Physical Wellness

Hearing Test That Can be Taken on the Phone Proves Hearing Impairment

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Dec 22, 2015 06:18 PM EST

Hearing loss is a condition that not many people take very seriously until it starts to interfere with their social lives. It some cases, it can even lead to dementia. Despite its negative impacts, many people do not get diagnosed until it gets worse. At least 1/3rd American population over the age of 65 years is facing hearing impairment. However, a scientifically certified test can now be taken from the comforts of your home for as little as $5, says NPR

According to this test, you need to pick out speech in presence of background noise. Dr. Charles Watson, Principal investigator of National Hearing Test says that there is a very high correlation between your hearing loss levels and the way you comprehend speech in a noisy room. "It's a test intended to be very, very convenient," says Watson. Anyone can take this test by logging on to the website and paying a small fee of $5. After the registration, you will be given a phone number to call and an access code for your test to begin. When you make the call, you will hear numbers amid static sound. You need to press these numbers on your phone number pad as you hear them. After the completion of the test, you will be told if your hearing falls in the normal range or if you have a significant impairment. Each ear is evaluated differently, as reported by NPR.

Dr. Watson says, the hassle free low cost process will encourage a lot of people to come forward for the screening test. This is mainly because most people do not even accept that they have a hearing loss problem until it gets worse. This test came in U.S. in 2013 and is supported funds from the National Institutes of Health that is supporting Watson's research, says NPR.

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