Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is involved in a hearing test?
On your first visit, the Hearing Aid Audiologist from Sutton or Solihull Hearing Centre will aim to find out about your personal hearing difficulties. This will be done by asking select questions about the problems you have, with the aim of finding out as much as possible about the different situations which affect you.
They will then conduct a thorough test battery, which will include; otoscopy (examination of the ear), video otoscopy (video examination of the ear, allowing you to see inside!), and air conduction and bone conduction audiometry (hearing testing). There may be more tests required dependent on what is required.
After this, the Hearing Aid Audiologist will present to you your results, and explain them to you in the clearest possible way. If it is required that you need to seek further medical advice, the Hearing Aid Audiologist will be able to help arrange this, and will refer you to the necessary professional.
If the outcome is that you would benefit from a set of hearing aids, then the Hearing Aid Audiologist will be able to use your results to take into account which instruments would be most suitable for you – and then take you through the different options available.
Q. How long will a hearing test take?
A hearing test normally takes around an hour to complete, but it is probably best to allow an hour and a half. This makes allowances for anything that may cause the appointment to run over time.
Q. Will the hearing test hurt?
The hearing test does not hurt at all, and there are special measures taken to prevent you from hearing sound that will cause discomfort.
Q. How much do hearing aids cost?
Hearing Aids can vary in cost. They can start from as little as £495 and go up to thousands of pounds each. At Sutton and Solihull Hearing Centres, we accommodate for all budgets, and will try as hard as possible to find the right solution for your own personal needs.
Q. If I require hearing aids, do I need 2 of them?
This is completely dependent on the type of hearing loss you have. If the hearing loss is unilateral (one-sided), and the solution has been confirmed as a hearing aid – then you will only require one.
If the hearing loss is bilateral (in both sides) then the best solution is to have hearing aids in both ears. This is because the brain requires two inputs of sounds in order to hear as well as possible. By having amplification in both ears, you will gain more benefit – and will also be able to localise where speech is coming from.
Q. Will wearing hearing aids make my hearing worse?
Hearing aids are programmed precisely to your hearing loss, and there is no danger of the hearing aids making your hearing loss worse.