing telephones.

Severe

Severe hearing loss is defined as hearing loss that falls between 71 and 90 decibels. With severe hearing loss, you can only hear people who are standing next to you and speaking very loudly.

Profound

Hearing loss measured at 91 decibels and higher is considered profound hearing loss. These individuals are unable to hear loud speech or the everyday sounds around them.

If you suffer from any form of hearing loss, call or text Southwest Florida Center For Hearing and Balance at 239-946-5409 to set up an appointment and discuss treatment options.