Every new
diagnosis of hearing loss should include a thorough medical audiologic
evaluation.This should include, at a minimum:
- Thorough
history and communication assessment
- Visual examination
of the ear canals (otoscopic exam)
- Acoustic
Impedance testing
- Air &
bone conduction testing in a sound booth
- Word recognition
testing
Once this
baseline information is obtained, the audiologist should spend
an adequate amount of time explaining the test results to the
patient. If medical concerns are present, the patient should
be referred to a physician for an otologic examination prior
to any further discussion of rehabilitation. Medical concerns
may include things such as:
- Asymmetrical hearing loss
- Actively draining ear(s)
- Conductive hearing loss
- Mixed hearing loss
- Abnormal acoustic impedance test results
In most cases,
referral to a physician is not warranted.
For most
patients then, treatment options should be discussed at length.
Treatment options are based on:
- Type and degree of hearing loss
- Lifestyle and communication needs
- Technology
- Cosmetics
- Patient economics
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