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SERVICES

ADULT HEARING SERVICES


COMPREHENSVE ADULT HEARING TESTS

A comprehensive hearing test, or audiogram, is completed if concern has been brought up by a family physician, family members, a work hearing screening, or if the individual themselves has begun to notice difficulty hearing. The evaluation is completed to determine if the individual has hearing loss, what type of hearing loss, and how severe the hearing loss is at different tones (frequencies). Depending on the results of the test an audiologist may make appropriate recommendations such as hearing aids, a referral to your family physician, or recommend your family physician refer you to a specialist (ENT physician).

A full comprehensive hearing test can last anywhere between 20-40 minutes and is followed by a review of the test results with recommendations.

A full comprehensive hearing test typically includes:

  • Otoscopy
  • Tympanometry
  • Pure tone air conduction
  • Pure tone bone conduction
  • Standard speech testing (SRT/WRS)

If necessary additional testing may be completed such as:

  • Acoustic reflex thresholds (ipsilateral and/or contralateral)
  • Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE)
  • Speech-in-noise testing (QuickSIN)
  • Tinnitus frequency and intensity matching
HEARING AID CONSULTATIONS

Hearing aid consultations are available to further discuss hearing aid options in relation to an individuals most recent hearing test results. Types of hearing aids are discussed based on the individuals hearing loss, lifestyle, finances, and overall concerns.

Hearing aid consultations typically last anywhere between 10-30 minutes and can include a demo of hearing aids in the office.

Adult Hearing Assessments

PEDIATRIC HEARING SERVICES


COMPREHENSVE PEDIATRIC HEARING TESTS

A comprehensive pediatric hearing test is completed if concern for hearing has been raised through a failed hearing screening (newborn or school), delayed speech and language development, referral from a family physician, pediatrician, speech-language pathologist (SLP) or other specialist, concern from family members, or even a child’s report of hearing difficulty (age dependent). The evaluation is completed to determine if the child has hearing loss, and if so, what type of hearing loss and how severe the hearing loss is at different tones (frequencies). Depending on the results of the test an audiologist may make appropriate recommendations such as hearing aids or a referral to your family physician, specialist (ENT physician), or other developmental therapies (such as an SLP).

A typical comprehensive pediatric hearing test can last anywhere between 15-30 minutes and is followed by a review of the test results and any necessary recommendations.

A comprehensive pediatric hearing test typically includes:

  • Otoscopy
  • Tympanometry
  • Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE)
  • Air conduction through age appropriate test procedures:

    • o Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) (6 months to 3 years)
    o Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA) (3-5 years)
    o Tangible Reinforcement Operant Conditioning Audiometry (TROCA) (5+)
    o Standard pure tone audiometry (7+)

  • Standard speech testing (SRT/WRS – age dependent)

If necessary additional testing may be completed such as:

  • Acoustic reflex thresholds (ipsilateral and/or contralateral)
  • Bone conduction with age appropriate test procedures
  • Speech-in-noise testing (QuickSIN) (age dependent)

HEARING LOSS AND CHILDREN

When found in infants and children, a hearing loss diagnosis often requires appropriately fitted hearing aids, FM systems, and specialized equipment. Should a family not wish to proceed with hearing aids other forms of communication, such as American Sign Language (ASL), can be talked about. It is critical to diagnose hearing loss as early as possible by your trained audiologist.

Audiologists Jodi Haberstock and Rachel Krauss, whom have their Doctorates of Audiology (Au.D.), have experience and training in rehabilitating children and infants with hearing loss after thorough testing. Since young children cannot tell us what they like or don’t like, we need to rely on specialized equipment and techniques to appropriately fit young children with hearing aids. Children and infants learn language by listening to those around them, and the early years (0-3 years) are critical in developing language skills. If children have hearing deficiencies, they must be treated early in life. Children with even mild hearing loss will be at a disadvantage in learning language skills, which often results in academic disadvantages. If we catch hearing problems early, learning experiences will not be lost.

At Carlton Trail Hearing Clinic, we are committed to ensuring all children have an equal opportunity to develop and hear normally. Hearing and listening skills are learned without teaching for the most part, as children respond to commands, walk, fall down, cry for attention, and learn to walk before entering school. If hearing loss is not found by the time school begins the child’s development may already be delayed. This is why it is important to catch hearing problems as soon as possible. Children often learn many skills by observation and experiences at home without their family even teaching them these skills.


HEARING MILESTONES

Listed below are some signs you can look for in your baby or child to determine see if there are any concerns for their hearing before they can tell you themselves.

