According to a survey on hearing health, 4.5% – 18.3% Indian adults suffer from hearing loss. Despite the life-changing nature of hearing loss, most people delay seeking professional help until the hearing problem turns serious. In Chandigarh, there has been an increase in noise pollution levels. This, along with the increasing ageing population, has made hearing health a bigger concern.
One of the major issues is that residents don’t know where to start when looking for reliable clinics for hearing tests in Chandigarh. The challenge explicitly lies in finding centres having qualified audiologists, proper diagnostic equipment, and reputed hearing aid brands. The right hearing care centre can make a real difference in receiving an accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment.
This blog provides important pointers in shortlisting the clinics for hearing tests in Chandigarh.
The Cost of Delaying Hearing Tests
Hearing loss that’s not treated on time can silently affect your daily life more than you might realise. It impacts speech, communication, and even mental health. According to a recent study, hearing difficulties can lead to social isolation, cognitive health decline and even dementia. Detecting conditions early through the right testing process can help prevent these complications.
A professional hearing evaluation identifies the type and degree of hearing loss. This information guides the right treatment approach. Testing and treating in time can significantly improve your quality of life and stop your hearing health from deteriorating further.
Selecting Clinics for Hearing Tests in Chandigarh – Key Considerations
You must consider the following factors before settling down with a hearing aid clinic in Chandigarh.
Look For Audiology-Focused Centres
Facilities that specialise in audiology and hearing care are better choices than general healthcare centres. These centres invest more time and money in advanced diagnostic tools and regularly upgrade their skills with the latest developments in hearing care technology. Such dedicated centres offer complete solutions that go beyond basic testing to include hearing aid fittings, ongoing support, and rehabilitation programs.
Verify Audiologist’s Background
The experience of the clinic matters when it comes to the treatment you receive. Choose clinics that have audiologists with adequateenough practical experience. Seasoned professionals are better equipped to interpret test results accurately, understand different types of hearing loss and their implications, and suggest appropriate solutions. They can also find subtle patterns in your hearing profile and know how to work with patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors.
Check Professional Credentials
Ensure the audiologists hold BASLP (Bachelor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology) or MASLP (Master of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology) degrees. These qualifications demonstrate formal training in audiological assessment and rehabilitation techniques.
RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) certification provides additional credibility. Certified professionals adhere to standardised testing protocols and ethical practices while participating in continuing education to maintain current knowledge. Reputable clinics will readily share information about their team’s qualifications and credentials.
Assess the Range of Hearing Tests
A single basic hearing test may not provide a complete assessment of your hearing health. Look for facilities offering multiple evaluation types:
- Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) serves as the foundation of hearing evaluation
- Tympanometry examines middle ear function and identifies potential issues
- Oto-Acoustic Emissions (OAE) tests evaluate cochlear hair cell health
- Brain Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) assesses hearing in young children and difficult-to-test patients
- Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) provides frequency-specific hearing threshold data
Comprehensive clinics also conduct cochlear implant candidacy evaluations and offer rehabilitation services. This breadth of testing options demonstrates clinical expertise while ensuring accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.
Evaluate Selection of Hearing Aid Brands
Access to multiple hearing aid brands gives you more options to find the right fit. Reputable hearing aid clinics in Chandigarh work with internationally recognised manufacturers. Brands like Widex, Signia, Resound, Phonak, Starkey, and Oticon offer distinctive features and technologies. Each brand has unique strengths in various listening environments. Having multiple options allows your audiologist to match a device to your specific needs. It also gives you flexibility in terms of budget and features.
Avoid clinics that push only one brand or promote inexpensive, low-quality devices. Quality hearing aids may require an initial investment, but they deliver better results and durability.
Ensure Trial Periods and Professional Fitting
Never purchase a hearing aid without trying it first. Professional clinics offer hearing aid trials that allow you to test the devices in real-world situations and assess their comfort and ease of use. The trial period helps you understand how the device works in different acoustic environments.
Fitting of the device is equally important for the best sound experience. Techniques like Real Ear Measurements (REM) help verify that the hearing aid is programmed correctly for your hearing loss. This objective measurement of professional clinics ensures the device provides the right amplification.
Offers Home Visits
In-home services provide significant convenience, particularly for seniors and individuals with mobility limitations. Select centres that offer home-based hearing tests and hearing aid trials. This service will allow you to test the aids in your actual living environment, evaluating their performance when watching television, making phone calls, or having conversations in your living room.
Offers Transparent Costing Flexibility in Payment
Hearing healthcare is a thoughtful investment in your quality of life. Therefore, understand the cost structure before committing to any clinic. A basic hearing screening typically starts around INR 500. More detailed hearing assessments involving multiple tests can range from INR 800to INR 2000. The cost of a hearing aid differs based on brand, technology, and features.
