If you’re new to JHBI, your first visit will include a comprehensive audiological evaluation before you meet with one of our medical providers. Whether your concern is hearing loss, dizziness or balance problems, tinnitus, or another ear-related issue, this evaluation gives us valuable information to help uncover the cause of your symptoms.
The inner ear is responsible for both hearing and balance, and these systems share the same cranial nerve. By carefully assessing how your ears are functioning, we can better understand what may (or may not) be contributing to your symptoms.
Here’s what your visit will include:
- Ear inspection (otoscopy): We begin with a visual check of your ear canal and eardrum to look for earwax buildup, blockages, or any abnormalities. This step helps us determine which tests are appropriate and safe to perform.
- Middle ear testing (tympanometry and reflexes): Next, we evaluate how your eardrum and middle ear are functioning. You’ll feel a small change in pressure and hear a few tones as we measure how your eardrum moves and test for an acoustic reflex — a normal response involving two cranial nerves. This provides insight into middle ear health.
- Inner ear response testing (DPOAEs): We then measure how the sensory cells of your inner ear respond to sound. This step helps confirm the reliability of your results and can provide additional diagnostic clues.
- Hearing test (audiogram): Finally, we assess how well you hear tones and understand words. This test helps us determine both the type and degree of any hearing loss and evaluate how your brain processes sound.
Each part of the evaluation plays an important role in understanding the overall health of your ear and helps us create the most effective treatment plan for your hearing or balance concerns.
If you’re experiencing hearing difficulties, ringing in your ears, dizziness, or other ear-related symptoms, call JHBI today at (904) 399-0350 to schedule an appointment.