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Six Months

  • Smiles and laughs when you smile and laugh
  • Watches your face when you talk
  • Startles in response to sudden loud sounds
  • Turns to source of sounds
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Twelve Months

  • Talks by combining sounds
  • Uses gestures to communicate (waves bye-bye)
  • Follows simple one-step directions like “sit down”
  • Uses three to five words consistently
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Two Years

  • Run, spill, and fall are used as action words
    Consistently uses short phrases of two to four words such as “truck go down,” “daddy hat”
  • Uses 100-150 words
  • Follows two-step directions “Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandpa”.
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Nine Months

  • Responds to his/her name
  • Babbles and repeats sounds
  • Plays social games such as “peek-a-boo”
  • Responds to the phone ringing, knock at the door, or doorbell
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Eighteen Months

  • Makes at least four different consonant sounds such as “p, b, m, n, d, g, w, h”
  • Uses at least twenty words consistently
  • Points to several body parts when asked
  • Responds with words or gestures to simple questions
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Two and a Half Years

  • Remembers and understands familiar stories
  • Produces words with two or more syllables such as “cher-ry” or “com-mun-ni-cate”
  • Uses some adult grammar such as “I jump,” “bird flying,” “two cookies”
  • Understands size (big, little), and quantity (more, a lot, a little)

HEARING AID FITTINGS

Hearing aid fittings are typically one hour appointments, which include multiple aspects such as:

  • Real Ear Measurements (REM) to prescriptive targets
  • Adjustments made to the hearing aid(s) settings for comfort and acclimatization
  • Hearing aid orientation, which can include how to clean the aids, change domes/filters, etc.
  • Practice putting hearing aids on and practice taking hearing aids off
  • Realistic expectations and discussions of general adjustments to hearing aids
  • Scheduling a follow-up appointment in 2-3 weeks for initial fitting

We aim to make hearing aid fittings a smooth and easy process. Adjusting to hearing aids can take anywhere from one to six months. In addition, our hearing aids, once purchased, come with a 60-day trial period.

HEARING AID ADJUSTMENTS

Adjusting to hearing aid(s) can take time. Research tells us it can take upwards of six months to fully adjust to your new hearing aids, especially if you are a new hearing aid user. We want you to enjoy wearing your hearing aid(s) as much as possible! This can mean that we need to make adjustments to your settings if you are unable to adjust or certain sounds make wearing your hearing aids consistently hard.

We encourage you to schedule an appointment with either one of our audiologists or hearing instrument practitioner if you need hearing aid adjustments. We want you to get the most benefit from your hearing aids. This means sometimes we need to make adjustments to the settings.

Please note:

  • If you purchased your hearing aids from our clinic there is no additional cost to hearing aid adjustments. We ask that you please schedule an appointment for any hearing aid adjustments.
  • If you purchased your hearing aids from a different clinic there will be a service change for any hearing aid adjustments. We ask that you please schedule an appointment for any hearing aid adjustments.
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HEARING AID REPAIRS/CLEANINGS

Hearing aids have micro computer chips inside of them. Due to this they occasionally will need repairs in some way. We aim to repair hearing aids as much as possible in the clinic. If we are unable to repair the hearing aids in clinic we will need to send them to the manufacturer. This process is typically has a two week turnaround.

Hearing aid repairs may include but are not limited to:

  • Changing dirty domes
  • Changing plugged filters
  • Cleaning/vacuuming dirty microphone ports
  • Replacing receivers
  • Buffing/grinding down earmolds
  • Repairing/replacing earmolds (warranty dependent)
  • Bluetooth reconnecting for Smartphones

Please note:

    If you purchased your hearing aids from our clinic there is no additional cost to hearing aid cleanings. If you purchased your hearing aids from a different clinic there will be a service change for any hearing aid cleanings. We ask that you please schedule an appointment for any hearing aid adjustments.
  • If your hearing aids need to be repaired and are out of warranty there may be an associated charge. We will discuss any possible charges with you prior to proceeding should repairs not be possible in the clinic.
Hearing Aid Repairs & Cleaning

TINNITUS MANAGEMENT

SYMPTOMS OF TINNITUS

Tinnitus can be described as any sound an individual hears in one or both ears or in the head. Tinnitus can be a ringing, buzzing, hissing, whooshing, or any other sound that is not caused by an external sound. Tinnitus can be a constant sound or can be intermittent (only hearing the sound sometimes).


CAUSES OF TINNITUS

Tinnitus can be caused by multiple different factors, including but not limited to:

  • Hearing loss
  • Exposure to loud noise/sounds
  • Ear infection
  • Medication(s)
  • Buildup of earwax (cerumen)
  • Trauma to the ear/head/neck
  • Vestibular (balance) disorders
  • Vascular (blood) disorders

TINNITUS TREATMENTS

Treatment for tinnitus is dependent on what the possible cause for your tinnitus may be. Our audiologists will assess symptoms, case history, severity, and the impact your tinnitus has on your daily life. If you are experiencing tinnitus it is best to schedule a hearing test with one of our audiologists to have your hearing and tinnitus assessed. At that time further information can be provided about tinnitus in general and types of tinnitus treatment, if necessary.

Treatments include, but are not limited to:

  • Cerumen (wax) removal, which may need to be completed by your family physician, or if possible can be completed at the clinic dependent on the wax
  • Referral to your family physician for further treatment for possible infection or for further investigation by an Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT) specialist
  • Noise generators (example: white noise machine)
  • Noise generator apps
  • Hearing aids