Virtual vs In-Person Hearing Loss Assessment

by Jennifer Abbott | Oct 22, 2020 | Client Resources, Hearing Test

When getting information, tips, and recommendations online it is extremely important to ensure your sources are credible. .

Virtual vs In-Person Hearing Loss Assessment

The first place the average person looks for answers to any problem these days is online. With such a convenient method for accessing a huge library of information, it is really no surprise that the world wide web would be the first stop for solutions. However, when getting information, tips, and recommendations online it is extremely important to ensure your sources are credible. An abundance of misinformation and an endless line of potential swindlers can quickly lead you down the wrong path.

Are Online Hearing Tests Accurate?

If you are experiencing symptoms of hearing loss you may have been searching for answers online to see what type of assistance is required and available. As you may have noticed there is an extensive selection of online hearing tests available to assess your possible hearing loss. While these are online hearing tests are becoming more sophisticated, they are certainly no replacement for a professional diagnosis.

How do online hearing tests work?

Online hearing tests typically consist of a series of questions followed by a sequence of tones and sounds to check your hearing ability and accuracy.

Can online hearing tests provide an accurate assessment?

In short, there is no real way for an online hearing test to deliver an accurate assessment no matter how sophisticated it is. Too many external factors can come into play to impact the results. For one thing, there is no way for an online test to take the background noise you are exposed to into account. Also, the sounds you are hearing will only be as good as the quality of the speakers they are coming through. Plus, there is no way for an online test to detect any physical or structural damage to the anatomy of the ear.

Are online hearing tests useful?

While the results of an online hearing test will not offer a definitive and accurate assessment, it can still be beneficial. An online test may provide a good indication if further assessment is needed for your hearing loss. Especially if an online hearing test is the first step towards taking action to address hearing loss issues, then it can be very helpful to get on the right path to treatment and management.

Virtual and Mobile Hearing Services

While generic online hearing tests are not likely to provide you with the answers you are looking for about hearing loss, there are virtual and mobile hearing services available to give you the information you seek without even having to leave the house.

Virtual Assessment

A great way to get the ball rolling is through a virtual meeting with a hearing professional. This can help determine if an in person evaluation is necessary. This is a good way for the experts to get some background information and perform a few light tests to determine the severity of the hearing loss and what the appropriate next steps should be.

Mobile Hearing Services

For people in the Greater Vancouver area, complete mobile hearing aid and hearing clinic services are available with Hear at Home. Individuals struggling with mobility issues, or for those that just may not have the time or the means to get to a clinic, these services can be tremendously beneficial.

Hearing assessments need to be done by a professional in order to get a comprehensive picture of your auditory health. A hearing professional will take into account your work and lifestyle history, hearing loss symptoms and how long you’ve been having them, and relevant medical information. The physical make up of the ear also varies from person to person, and a professional can also check for wax or fluid buildup and damage to the tiny hairs in the inner crucial to hearing ability.

For a precise diagnosis of hearing loss severity, a range of potential variables and external factors must be considered. If you are experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss, taking early action can help minimize the damage and impact on daily life.

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Jennifer Abbott

Jennifer Abbott brings over 25 years of experience in business. She has worked in multiple industries, including insurance brokerage, aviation, and health. Her career journey enabled her to acquire impeccable skills to help people find solutions in any situation. Jennifer is well travelled. She has lived and worked in Dubai for award-winning Emirates Airline. Jennifer has enjoyed working in a multicultural environment. Her offshore work empowered her to learn about various cultures from over 100 different nationalities. Upon her return home, Jennifer pursued her studies as a Hearing Aid Practitioner. While working in a hearing clinic, she became aware of some people’s challenges getting to their appointment. She realized that those people were not getting the proper hearing aid help they needed, which compromised their hearing. People’s struggles inspired her to establish the first unique 100% mobile hearing clinic in the lower mainland. As the founder of Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic, Jennifer’s mission is to improve her client’s quality of life at any age. She has in-depth experience with hearing testing fitting, recommending hearing aids and working with older populations suffering from cognitive decline and Dementia.

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				Marianne Ketchen			

							A few years back I met up with Jennifer and she recommended and fitted me with a crossover hearing aid system.  It was amazing and emotional to find and hear my voice again after a 40 year hearing loss.  Jennifer continues to support me and my hearing and hearing aid needs with such professional and unique finesse, even though I now live on the island.  Hear at Home is a leader in their industry and Jennifer is an amazing person to work with.
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 30/11/2017

				Trudy Kerr			

							Jenifer and her staff are amazing. Very kind and considerate when dealing with their clients. Would highly recommend them to anyone who needs hearing aids, especially if your loved one is in a care home and you are not able to be there. They always provide their timeframe and are reliable with it. Thank you to all of you at Hear at Home - you have made our lives easier.
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 27/07/2022

				Janet Pursell			

							After my family noted that they had to repeat things to me and I had also noted that I was missing parts of conversations, I contacted Hear At Home for assistance.  I encountered professional, friendly and personalized service which included a hearing assessment, education on hearing loss and a review of hearing aid options.  I found out that my hearing loss was limited to one ear and I was fitted with a hearing aid that is so small that it is almost invisible!  I can now hear much better in social and work situations and would highly recommend Hear At Home for its exceptional service! 

