If your patients are asking you if you think they need a hearing aid, they probably do. They wouldn’t be asking this question if they weren’t having some difficulty. Their family members may be the source for the question and this too can suggest the patient is having difficulty hearing. What should you do as their physician?
Your patients will rely heavily on your recommendation. It is always important to explore with your patients the nature of their difficulties. Your patients may have a hard time believing they are the ones with the problem. Many will complain that others, especially their spouses, just don’t talk plainly or as loudly as they used to. People mumble or turn away from them when they talk. Perhaps they have to have the television on louder than is comfortable for other people. Some will have difficulty only in certain situations or with certain people. Many will do fine if it’s quiet but have a terrible time in noise. All of these complaints suggest hearing loss.
While tuning fork tests and other simple hearing tests done in your office, like the “finger rub” or whisper tests, can be a quick tool for estimating hearing loss, they are unable to define a persons total hearing ability.
Referring to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist or Otologist is recommended. These physicians can rule out hearing loss that can be amendable to treatment. Referral to an audiologist is the next step. Colorado Otolaryngology Associates can take your patients through the entire process smoothly having both the physician and the audiologist available to your patient.
The audiologist is the person who can best determine if your patient is a good candidate for amplification. The patient will undergo a full hearing evaluation to determine hearing loss and hearing aid candidacy. The audiologists in our office have extensive experience with selection and fitting of amplification. The hearing aid industry is an ever expanding industry and the technology is changing at an ever increasing pace. Neither the consumer nor the physician should be expected to know the potential possibilities for amplification. Our audiologists strive to know and understand the industry in order to select and fit the best possible hearing aid for the situation.