The UAB Hearing Clinic is located in the basement of Spain Rehabilitation Center at 1717 6th Avenue South. Open to the general public, the Hearing Clinic has two full-time licensed certified audiologists who routinely conduct audiological evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, and neonatal screening. The UAB Hearing Clinic is one of the only two Professional Service Board (PSB) accredited locations in the state.

Some facts about hearing impairment:

• More than 1/3 of the United States population has a significant hearing impairment by the age of 65.
• An estimated 3.9 million people in this country have hearing aids.
• Presbycusis (hearing loss occurring with age) is the most prevalent but least studied handicapping condition.
• Sensorineural hearing loss (damage to the hair cells and cochlea caused by genetics, exposure to noise, or age) is the largest single form of hearing loss.

Some of the procedures more commonly performed at the Hearing Clinic include:

• Pure tone audiometric testing.
• Speech testing.
• Tympanometry, or the functioning of the middle ear.
• Acoustic reflex testing.

In conjunction with University Hospital, Hearing Clinic staff also engage in audiological screening of newborn infants. The well baby population at the Hospital is screened by the use of Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) testing. The high-risk baby population is screened using Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing. These screening procedures allow us to determine if a baby needs any further testing following their discharge from the hospital.

Clinically, hearing loss is diagnosed by degree and type. Hearing losses range from mild to profound and can be sensorineural or conductive in type. A sensorineural hearing loss is more commonly known as a nerve hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss means there is something blocking the sound from going through the ear such as wax or fluid that needs to be treated medically. After discussing test results, patient are counseled about the next appropriate step of action. The next step could include an evaluation by an ear, nose, and throat doctor or choosing a hearing aid.

The audiologists in the Hearing Clinic recommend the appropriate style of aid depending on type and degree of the hearing loss while always keeping the patients preferences in mind. The Clinic dispenses many different kinds of hearing aids. Styles range from a Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aid down to the smallest Completely in the Canal (CIC) hearing aid. We currently dispense programmable hearing aids and will very soon dispense the new digital hearing aids.

Hearing aids are dispensed with a thirty-day trial period. Every hearing aid comes with a full two-year warranty covering any repairs and loss and damage. Audiologists can check any hearing aid and have it repaired by the manufacturer if needed. Modifications and some repairs can be made in the clinic.

The Hearing Clinic also dispenses assistive listening devices such as an Audiolink commonly used with television sets. FM systems typically used by children in schools are also dispensed in the clinic.