If you have noticed yourself straining to hear in certain situations, whether it’s in a crowded shopping mall or just when more than one person is talking, you are not alone. According to The Hearing Foundation of Canada, there may be over three million Canadian adults suffering from hearing problems, while the Hearing Loss Association of America reported that 17 per cent of adults there – that’s 36 million – say they have some degree of hearing loss. If you are concerned, you could benefit from having your hearing checked. This post will take a look at sites and apps to test your hearing and technological advances could help to clarify whether your ears could do with a helping hand. First however, it is important to note that while these innovations are great for letting you know a problem may be afoot, they should be followed by a visit to a registered audiologist at a hearing specialist such as Amplifon if any issues are flagged up.
Apps to Test your Hearing
Action on Hearing Loss have an iPhone hearing check which you can do in the comfort of your own home. The test is free, confidential and scientifically verified. The organization says the test is the best method of checking your hearing without the need to visit a medical expert. Although it will not be able to pick up problems with your outer or middle ear, the test can check your sensorineural hearing. Click here to download the iPhone app.
Alternatively, you can jump online and head to HearCom’s site where a series of tests are ready to put your hearing through its paces and determine if there are any areas of concern. The site will test your ability to hear speech in noisy environments, your directional hearing and your ability to locate the source of a sound.
Along with age, excessive noise is a common cause of hearing loss. To look after your hearing make sure you wear ear plugs when you go to concerts, clubs, or anywhere that could have your ears ringing when you leave. Don’t listen to iPods or MP3 players on full volume; if those around you can hear it, it’s too loud. At work, your hearing is likely to be at risk if you are exposed to loud noise (over 89 decibels) for more than five hours a week. If you work in a noisy environment, your employer is obliged to provide you with hearing protection; you just need to make sure you wear it!
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