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Hearing Test while ear is blocked
Can anyone think of a good reason to give someone a hearing test when one's eustachian tube is blocked? This happened with a friend who told me that he has to plug his nose and blow in order to be able to hear on one side. I think it would be better to wait until a possible infection is cleared before doing an audiological test.
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Not a good thing...Since when does a professional ask someone to blow their noses so they can do a hearing test? Doesn't sound like an audiologist would request that...or any professional would offer to do any type of hearing tests. Anyone that needs to know what they can hear needs to have a clear passageway so that the tests can be done. If a person has a cold, flu, sinus infection or anything of that nature - the tests should be cancelled or rescheduled until the symptoms are gone and cleared up. The best outcomes and numbers will obtained when a person is able to hear through the ear canal and the bone conduction tests can be done to confirm what is happening with the sound waves.
I'd wait too.
I have variable tinnitus, so I won't even get them tested on loud days.
I'd suggest to your friend that he or she gets a new audiologist.
Bob
Audiologists are like car salesman. They will make sure to find a flaw in your hearing and will be sure to have just the solution you need at payments you can afford. I have found audiologist to be of very little help.
Exactly! He went to an ENT (saw a DO since the MD was booked). He went in because his ear was blocked. This upset me so much, I had to ask for others opinions. The doctors practice has an audiologist team so the test was done immediately after the ENT evaluation. I would think the audiologist wouldn't do a test either. My friend was hit twice with a lack of professionalism, in my opinion.
Well...for the most part - NOT all audiologist work that way. If they work with physicians, their practices are based on offering their services within that clinic. You came in to see them and you received their care regardless of whether you needed it or not. They should have done something for the blockage rather than for the hearing loss - but who am I to say what they were thinking? Like all consumers today - we need to shop around for what we need and that goes for our senses. Taking care of our ears and what goes on between them makes a lot of sense. Were there any other symptoms with the blockage? Going to an urgent center to make sure there isn't another reason for the blockage could have been an option too. Finding another audiologist group that are not affiliated with a physicians may be the route you want to go.