Thanks Hear At Home!
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 24/01/2022

				Darlene Gau			

							2022 Nov 09

Both my husband and I are so pleased with the services we received [exceptional] from Hear at Home.  The quality of the hearing aids are excellent as is Jennifer's knowledge of her work. She and all her staff are caring, helpful, friendly people and this attitude came across on our first contact with them: people first-always.  And it's been consistent.  Trying to make the right choice [like hearing aids] is often not easy but Hear at Home certainly made the experience a pleasant one.  Thank you!

And a special thank you must be mentioned to Emma who was my first point of contact.  Her warm friendly demeanor in her emails made a big difference for me.

Jennifer's ability to 'hear' and to 'listen' to what is being said is a gift which is helpful to some of us oldies.  So again, thank you.  And we wish you every success in your business venture.  It's well deserved!
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 10/11/2022

				Colleen Hawkins			

							Many thanks to Jennifer who went above and beyond with her customer service! My mother was hospitalized after breaking her hip. She relied on her hearing aids to hear what doctors and physiotherapists were telling her. Unfortunately one of the hearing aids stopped working. I dropped the aid off at the Hear at Home office on a Friday afternoon. The following day Jennifer had fixed it and offered me to pick it up that evening at her home (I couldn't pick it up during office hours), otherwise we would have had to wait til Tuesday. Then on Sunday we were having difficulties getting that hearing aid to stay in her ear. Jennifer had me bring it back to her home Sunday evening to make some adjustments.  Its very impressive that Jennifer went out of her way, on her days off, to help my mother in a time of need. Thank you so much, Jennifer, you rock!
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 27/10/2021

				Greg Viger			

							Jennifer & the Hear At Home staff are amazing. The kindness, warmth, sincerity and genuine concern for their clients and family is like I have never witnessed in a business. It is kind of hard to believe until you experience it. Read the other reviews and there is a consistent pattern in the accolades. They go above and beyond to do right for their clients and make it as easy as possible to handle what can sometimes be hard situations.

I completely trust them with my parents and can not recommend them enough to care for your loved ones.
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 03/09/2021

				Cherri			

							Jennifer, was a real life saver when mom lost one of her hearing aids while at the hospital.  Jennifer came to mom's bedside, took measurements of mom's ears and ordered a new set of hearing aids.  Mom is very happy with both Jennifer and her new hearing aids!  After mom returned home, Jennifer visited us at home and checked on mom.  Recently, Jennifer visited us again and checked on mom's hearing aids and gave mom another hearing test.  While examining mom's ears, Jennifer discovered wax build up,  and made the suggestion to see our doctor for an ear flush.  We would not of known about the wax, if Jennifer had not examined mom's ears.  Jennifer has taken the stress out of both the management of  mom's hearing and the maintenance of her hearing aids.  We can not thank you enough Jennifer!
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 27/10/2021

				Janice Porter			

							Jennifer is a true professional and a stand out in her field.  I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of hearing services.  She is most caring, and considerate, and will go out of her way to accommodate her clients.  Jennifer has done a lot to build her reputation in her community - in particular she has successfully organized and executed a Seniors Flash Mob event (more than once) - coordinating many seniors and local businesses to put on an amazing event each time.  Kudos!
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 29/02/2016

				Ruth Brown			

							Jennifer thank you for today with Dad.  He greatly appreciate’s the care and attention you give him regarding his hearing loss.  It’s such an important part of communication and as he ages he is more aware of the impact of the loss of his hearing.  What he learned today will make his holiday in Atlanta more enjoyable- thanks 🙏🏽
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 18/10/2019

				D Silverwood			

							We would highly recommend Jennifer and the Hear at Home team for all your hearing needs. My dad got his hearing aids from Jennifer over 10 years ago and my mom has had hers for the last couple of years. Jennifer is very knowledgeable, professional, thoughtful, a real pleasure to work with and always goes above and beyond. It was such a bonus for us that Jennifer was able to come to our home to for my dad’s hearing needs as he had mobility challenges. I recently brought my mom to Jennifer’s new office in the Delbrook Plaza which is beautiful, very accessible and has lots of free parking. Our family  definitely recommends Hear at Home!!
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 30/01/2023