Saturday, October 08, 2005

Free Hearing Test

Do you ever worry that you've done some damage to your ears after years of listening to music at jetliner decibels? Me too.

I try to where ear plugs when I expect a show to be very loud but I go without a lot of the time if the band has a more nuanced sound. Plus, just blaring music in the car and now iPod has possibly taken it's toll.

Well, Occupational Hearing Services is now offering a free hearing test over the phone. You dial 800-222-3277 between 8am & 4pm (Mon-Fri) and ask for the hearing test. You need to have paper and pencil ready. The lady then plays the test for you. The test is basically a series of tones (some high and some low). Each time you hear a tone, you mark it on the paper. Then you repeat the test for your other ear. The lady then comes back on the line and asks how many tones you heard in each ear and tells you how well you did.

I was pleasantly surprised with the results. She said I did very well and the ones that I missed were possibly related to the fact that I was using a cordless phone (use a corded phone if you can). So, like a chain smoker who just got a clean bill of health, I'm going to go blast GBV's "Unleashed! The Large-Hearted Boy!" in my office.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Just took the test. I was almost perfect. I missed one tone in the left ear, but was otherwise perfect. I may have heard that one if they weren't weedeating outside my apartment.

I was a little surprised to get a live person on the phone. I thought it'd be fully automated.

The woman said to say "thank you" for putting this on your blog. I'll probably do the same on mine.

Unknown said...

Okay, I'm a complete moron. I didn't read your full entry before taking the test. I now see that someone assists you with the test.

That's interesting that she mentioned the thing about the cordless phone. They didn't mention that to me.

Flatlander said...

I was surprised to get a live person also. But the lady was so nice, it made me comfortable.

Considering how many shows you've seen, that's good to hear that you only missed one tone.

Anonymous said...

Just ran across this column (Googled it) and called the number. Very pleasant man ran me through the test. I missed only one tone in one ear, which I liked, but consider rather generous to my hearing. Well worth a call.

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