Hearing Testing in Orange, San Diego, & Riverside Counties

If you believe you are suffering from hearing loss, help is available in Orange, San Diego, & Riverside Counties at Clear Choice Hearing Aid, Inc. If any of the following statements apply to you, it’s important to get your hearing checked by one of our staff to see if hearing aids would help you.

  • When meeting someone for the first time, you are unable to hear them clearly.
  • You listen to the television or radio at a volume level which is uncomfortably loud for others in the room.
  • You frequently ask people you are speaking with to repeat themselves because it sounds as if they are mumbling or their speech is muffled.
  • You have frequent ringing in your ears that doesn’t go away.
  • You find it difficult to hear conversations in noisy places – such as restaurants, airports or parties.
  • You are unable to hear important sounds that occur during your day, including the alarm clock, cell phone notifications or the timer bell on the oven.
  • You have trouble hearing phone conversations, particularly cell phone conversations or phone calls with a great deal of background noise.
  • You feel as if your inability to hear is impairing your social life.
  • You find yourself trying to read lips.

If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, call Clear Choice Hearing Aid, Inc. and make an appointment for a hearing test in Orange, San Diego, or Riverside Counties to see if hearing aids might help you.

What Does a Hearing Test Detect?

A hearing test can detect issues as simple as an earwax obstruction, or as serious as permanent hearing loss. During your hearing test at Clear Choice Hearing Aid, Inc. in Orange, San Diego, or Riverside Counties, we will measure the threshold at which you are able to hear specific sounds by having you listen to a series of tones at different volumes.

After the test is completed, your hearing aid professional will create an audiogram that shows your hearing sensitivity. Using frequencies measured in Hertz (Hz), and loudness measured in decibels, the audiogram measures the lowest volume levels at which you can hear certain sounds. The louder it takes for a sound to be heard, the greater the level of hearing loss.

We will review your hearing test results with you and determine whether a hearing aid would help you hear. Afterward, you can discuss potential options and which hearing aids will work best for your situation.

How to Read Your Hearing Test Results

The normal range of hearing for a healthy adult is considered between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Most sounds we hear are between 250 and 6,000 Hz. A healthy adult should be able to hear sounds between 1 and 20 decibels at any frequency. Hearing loss of 25 decibels or less is considered typical hearing loss for an adult, and a hearing aid probably isn’t required.

Mild

Adults with hearing loss in the 26 to 40-decibel range are said to have mild hearing loss. Symptoms include difficulty understanding quiet conversations or difficulty hearing speech from across the room.

Moderate

Hearing loss in the 41 to 55-decibel range is defined as moderate hearing loss. Those with moderate hearing loss have difficulty hearing conversations at normal volume levels, and listening in noisy environments is extremely difficult.

Moderately Severe

If you have hearing loss in the 56 to 70-decibel range, it is considered moderately severe hearing loss. Symptoms include difficulty hearing quiet conversations or ringing telephones.

Severe

Severe hearing loss is defined as hearing loss that falls between 71 and 90 decibels. With severe hearing loss, you can only hear people who are standing next to you and speaking very loudly.

Profound

Hearing loss measured at 91 decibels and higher is considered profound hearing loss. These individuals are unable to hear loud speech or the everyday sounds around them.

If you suffer from any form of hearing loss, call Clear Choice Hearing Aid, Inc. to set up an appointment.

What Happens During Your Hearing Test at Clear Choice

Your appointment typically takes about 60 minutes and is completely painless. Here’s what to expect: 

Health & Lifestyle Review

Your hearing professional will ask about your medical history, noise exposure history, and any specific hearing challenges you’ve been experiencing in daily life.

Otoscopic Ear Exam

We’ll visually inspect your ear canal and eardrum to check for any obstructions, such as earwax buildup or signs of infection, that could be affecting your hearing.

Pure-Tone Audiometry

Wearing headphones in a sound-treated room, you’ll listen to a series of tones at varying pitches and volumes and indicate when you can hear them. This maps your hearing thresholds across frequencies.

Speech Recognition Testing

We’ll also test how well you understand spoken words at different volume levels, which helps determine how hearing loss is affecting your real-world communication.

Results & Recommendations

We review your audiogram with you immediately, explain what it means in plain language, and discuss whether hearing aids or other treatment options would benefit you.

No referral is needed. Walk-ins are welcome at our Costa Mesa location, or call ahead to reserve your preferred time.

Insurance Coverage & Cost for Your Hearing Test

Many patients are surprised to learn that hearing evaluations are often covered — fully or partially — by their insurance plan.

Medicare: Original Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing exams when ordered by a physician to determine the medical necessity of treatment. We can help you understand what’s covered before your visit.

Private Insurance: Most major PPO and HMO plans include some level of hearing benefit. Coverage varies by plan, but our staff will verify your benefits prior to your appointment so there are no surprises.

No Insurance? A comprehensive hearing test at Clear Choice is available at an affordable flat rate. Call our Costa Mesa office for current pricing — we’ll never pressure you toward a purchase based on your results.

Flexible Options: We also offer financing options and accept most major payment methods. Our goal is to make sure cost is never a barrier to finding out where your hearing stands.

Not sure if you’re covered? Call us before your appointment and our team will check your benefits at no charge.