Reputable clinics provide transparent pricing without hidden charges. They explain what each test includes and why it’s necessary.
If budget is a problem, ask about payment plans or easy financing options. Some clinics offer EMI plans to make hearing aids easily available for patients.
Offers Protection Plans
Most health insurance companies in India do not cover hearing aids or related services. This differs from Western countries, where insurance coverage for hearing devices is more common. Health insurance policies with higher premiums, such as Royal Sundaram Lifeline Elite and Magma HDI One Health Plan Premium, may have hearing aids in their plans, either with a price cap or as an add-on coverage. Always verify coverage with your insurance provider before making assumptions.
Since standard health insurance does not cover hearing aids, look for clinics offering their own protection plans. Some centres provide coverage against loss, theft, or damage. For instance, the Centre for Hearing® comprehensive protection plan covers your investment for 15 months from unexpected incidents. This plan gives you peace of mind, especially considering the high cost of hearing aids.
Verify Credibility Online
You can get solid insights into a clinic’s service quality and patient experience through online ratings. So, go through their Google reviews and comments on social media posts. Instead of checking individual comments, look for consistent patterns.
Also, pay attention to how the clinics respond to negative feedback. Handling complaints professionally shows they are accountable and committed to improving.
Centre for Hearing® – Your Trusted Hearing Aid Clinic in Chandigarh
Centre for Hearing® has served the Indian community for over 50 years. We started in 1973 and have helped more than 3,00,000 satisfied customers to date. This extensive experience gives us a deep understanding of hearing health needs across different age groups among Indians.
- We have a team of 50 RCI-certified audiologists who come with specialised knowledge for creating personalised treatment plans.
- In Chandigarh, you will find us in the Tricity Area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula) to make access to quality hearing care convenient.
- Each of our centres offers all types of hearing tests, from basic Pure Tone Audiometry to advanced BERA and ASSR evaluations.
- We are also partnered with leading international hearing aid brands, including Widex, Signia, Resound, Phonak, Starkey, and Oticon. This wide selection gives you choices of the latest hearing technology, including invisible devices, receiver in the canal and receiver in the ear (RIC and RITE) and smart and rechargeable hearing aids.
- Centre for Hearing® also runs one of the leading Cochlear Implant programs, working closely with three leading Cochlear Implant companies and leading surgeons nationwide.
- In addition, our centres in Chandigarh provide free consultation and a 2-day hearing aid trial before purchase. This enables you to test different devices in your daily environment and choose the best fit using Real Ear Measurements programming.
Contact 9811227269 to get the directions to the nearest Centre for Hearing® branch in Chandigarh.
Key Takeaway
Hearing care clinics play a very important part in maintaining your hearing health for decades. However, they can do only so much. It is your responsibility to take proper and complete treatment to prevent complications in the future.
Remember that a reputed hearing clinic in Chandigarh would offer end-to-end testing, certified audiologists, international standard hearing aids, personalised treatment, and follow-up care.
Centre for Hearing’s® commitment to improving hearing health is evident through our strategic locations of branches, home consultations, hearing aid protection plan, and 2-day free trial period, making it easier for people to access our services and solutions.
We are located in the Chandigarh Tricity Area and also in Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar. You can find us in Delhi and Gurgaon as well.
To book your free consultation with our experts, you may contact us or email at care@centreforhearing.org.
FAQs
1. What can I expect during a hearing test?
A hearing health test is a painless and non-invasive procedure. The test takes 30 to 60 minutes. The audiologist will note down your medical history and hearing problems and then have you wear headphones. You will be asked to respond to different tones and speech sounds. The test reports will be given immediately.
2. How often should I get my hearing tested?
You should ideally get hearing tests every three to five years. After 50 years, annual check-ups are highly recommended. Children under 14 years must be tested at birth, before joining school, and whenever they face a problem.
3. What’s the hearing test fee at Centre for Hearing® in Chandigarh?
Cost depends on specific tests and your hearing condition. Basic consultation fee is INR 500. For comprehensive hearing assessments, the charges may range between INR 800 and INR 1,500.
4. Does Centre for Hearing® in Chandigarh provide home trials for senior citizens?
Yes, the Centre for Hearing® provides home visits for seniors and individuals who have mobility problems. This comes at an additional charge. You can call 9811227269 to schedule a home consultation.
5. Can hearing loss impact memory?
Not treating your hearing loss on time can worsen the problem and impact brain function and memory. The brain will start working harder to process unclear sounds, which reduces its capabilities for memory and thinking.
