The Real Value of Your Visit: Finding the Why, Not Just the What
If you’re searching for answers about your hearing in the Tucson, Arizona area, you’ve likely seen everything from quick screenings to comprehensive evaluations. It’s understandable to feel confused!
I want to simplify this for you: The difference between hearing tests isn’t always the price; it’s the depth of care and the clinical goal. A simple screening just tells you if you have a problem. A full diagnostic exam, the kind we provide here at Sonora Hearing Care, is about finding the type of hearing loss, ruling out medical red flags, and ensuring your long-term health.
To ensure you receive the thorough, medical-grade care you are entitled to, delivered by a Doctor of Audiology (AuD), I have compiled these four critical questions to guide your selection.
Finding the Root Cause: Four Questions to Ask Your Provider
To ensure your appointment delivers a true, complete picture of your hearing health, make sure your audiologist can answer these four questions clearly.
Question 1: “Will you perform bone conduction testing?” Why it matters: This is non-negotiable for a medical diagnosis. Imagine your ear is a pathway. We need to know if the problem is in the outer/middle ear (the door and hallway) or the inner ear (the control room that talks to your brain). A bone conduction test bypasses the outer/middle ear, giving us the clearest look at the control room. This portion of the test can tell if your loss is medically treatable or if it’s permanent. Skipping this step means guessing.
This is particularly important when confirming a condition like Otosclerosis (hardening of one or more of the three tiny bones in the middle ear space). This is a medically treatable condition that a screening would have missed.
Question 2: “Will you check the health of my middle ear (Tympanometry)?” Why it matters: Tympanometry is a quick, painless test that tells us how well your eardrum and middle ear are working. In Tucson, we see a lot of allergies in the fall and spring, and this can affect how our ears work by causing congestion in our sinuses and increased fluid in our middle ears. Tympanometry helps us to see whether or not the eardrums are working properly.
Question 3: “Is a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) interpreting my report?” Why it matters: The person reviewing your results should have the highest level of training. An AuD is a licensed medical professional with extensive clinical doctoral training in hearing loss, balance, and disorders of the ear. Dr. Moore and her team possess the expertise to recognize when your hearing loss is a symptom of a deeper medical issue (a “red flag”) that requires immediate referral.
Question 4: “Will I receive a copy of my full audiological report?” Why it matters: A comprehensive evaluation gives you a detailed audiogram, a clear medical document of your hearing health. At Sonora Hearing Care, we spend time explaining what your ‘x’s and ‘o’s mean, showing you exactly where your hearing sits for low vs. high pitches. This report belongs to you and serves as the baseline for your health.
Our Clinical Experience: A Note on Trust and Care
We believe your hearing deserves more than a quick check. A comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluation at Sonora Hearing Care, LLC, includes additional tests that look at how your eardrum moves, how clearly you understand speech, and how your ears and brain are working together.
Speech-in-noise testing is a very important component in helping to determine how well you can process speech in complex listening environments. We also perform tinnitus evaluations that help to pinpoint tinnitus pitch and volume. Under the guidance of Dr. Moore, we use the full suite of tests to accurately determine prognosis, not just prescription.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
When you choose Sonora Hearing Care for your Hearing Exam in Tucson, you are choosing clinical rigor and peace of mind.
Book a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation with Our Audiologist. Ready to stop guessing and get a clear, medical diagnosis?
Give our office a call at 520-881-8740. You can also click here for our Contact Us Page.
About the Author: Dr. Cristi A. Moore, AuD CH-TM
Doctor of Audiology, Owner of Sonora Hearing Care, LLC Dr. Moore is a Doctor of Audiology (AuD), licensed by the State of Arizona, and holds a certificate of Tinnitus Management from the American Academy of Audiology. Sonora Hearing Care has been serving the greater Tucson area since 1989. As the owner, Dr. Moore is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, medically-focused hearing healthcare to the community.
Expertise and Experience:
- Clinical Focus: Dr. Moore specializes in adult diagnostic testing, complex hearing aid fittings, and cochlear implant services.
- Local Commitment: Having practiced in Arizona for over 25 years, Dr. Moore possesses unique insights into the health demographics and community needs of Tucson.
- Credentials: Dr. Moore earned her Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D) from A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences.