beware of hearing tests - Hearing Disorders Message Board

hry33 · 04-23-2003, 05:03 PM

I have tinnitus ( ear noises) and a hearing loss and was given many hearing tests over 1 year which mostly came back with completely different results.
I pointed this out to the hearing specialist docs who werent concerned at all
finally I found out, by chance, what as happening.

you have to sit in a sound proof booth, wearing headphones that completely cover your ears, while being tested.
the pressure of the earphones is sometimes strong enough to shut the ears of some people, by pushing the front part back so it blocks the ear canal, making the test give completely wrong results.
its now realised that they they need to place short tubes in the ears to keep them open.

since workers compensation is paid for hearing loss on the basis of these hearing tests, and hearing aids are prescribed, it seems to have been a major scandal. somebody should have had the common sense to realise something was wrong a long time ago

zip2play · 04-25-2003, 03:44 AM

hry,

Thanks for the heads up. I have one scheduled for next Friday.
Last one, a couple decades ago was difficult because I the tinnitus was louder than most of the notes...I tried to detectect the differnt pitch. I think the tinnitus is usually a high F# (LOL).

montag66 · 04-28-2003, 07:23 AM

What you are talking about is insert earphones. They have been around for years and are used widely. The traditional over the ear style (circumaural) headphones are more than appropriate for the great majority of persons being tested. Collapsed ear canal from the pressure of the headphone is quite rare. If, when testing, the audiologist discovers and unexplained air/bone gap, he/she must rule out collapsed canal by using insert phones or having the patient hold the ear piece of the headphone gently against their ear.

The phenomenon of collapsing ear canals has been known for ages. Sorry to burst your investigative bubble, but there is no widespread conspiracy.

Overdrive · 05-17-2003, 08:30 AM

I have worn h/a since I was 5 (am now 24). I have so many tests that it is now routine! My audiologist knows I can read her lips, and we play games about this every time I see her. Anyway, obviously I can thus read her lips when she asks me what the words are etc in the test - this was until she cottoned on, and now covers her mouth ... :-) So now there's no way that I can cheat. Maybe you should ask your audiologist to try doing this (I am surprised that it seems he isn't already automatically doing so). Best wishes ... And NO - there is no conspiracy (such things exists elsewhere, believe me).

zip2play · 05-18-2003, 06:40 AM

I was happy to hear my surgeon tell the audiologist (next door) not to use headphones because I had small canals that might collapse under pressure. I never knew I had small canals.