Month: September 2024

What to expect during your hearing test

hearing test appointment

Booking a private hearing test is one of the best ways to stay on top of your ear health and catch any signs of hearing decline early. While most people are familiar with regular visits to the dentist or optician, fewer understand what to expect during a hearing test.

Fortunately, scheduling a private hearing test is quick and easy. You can book an appointment directly with highly qualified clinical audiologists, bypassing the need for a GP referral and avoiding long wait times. This ensures you receive the most accurate and timely assessment of your hearing health.

hearing care services

What should you expect?

Private hearing tests are specifically designed to provide a thorough and detailed assessment, delivering the most accurate results for your hearing.

During your 90-minute consultation, your audiologist will guide you through:

An examination of your ear and auditory canal will be conducted using a tool called an otoscope. This allows your audiologist to inspect the inside of your ear, checking for any damage to the canal or eardrum, as well as blockages that could be contributing to hearing loss. The procedure is quick, non-intrusive, and no more uncomfortable than wearing earphones.

A comprehensive audiometric hearing assessment will be conducted, which may include speech discrimination testing if needed. This part of the assessment evaluates your ability to hear various sounds, pitches, and frequencies. You’ll be seated in a soundproof room and asked to wear noise-cancelling headphones to block out any background noise. You’ll also be given a button to press whenever you hear a sound. Your audiologist will record your responses on an audiogram, a graph that visually represents how well you are detecting different sound frequencies.

A lifestyle assessment will then be the next step to get a better understanding of your individual needs and requirements. You’ll be asked questions about your hearing history, noise exposure, any symptoms of hearing loss, and lifestyle factors that may be impacting your daily life. This information helps your audiologist recommend the most suitable hearing solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

After your consultation

After your hearing test, you’ll receive a copy of your audiogram to keep for future reference. It’s important to store this document safely, as it can be useful when preparing for your next annual hearing test.

Your results will be available immediately, and your audiologist will review them with you, explaining what everything means. These results will help guide any decisions about possible treatment.

If any issues are detected during the test, your audiologist will discuss your treatment options with you, which may range from ear wax removal to hearing aids. Whatever the issue, finding the right treatment will set you on the path to improved hearing.

hearing test appointment

Book a private hearing test

North West Hearing is part of the long-established Harley Street Hearing Group, London’s largest independent hearing clinic. As their North West clinic, we have a team of highly skilled clinical audiologists offering professional hearing tests in Cheshire.

If you think you could benefit from a private hearing test, contact us here to book your appointment.

Phonak Unveils Groundbreaking Infinio Hearing Aid Range

Audéo Sphere Infinio: The Best Hearing Aid of 2024?

Leading hearing aid manufacturer Phonak has announced the launch of its latest and most advanced family of hearing aids – the Phonak Infinio series. This release, Phonak’s largest to date, introduces a trio of devices powered by the cutting-edge Infinio platform, featuring the revolutionary Phonak Audéo Sphere™ Infinio, the first hearing aid driven by Artificial Intelligence.

What is the Phonak Infinio Platform?

At the heart of the Infinio platform is the ultra-responsive Phonak ERA™ chip, which sets new benchmarks in sound quality, power efficiency, and connectivity. This chip, combined with innovative AI technology, offers an unparalleled listening experience.

Key features include:

  • Improved sound quality: Thanks to the AI-powered AutoSense OS™ 6.0 operating system and a refined fitting algorithm, Phonak reports impressive performance metrics, including:
    • 93% user preference from the first fit compared to other leading brands
    • 45% reduction in listening effort
    • 21% reduction in fatigue
    • 61% improvement in speech understanding
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Industry-leading support for all Bluetooth-enabled devices, allowing seamless, hands-free calls and streaming over double the usual range.
  • Enhanced durability: Designed to withstand the challenges of everyday wear.

Phonak Infinio Hearing Aids: The Lineup

Phonak’s latest technology is available in four new models:

Audéo R Infinio

A versatile, rechargeable Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aid, suitable for a wide range of hearing losses.

Virto R Infinio

Phonak’s first rechargeable In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aid, equipped with directional microphones to provide superior sound quality and best-in-class connectivity.

Audéo Infinio CROS R

Specifically designed for those with unilateral hearing loss, the Audéo Infinio CROS R boasts enhanced battery life and works seamlessly with the Phonak Audéo for CROS and BiCROS configurations.

Audéo Sphere Infinio

The standout release in the new lineup is the Audéo Sphere Infinio. This RIC hearing aid is powered by both the ERA and DEEPSONIC dual-chip technology, making it the world’s first device to incorporate a dedicated real-time AI chip for speech separation. Its primary goal is to dramatically improve speech understanding in noisy environments by using machine learning to differentiate speech from background noise.

Where to Get Phonak Infinio Hearing Aids

Phonak’s latest Infinio models will soon be available at North West Hearing. Contact us on 0161 491 1943 to learn more or email below.