Laila Karma Audiology – Hearing Professionals is a reputable Audiology practice which has been operating in the Richards Bay area for the past 25 years.
Laila Karma Audiology is an establishment which is renowned for its quality healthcare service provision and prides itself on employing a client centred approach. We provide a wide range of services, including:
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The steps of a basic diagnostic hearing test
1. Case History Interview
The Audiologist will ask you specific questions relating to your hearing difficulties and medical history.
This part of the assessment is essential in identifying your individual concerns, possible causes of your hearing difficulties and your needs and expectations of your visit.
2. Otoscopic Examination
The Audiologist will have a look in both of your ears using an Otoscope to evaluate the integrity of your ear canal and eardrum.
3. Immittance Audiometry
The Audiologist will use an Impedance Audiometer to evaluate middle ear function. This test requires you to sit still for a few minutes while the machine runs the test.
4. Pure Tone Audiometry
The Audiologist will ask you to be seated in a sound proof booth and wear set of headphones. A series of tones will be presented to you and you will be required to press a response button to indicate whether you have heard the tone. This test evaluates your hearing sensitivity by testing how well you hear tones of different pitches.
5. Speech Audiometry
The Audiologist will ask you to repeat a list of words read out to you. This test provides information regarding your ability to perceive speech.
6. Feedback and Recommendations
The Audiologist will explain your results to you in detail and answer any questions you may have. Recommendations will then be discussed and an individualized intervention plan will be tailormade to suit your needs.
Understanding your hearing
Audiogram
The Audiogram is a graph which represents hearing. Audiologists test hearing according to frequency (pitch).
Humans can hear a wide range of frequencies, from 20 hertz (Hz) to 20 000Hz. A typical Audiogram will represent 125Hz to 8000Hz. The decibel level (loudness) at which you can hear each frequency indicates whether your hearing falls within the normal range or not. Speech comprises a wide range of frequencies.
Depending which frequencies have been affected and the severity of your hearing loss, you may have difficulty hearing different signals. For example, a person with a high frequency loss (2000Hz and above) may have difficulty hearing a woman’s voice as women usually have higher pitched voices. Based on the Audiogram, the Audiologist will be able to tell you which frequencies you have difficulty hearing and which hearing aids may be appropriate for you.
