Hearing Checks to Help You Understand Your Hearing
Hearing can change gradually, so it is not always easy to notice when something is different. At Churchgate Ear Clinic in Ardleigh, near Colchester, a hearing check is included at no extra cost as part of my Ear Health Check. I examine your ears, carry out a quick hearing check and explain your results straight away, giving you a clearer picture of your ear and hearing health.
A Calm, Independent Approach to Hearing Health
- £25 Ear Health Check with a hearing check included
- The hearing check itself takes around 10 minutes
- Your ears are examined before the hearing check
- Modern otoscopy equipment allows me to show you high-definition images of your ears
- Hearing is checked across different frequencies and decibel levels
- Results are shown and explained to you straight away
- No affiliation with hearing-aid providers and no pressure to buy hearing aids
- Appointments are scheduled to allow enough time to discuss your concerns
- Fully insured, with around 350 five-star Google reviews
- Experience providing hearing checks both in the clinic and through local community hearing-health sessions
Why Is It Worth Checking Your Hearing?
Around 1 in 3 people in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, yet hearing changes can develop so gradually that people often adapt without realising how much they are missing.
I think of a hearing check as a little like an MOT for your ears. It gives you a useful baseline and can help identify changes that may otherwise be easy to overlook.
One of the comments I hear most often is, “I have to turn the TV up,” or that somebody else in the family has started saying the television is too loud.
Other signs that may make a hearing check worthwhile include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Finding conversation harder in restaurants or other noisy places
- Feeling that people are mumbling
- Struggling to hear clearly on the telephone
- Missing parts of words even though you can hear somebody speaking
- Experiencing ringing, buzzing, whooshing or other sounds in your ears
- Family or friends commenting on a change in your hearing
You do not need to wait until hearing is causing a major difficulty. Routine checks can also help you monitor changes over time.
What Happens During an Ear Health & Hearing Check?
I start by talking to you about your hearing, your ear health and anything you have noticed in everyday life.
I then examine your ears using modern otoscopy equipment. This is important because symptoms such as reduced hearing or a blocked sensation can sometimes have a visible cause, including earwax. I can show you the high-definition images or video so you can see what I am seeing.
The hearing check itself is straightforward, painless and non-invasive and takes around 10 minutes. It assesses your response to sounds at different pitches, known as frequencies, and at different volume levels, measured in decibels.
Once the check is complete, I show you your results and talk through them in clear, everyday language.
What Can Your Hearing Check Results Show?
A hearing check can help highlight whether your responses are within expected limits or whether particular frequencies may need further investigation.
I have seen many different patterns during hearing checks at Churchgate Ear Clinic. For example:
Hearing Within Expected Limits
Some checks show hearing within expected limits across the frequencies assessed. In this situation, no immediate action may be needed other than continuing to monitor your hearing over time.
Reduced Hearing at Certain Frequencies
Sometimes most frequencies appear within expected limits but there is a noticeable change at one particular frequency. One pattern I have seen is a reduction around 4 kHz. People with this type of result may hear somebody speaking but find that parts of words lack clarity, particularly in background noise.
Different Hearing Patterns
I have also seen less common patterns such as reverse-slope hearing loss, where lower-pitched sounds are more affected than higher-pitched sounds. This can sometimes make deeper voices more difficult to hear while higher-pitched sounds remain clearer.
A hearing check is not a replacement for a full diagnostic audiology assessment. If your results suggest that further investigation would be appropriate, I will explain this and recommend the right next step rather than trying to sell you another service.
Hearing Health in the Local Community
Hearing health is something I am particularly passionate about outside the clinic too.
After treating the chair of a local parish council, I was invited to provide hearing checks within the community. During one session, I carried out 19 hearing checks for local residents, with around six or seven people advised to seek further NHS or GP assessment based on what their checks showed.
Experiences like this reinforce why I believe simple hearing checks can be worthwhile. People do not always realise their hearing has changed until somebody takes the time to check it and explain the result.
Hearing Check FAQs
How Much Does a Hearing Check Cost?
The hearing check is included at no extra cost within my £25 Ear Health Check. This includes time to discuss your concerns, examine your ears and explain your hearing-check results. You can see my latest fees on the pricing page.
How Long Does the Hearing Check Take?
The hearing check itself usually takes around 10 minutes. Your appointment allows additional time to discuss your hearing and ear health, examine your ears and go through the results without feeling rushed.
Will You Try to Sell Me Hearing Aids?
No. I am not affiliated with any hearing-aid provider, and your hearing-check results are for you. If I feel a fuller hearing assessment may be helpful, I will explain why and suggest an appropriate next step.
What Happens If My Hearing Check Shows a Change?
It depends on the result and your symptoms. In some cases, monitoring may be appropriate. In others, I may suggest speaking to your GP or arranging a fuller assessment with an audiologist. My role is to explain what I have found and help you understand the next sensible step.
Do You Carry Out Hearing Checks for Children?
No. Churchgate Ear Clinic does not treat children. If you are concerned about a child’s hearing, your GP or an appropriate NHS hearing service can advise on the correct assessment route.
Get Your Hearing Checked in Ardleigh
If you have noticed a change in your hearing, or simply want a clearer picture of your ear health, you are welcome to book an appointment with me. The clinic is a few minutes’ walk from Ardleigh Surgery, with convenient nearby parking. Booking online is easy, or you can call me on 01206 978783 to discuss next steps.