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Preliminary functional hearing screenings are now offered by phone from the National Hearing Test at nationalhearingtest.org. To follow up in Austin on test scores which fall outside the normal range, participants can schedule a complete hearing test with a local audiologist at Austin Hearing Services. Continue reading
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May 23, 2014 /prREACH/ -- The National Hearing Test, a phone-based functional hearing test developed with National Institute of Health (NIH) funding, is a great first step in detecting hearing loss unilaterally or bilaterally. That said, the test isn't a substitute for a comprehensive Hearing Examination in the office of audiologist. The Austin Audiologists at Austin Hearing Services are making an effort to spread the word about the telephone-based screening option while making themselves available for Hearing Test appointments and questions in the Austin area.
The National Hearing Test is available at nationalhearingtest.org and costs eight dollars. As part of Better Speech and Hearing Month, the test is free for the month of May 2014. Because it is phone-based, the test was created as a speech in noise style test. It is best regarded as a screening for functional hearing - the ability to hear in daily situations. Test takers get an assessment of Poor, Slightly Below Normal or Normal for each ear. Participants are referred to local audiologists for follow-up after the test. The website states, "If your results from the National Hearing Test were “marginal or below normal,” you should make an appointment for a complete hearing evaluation by a certified hearing professional. Even if your results are in the “normal” range but you still have concerns about your hearing, we encourage you to seek a complete hearing evaluation as well.”
The audiologists at Austin Hearing Services - Austin Hearing Test Providers wish to support Austin area residents by being the leading local provider of professional hearing tests and advice about treating various forms of hearing loss. Austin Hearing Services anticipates that the publicity generated by the National Hearing Test will bring needed attention to the subject of hearing impairment in the United States. As more individuals are screened, the demand for local hearing testing and personalized treatment plans and follow-up care goes up too. The hearing care staff at Austin Hearing Services is delighted about positioning their practice as a core provider of hearing testing and hearing loss treatment in Austin.
The National Hearing Test is an excellent screening resource and the hearing care staff at Austin Hearing Services hopes that many people will take advantage of it; however, its not the right first step for everyone. It requires the manual dexterity to enter many sequences of numbers into the telephone number pad and a telephone with a wall-mounted jack to get accurate results. For any person who currently suspects hearing loss or would have a hard time completing the screening, the audiologists at Austin Hearing Services recommend calling to schedule an in-house hearing test.
About Dr. Margaret Hutchinson Austin Hearing Services was founded in 1999 by Dr. Margaret Hutchinson. Dr. Hutchinson received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Science (MS) degree in Communications Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Dallas earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Development and Communications Disorders in 1996. Dr. Hutchinson has multiple publications in the field of audiology and is a frequent conference speaker. She has been cited in Notable Women of Texas and Who's Who In Science and Engineering. The American Academy of Audiology honored Margaret with the Academy's Scholar Award in 2011. She is Board Certified in Audiology and a member of the American Auditory Society, the American Academy of Audiology, the American Speech and Hearing Association, the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology and the Society for Neuroscience.
About Austin Hearing Services: Austin Hearing Services has provided hearing aids in Austin TX and its surrounding communities for several years. The company offers a full range of diagnostic and preventative hearing healthcare professional services, including hearing aid screening, evaluations, hearing aids sales and rehabilitative and preventative counseling. The staff is dedicated to keeping abreast of the latest improvements in technological advancements in the hearing industry and is committed to offering the most current options to patients.
Contact: Dr. Margaret Hutchinson http://austinhearingservices.com
Austin Hearing Services 6805 North Capital of Texas Highway #265 Austin, TX 78731 (512) 851-0871
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