The hearing test at your fingertips

Post on 16th September 2016

Some changes, like grey hair, are more obvious the older we get, but changes in hearing may not be as noticeable.

One in six adults lives with some degree of hearing loss and as we get older our ability to hear begins to change.

So if you’ve found yourself not quite catching words, turning the volume up or having to concentrate harder in noisy environments, perhaps it’s time to take notice.

One option is to take an online hearing test. It’s simple, takes only minutes to complete and is also accessible on your mobile. Check it out here; all you will need are either headphones or speakers, as different sounds are played to you, and some quiet surroundings. At the end of the test you will be given the results and the recommended next steps.

Whatever the results, if you are concerned that your hearing may have changed it is advisable that you have a complete hearing health check carried out by a registered hearing aid audiologist.

Online hearing tests are just one example of the impact of technology on hearing care. Hearing aids have certainly benefitted from technological advances to make people’s lives easier and help them stay better connected.

The Halo2 hearing aid for example is engineered to work specifically with your iPhone, iPad and iPod and together with the TruLink app can stream phone calls and music directly from your iPhone to your hearing aid.

And for those not ready to go down the hearing route just yet, there are smartphone apps that can help you. You can convert your smartphone into an entry-level hearing aid by downloading an app and adding a pair of earbuds or wireless headphones, all of the apps amplify sounds picked up on your phone’s microphone.But of course, no hearing aid app can replace a modern hearing aid.

So if you have any concerns about your hearing, your local Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care branch is there to help and advise.