Are you curious about your changes in your hearing?

KELOWNA HEARING TESTS: COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC HEARING ASSESSMENTS

Whether you have noticed subtle changes in your hearing or have been living with listening challenges for some time, a hearing test can provide clarity.

Whether you have noticed subtle changes in your hearing or have been living with listening challenges for some time, a hearing test can provide clarity.

Our comprehensive diagnostic hearing assessments are designed to help you understand what is happening and what support, if any, may be helpful. Many people live with subtle hearing changes for years before seeking clarity. Listening challenges can be difficult to describe and easy to dismiss, even as effort and fatigue increase. Our audiologists take time to assess, explain results clearly, and answer questions so you can understand your hearing and make informed decisions at your own pace.

When Listening Starts to Take More Effort

Many people wait longer than they need to because hearing changes often arrive quietly. The signs are subtle, inconsistent, and easy to explain away. Still, they tend to show up in familiar ways.

You might recognise yourself if:

  • Conversations feel harder to follow, especially in groups or background noise
  • You hear people speaking but miss parts of what is said
  • Ringing or buzzing in your ears comes and goes
  • You feel tired or irritable after social time
  • You turn the television up more than others prefer
  • You rely more on context, guessing, or watching faces
  • You avoid certain situations because listening feels like work

These experiences are common, and they are often the first signs that your hearing system is working harder than it should.

A diagnostic hearing test offers clarity. It helps separate normal variation from meaningful change, and gives you information you can use, whether that means monitoring, reassurance, or support.

KELOWNA HEARING TESTS: THE DIFFERENCES

Hearing Screenings vs Diagnostic Hearing Assessments

A hearing screening is a brief check that looks for the possible presence of hearing changes. It often measures whether certain tones can be detected in each ear. Screenings can be useful when hearing is assumed to be within normal limits, or as an initial flag that something may be shifting. What they do not provide is an understanding of why those changes are happening, how speech understanding is affected, or how listening effort shows up in daily life.

When hearing loss is present, a diagnostic hearing assessment becomes essential. This type of evaluation is designed to determine the type and degree of hearing loss and how it impacts communication, participation, and listening comfort. It includes a detailed assessment of hearing sensitivity, speech understanding, and the health of the outer, middle, and inner ear. When appropriate, results may also point to balance concerns or signal the need for medical follow up.

Lakeside Hearing offers diagnostic hearing evaluations because meaningful care depends on understanding first. Diagnostic assessments take more time because they are meant to answer real questions and guide next steps thoughtfully. They are completed by an audiologist and include clear explanation, discussion of results, and how those findings connect to daily experiences. This approach ensures that recommendations, whether medical referral or management planning, are grounded in what is actually happening within your auditory system.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN A KELOWNA HEARING TEST

What can I expect during my diagnostic hearing assessment?

A diagnostic hearing assessment is a thoughtful, step by step process. Each part builds on the next, so you understand what is being evaluated, what the results mean, and how decisions are made together.

Conversation

Your appointment starts with listening. We take time to understand what brought you in, the listening environments you live in, and the patterns you have noticed, like people seeming to mumble, missing words, turning up the TV, feeling tired after social time, or ringing in your ears. This context matters because it shapes what we test for and how we interpret results.

01

Assessment

We complete a full diagnostic hearing assessment focused on clarity and function. Testing may include hearing thresholds, middle ear function, acoustic reflex testing, objective outer hair cell measures, and speech understanding. If tinnitus is part of your experience, we include it so we can understand what you hear, when it appears, and what influences it.

02

Results

Once testing is complete, we walk through your results in clear, plain language. You will understand what the findings mean, how they connect to your day to day listening, and why tinnitus or listening fatigue may be showing up. This is where expertise matters most, translating the audiogram into practical clarity you can actually use.

03

Options

Some people need reassurance and a plan to monitor changes. Some people benefit from support options. Support options may include monitoring, education, tinnitus support, listening strategies, or hearing aids when they are likely to be helpful. If hearing aids are part of the conversation, we focus on fit, comfort, and how your system responds over time.

04

This type of care is especially helpful if you are new to hearing care, or if you have worn hearing aids for some time but want a more thoughtful, individualized approach. Many people come to us after years of managing on their own, or after experiences that felt rushed, confusing, or overly focused on devices rather than understanding.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR KELOWNA HEARING TEST

What can I do to prepare for my visit with an audiologist?

  • Bring any previous hearing test results if you have them. This helps your audiologist see whether your hearing has changed or remained stable over time.
  • Consider bringing a friend or family member. A diagnostic assessment often includes a lot of information, and having another person there can make it easier to remember details later.
  • If hearing aids may be part of the discussion, it can be helpful to think ahead about where listening feels most difficult. For example, conversations at home, group settings, restaurants, or noisy environments. This helps guide a realistic conversation about what support might improve and what may still remain challenging.
  • If hearing aids are discussed, your audiologist will explain the different styles and technologies, what each is designed to help with, and their limitations. The goal is for you to understand the advantages and tradeoffs of each option so any decisions are informed and unhurried.

Diagnostic-Led Hearing Services

Hearing concerns can show up in many ways, at different points in life. Alongside diagnostic hearing tests in Kelowna and hearing aids, we provide care for tinnitus, pediatric hearing, ear wax removal, sound sensitivity, and related hearing services. Our goal is to offer clear assessment and appropriate support, whatever brings you in.

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Tinnitus Care

Ringing, buzzing, or other persistent sounds can be unsettling, especially when they come and go or interfere with rest and concentration. A diagnostic hearing assessment is often an important first step in understanding tinnitus and identifying appropriate support options.

kelowna child hearing tests

Pediatric Hearing Tests

Hearing concerns in children can look different than they do in adults. Lakeside Hearing is one of the only private audiology clinics in the Okanagan assessing children younger than five years of age, with evaluations that are age appropriate, gentle, and thorough.

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Ear Wax Removal

Excess ear wax can affect hearing, comfort, and test results. Professional ear wax removal helps ensure the ear canal is clear and functioning as it should, using safe, appropriate clinical techniques.

Cochlear Impants

For individuals with significant hearing loss who may not benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants may be an option. Assessment and follow up focus on understanding candidacy, expectations, and long term outcomes.

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Custom Ear Plugs

Custom ear plugs are designed for comfort and effective protection in work, music, travel, sleep or water environments. Proper fit helps protect hearing while maintaining awareness where needed.

Sound Sensitivity

Sensitivity to everyday sounds can be distressing and impact daily life. Assessment helps identify contributing factors and guide strategies to reduce discomfort and improve tolerance.

Elevate Your Hearing & Enhance Your Life

If you have questions about your hearing, a diagnostic assessment is a good place to start. Our team is here to help you understand what is happening and what options, if any, may be helpful.
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