Did you know that 80% of people with hearing loss go undiagnosed or untreated (Ordre des audioprothésistes du Québec)? That's why it's so important to consult a hearing aid specialist to check your hearing at the very first sign of hearing loss. The first step is, of course, a hearing screening test.

What is a hearing screening test?

This test is an evaluation carried out by a hearing aid specialist to determine a person's ability to hear different sounds and frequencies. It takes place in a soundproof booth, where the hearing aid specialist will play pure tones of varying intensity and frequency, from 250 to 8,000 hertz. The patient must press a button as soon as he or she hears a sound, however faint.

On your first visit

After our assistants have opened your file, the hearing aid specialist will welcome you in his or her office. Before proceeding with the hearing screening test, the hearing aid specialist will ask you a few questions to better understand your needs. He will then perform an otoscopy to see if there are any blockages or physical problems that could affect your hearing.

Audiometric examination

Once this stage has been completed, the audioprosthetist will place you in a soundproof booth for the hearing test. You'll wear headphones and listen to several sounds of different frequencies and intensities. It's important to press the button every time you hear a sound, whether soft or loud. 

Explanation of results

Once the hearing screening test has been completed, the audioprosthetist will interpret the results to assess your hearing. He or she will explain whether you have a hearing loss, how severe it is, what the solutions are, how our hearing aids can help, and so on.

Finally, he'll explain the various financial assistance programs (RAMQ, CSST, etc.) and see if you qualify. He can also refer you to other specialists if you need further audiological evaluation.

Some warning signs of hearing loss

• You need to raise your voice when you're having a discussion.
• Turn up the TV volume for your favorite programs.
• You have difficulty following a conversation in a noisy environment.
• You often make the person speaking to you repeat themselves.
• You have difficulty understanding telephone conversations.
• Ringing or whistling in the ears.