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The website nationalhearingtest.org is now available for telephone-based preliminary hearing screenings. The audiologists at Virginia Hearing Consultants are available to assist individuals who score outside the normal range and need an in-person, comprehensive hearing test. Continue reading
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May 23, 2014 /prREACH/ -- The National Hearing Test , a phone-based functional hearing test developed with funding from the National Institute of Health, is a wonderful first step in diagnosing loss of hearing in one or both ears. While a great step forward in drawing attention to hearing loss in the United States and conducting initial screenings, the telephone-based test has its limits. It's not a replacement for the types of Hearing Tests performed by audiologists. The Audiologists at Virginia Hearing Consultants in Norfolk are making an effort to get the word out about the National Hearing Test while making themselves available for follow-up questions and hearing test appointments in the Norfolk area.
The National Hearing Test went live in May 2014 and is being offered free for the remainder of May as part of Better Speech and Hearing Month. Normally, the test will cost $8. The test is best regarded as a screening test for functional hearing - especially the ability to understand speech amid noise. Each ear is tested separately and receives its own score of Normal, Slightly Below Normal or Poor. Test takers are referred to local audiologists for follow-up following the test. The National Hearing Test 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.”
Virginia Hearing Consultants in Norfolk wants to be the local provider of choice for following up on screening results from the National Hearing Test. The experienced audiologists are prepared to administer further testing, offer advice and answer questions. The audiologists are delighted about the publicity that the National Hearing Test is generating for hearing impairment in the United States and encourage any person who suspects a hearing problem to take the telephone-based test (especially during the no cost testing period). As awareness grows so will the need for skilled local audiologists to assess and treat individual cases of hearing loss. The hearing care team at Virginia Hearing Consultants is delighted about positioning their practice as a core provider of hearing testing and Hearing Loss Treatment Providers in Norfolk.
The National Hearing Test is a wonderful screening tool and the hearing care team at Virginia Hearing Consultants hopes that many people will make use of it; however, it is not the ideal first step for everyone. It requires the finger dexterity to type in many strings of numbers into the keypad and a phone with a wall-mounted jack (not a cellphone) to get reliable results. Anyone who suspects hearing loss and would have trouble completing the telephone-based screening is encouraged to schedule an assessment directly with a local audiologist.
Dr. Theresa Bartlett Au.D. is the primary audiologist at Virginia Hearing Consultants. She founded a private audiology practice in Norfolk in 2003 which later merged with another to form Virginia Hearing Consultants in 2005. Dr. Bartlett earned her Bachelor's Degree in Speech Pathology from James Madison University, her Master's Degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her Doctorate in Audiology from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Dr. Bartlett is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology and the Tidewater Audiology Society. She is also a member of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
About Virginia Hearing Consultants: Virginia Hearing Consultants has provided hearing aids in Norfolk, Virginia and its surrounding communities for over 9 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 our patients.
Contact: Dr. Theresa Bartlett http://virginiahearing.com
Virginia Hearing Consultants 241 Corporate Blvd., Suite 150 Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 847-5989
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