CHEARS: Conservation of Hearing Study
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    • The CHEARS Research Team
    • Sponsoring Institutions
  • CHEARS Study
    • About the CHEARS Study
    • Background on the Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire
    • Background on the Audiology Assessment Arm
    • General FAQ's
  • Our Cohorts
  • Audiology Assessment Arm
    • About the CHEARS Test Sites >
      • Montefiore Medical Center
      • Callier Center for Communication Disorders
      • Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center
      • Columbia University Medical Center
      • Henry Ford Hospital
      • Indiana University at Indianapolis
      • LIJ Hearing and Speech Center
      • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
      • New Haven - Southern New England ENT (formerly Yale Unviersity)
      • Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
      • San Diego Hearing Center
      • St. Louis University Medical Center
      • Stanford Hospital and Clinics
      • University of California - Irvine
      • University of Cincinnati
      • University of Michigan
      • University of Pennsylvania
      • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
      • University of Rochester
    • Description of CHEARS Hearing Assessment
    • Interpreting your CHEARS data form
    • What are Decibel Levels?
    • Links to additional information
    • AAA Participant FAQs
  • Publications
  • Contact Us

FAQs for AAA Participants

Q: How long will the hearing test last?
A: The test should last approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

Q: What will I be asked to do during the hearing test?
A: You will complete two short tests:
1. You will first be given headphones to wear and instructed to listen for a variety of tones. You will be asked to indicate when you hear the particular sound, typically by raising your hand or by pressing a button. The results of this test will be recorded on a chart called an audiogram.
2. Your hearing will then be tested using a headband with a vibrating pad, which transmits sound through the bones in you skull to our ears. This test will assess whether there are any problems with you eardrum or middle ear.

Q: What are the age restrictions to participate in the Audiology Assessment Arm of the CHEARS hearing study?
A: Women in the Nurses' Health Study II cohort who were ages 48-65 years old in 2012 are eligible to participate.


Q: What are reasons that I should reschedule my test?
A: Your test will need to be rescheduled if:
  • You have an upper respiratory infection (e.g. cold, flu) or another condition (e.g. an active ear infection or earwax which is completely blocking your ear canal) that may interfere with your ability to participate. If this is the case, please first consult your primary health care provider and have the issue resolved; please then call to reschedule your hearing assessment.
  • You have been exposed to loud sound without ear protection within the 72 hours prior to your appointment. We define sound as loud if: (1) in the presence of this sound, someone 3 feet away would have to raise heir voice in order to be heard, or (2) ringing in the ear(s) was noticed after the sound ended.
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