Causes of hearing loss

Recognising hearing loss

There are many different signs that suggest you might be experiencing some level of hearing loss. We highly recommend that you speak to an audiologist if you are concerned, particularly if you are noticing any of the following:

• It’s hard to hear what people are saying in noisy environments
• People often seem to be mumbling
• You often have to ask people to repeat things
• It’s difficult to follow conversations in a group of people
• People say you have the television or radio turned up too loud
• It’s difficult to hear what people say on the telephone

Degrees of hearing loss

There are four different degrees of hearing loss, which can be determined using a standard hearing test or ‘Pure Tone Audiogram’. This is just one of the many tests we offer at Pindrop as part of our extensive consultation process.

Going private makes all the difference

Choose Pindrop and you’ll have access to a whole host of additional benefits that aren’t available through the NHS.

Representing real value

We understand that patients are concerned about hearing aid prices and the cost of appointments, so we put an emphasis on value. Pindrop is a dedicated hearing aid specialist, so you are guaranteed to receive the highest standard of care, from assessment and fitting to aftercare.

Our prestigious hearing clinic on Harley Street and state-of-the-art facility on Winchmore Hill have been established for ten years, and 8 months respectively. We work alongside leading ENT consultants and we come recommended by GPs.

Our hearing aid prices are very competitive when compared with other full-time high street clinics, but do feel free to compare using www.aihhp.org.

Not all hearing tests are equal

We are the hearing experts and we know that an effective hearing assessment is conducted through a series of tests in a specially designed environment.

You may have visited websites claiming to offer the same hearing aids and tests for a much lower price, but in our experience there is always a reason. Often it can be because the people running the website are middlemen, who simply put you in touch with a third party – usually a hearing aid dispenser working door to door with basic, portable equipment. You will not receive the same standard of assessment in your own home as you would in a clinic.

Unfortunately, we get lots of enquiries from patients who are unhappy having bought hearing aids this way. Their hearing has not been improved sufficiently or they have not been able to contact the dispenser to access any aftercare.

Why we don’t offer free hearing tests

Many of the large, national hearing aid-dispensing companies offer free hearing tests, but there’s often a catch. The free hearing test may in fact be a basic screening that’s being used as part of a sales pitch. The dispensers often work on commission and it’s their job to sell you a hearing aid. Less time will be spent on evaluating your hearing and more time will be spent on selling.

Charging for our appointments enables us to offer a far greater level of clinical evaluation, which includes Speech Discrimination Tests. There won’t be any hard sell, just objective, clinical advice. You will receive a thorough explanation of your results along with a written report and recommendations.

We provide a professional and clinical service

Hearing aids are sophisticated Medical devices and therefore need to be correctly programmed and fitted. If this work is not done correctly then the hearing aids will not be as effective as they could be and in some cases can make the problem worse. You could pay less for a Premium device from another provider but receive a greater improvement in your hearing from a basic device fitted properly by Pindrop.

This is because we are clinical audiologists with years of experience with hundreds of patients. Our assessment and fitting protocols are of the highest standard, spending the appropriate amount of time and using the highest level of equipment to ensure your hearing is maximised to its full potential and that you continue to benefit from this for years to come.