In-Person & Online Hearing Tests
Nearly 38 million Americans live with hearing loss, so it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Despite that statistic, people wait an average of seven years before seeking help.
Whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe, your hearing loss could be putting your health in danger. From dementia to increased fall risk, seeking early treatment can decrease your need to worry about yourself or your loved ones. Do you suspect you may be one of the 38 million? Schedule a hearing test at one of our ten locations in Albert Lea, Belmond, Britt, Charles City, Cresco, Hampton, Iowa Falls, Mason City, New Hampton, and Osage.
Online Hearing Test
Hearing Associates offers a free online hearing test that can help you decide if you should seek professional hearing services. The audio test includes a series of sounds at different volumes. We recommend you use headphones or earbuds during the process.
Depending on your score, you may need to receive a more comprehensive evaluation. Call 888.760.2032 to schedule a hearing test or VNG balance test at one of Hearing Associates’ offices in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.
Our Hearing Evaluations
At Hearing Associates, we have the expertise and equipment to examine your hearing and balance issues thoroughly. Our hearing test options include:
- Basic Comprehensive Audiometry Test: Determines the degree of hearing loss using pure tones and word recognition testing.
- Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Testing: Assesses the function of the hair cells in the cochlea. OAEs are often used on infants or patients who cannot respond to basic comprehensive audiometry testing.
- Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry (ABR): Checks the functionality of the auditory nerve from the cochlea to the brain and determines the auditory threshold.
- Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR): Used to determine audiometric thresholds.
- Acoustic Immittance Testing: Evaluates Eustachian tube function and identifies any fluid behind the eardrum.
- Visual Reinforcement Audiometry: Usually applied to toddlers, this hearing evaluation uses a visual display to provide positive reinforcement for identifying a sound source.
- Conditioned Play Audiometry: Toys, blocks, cards and other objects are used to direct a child’s or infant’s focus toward a hearing test.
- Real Ear Hearing Aid Test: Used to validate hearing aid fittings by ensuring proper audibility.
- 2CC Hearing Aid Test: A variety of tests that determine the functionality of hearing aids, including output, gain and battery drain.
Balance Testing
Videonystagmography testing (VNG) determines if an inner ear condition is the source of dizziness or balance problems. VNG testing is used to evaluate your ability to follow objects with your eyes. It also measures how well your eyes respond to information from the vestibular system.
VNG testing consists of four parts:
- Ocular Mobility: You’ll use your eyes to follow moving objects while an audiologist looks for inaccuracies or slowness, which could indicate a neurological condition or an issue between the pathway from your inner ear to your brain.
- Optokinetic Nystagmus: You’ll view a large, moving image to see if your eyes track movements properly. Like the ocular mobility assessment, it measures your ability to follow visual targets.
- Positional Nystagmus: This test examines your inner ear and the endolymph fluid in your semi-circular ear canals. We will move your head and body to determine if there is rapid eye movement during positioning.
- Caloric Testing: We will stimulate your ears with warm and cool air and monitor your eye movement to determine if your ears respond to the stimulation. This segment is used to identify unilateral or bilateral vestibular loss.