Getting Help with Your Hearing

You should look after your hearing in the same way you look after your eyes. We recommend an annual hearing health check for anyone over the age of 50 and every two years for the under 50s.

A free hearing health check carried out by our qualified Hearing Aid Dispensers is the best way of finding out why the change in hearing may have occurred and what steps need to be taken to address these changes.

There are two different types of assessment available at Barraclough and Stiles.

Hearing Screening

This is a quick and simple check that takes just 15-20 minutes to complete, Using a simple testing device called a hearing screener, it shows how well someone is hearing across four sound frequencies (from low to high pitched). The results of this simple test will indicate whether the more thorough 'Full Hearing Health Check' is required.

Full Hearing Health Check

This check is also free. It is a more comprehensive assessment carried out by our qualified Hearing Aid Dispensers, who are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). We recommend that a friend or family member also attends, as a familiar voice is a useful reference during the testing procedure.

The Full Hearing Health Check will take approximately 45 minutes and is made up of four steps:

1. Step One: Initial discussion
   Our Hearing Aid Dispenser will ask about your medical history, as well as your lifestyle and occupation. You will be asked about any hearing difficulties you may be experiencing, if you have worn any hearing aids before and in what specific situations you would like to hear better.
2. Step Two: Checking the health of the ears (Otoscopy)
   An instrument called an Otoscope is used to look inside the ears, checking for any blockages or abnormalities of the ear drum and the ear canal. Should any conditions be discovered that are best addressed by your GP, our Hearing Aid Dispenser will refer you for further investigation.
3. Step Three: Checking the level of hearing (Audiometry)
   A computerised aidiometer is used to establish how well you can hear. By playing different tones at a set range of frequencies and volumes, our Hearing Aid Dispenser is able to determine your level of hearing. Should the results require it, we will also fit a hearing aid at this point, to demonstrate the the improvements to your hearing that are possible.
4. Step Four: Explanation of results
   It is extremely important that you fully understand the results of your Full Hearing Health Check and any implications. Therefore, we ensure that we take the necessary time to explain the results at the end of the appointment. If your Full Hearing Health Check determines that a hearing loss is present, our Hearing Aid Dispenser will advise you of the most appropriate solution.