Hearing Test
What to Expect at Your Hearing Test
A hearing test in Apple Valley, CA at Optimum Audiology takes 45 to 60 minutes in a professional sound booth. We start by asking where hearing is hardest for you, then look in each ear. Next comes pure-tone testing with soft beeps, speech testing with recorded words, and an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) check of your inner ear. Your results are charted on an audiogram, a graph of your hearing, and we go over them before you leave.
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Owner & Doctor of Audiology
Apple Valley Office
Apple Valley Office
Apple Valley Office
Apple Valley Office
La Verne Office
Jess Ranch Office
Tested and Explained by a Doctor of Audiology
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has performed hearing evaluations since 1991. You'll get your results in plain language before you leave. HMO plans need a doctor's referral first. Many of our patients are Veterans, and those who qualify can be seen through the VA Community Care Network. If your results suggest a medical cause, we'll coordinate with your physician or an ENT. Patients travel from Victorville, Hesperia, and Lucerne Valley for a diagnostic hearing evaluation with our team.
Hearing Test FAQs
Common questions about a hearing test in Apple Valley and our other offices: what the visit includes, insurance and cost, whether you need a referral, and what comes next.
Many insurance plans cover a diagnostic hearing evaluation, so your cost is often just your usual copay. We accept most major insurance plans, and our billing team checks your benefits before the visit so you aren't guessing. Eligible Veterans can be seen through VA Community Care, and federal employees with work-related hearing loss may be covered under OWCP.
We don't advertise a free hearing test, because a full diagnostic evaluation is more than a quick screening. It gives you real answers about the type and degree of any hearing loss. If you're unsure about coverage, call or text (760) 503-1700 with your insurance card handy and we'll find out for you. Payment options for anything not covered are on our financing options page.
It depends on your insurance. HMO plans require a doctor's referral for a hearing test, so ask your primary care doctor for one before you book. Then call or text (760) 503-1700 or use the Request a Callback form, and our patient care team will find a time at the office that suits you in Apple Valley on Wika Road, Jess Ranch, La Verne, or Visalia.
Other plans have their own rules, and our billing team can check yours when you schedule, so there are no surprises. If your doctor has already referred you, bring the referral paperwork with you or ask their office to send it to us before your visit.
Many audiologists suggest a baseline hearing test by age 60, or sooner if you've spent years around loud noise at work, in the military, or at the range. After that, once a year is a sensible schedule for most older adults, since age-related hearing loss tends to change slowly and quietly.
Don't wait for the yearly check if something changes. Asking people to repeat themselves, turning the TV up, or struggling on the phone with family are all good reasons to come in. So is new ringing in your ears. If you wear hearing aids, your annual check-up includes a new hearing test plus a Real Ear Measurement check, so your settings keep pace with your hearing.
You'll leave knowing where you stand. If your hearing is within normal limits, we keep the results on file as a baseline for next time. If there's hearing loss, we explain the type and degree and what it means for conversations at home, at church, or on the phone.
When hearing aids make sense, we talk through options from all major manufacturers, with no pressure to decide that day. You can read more on our hearing aids page. If the results suggest a medical issue, such as fluid behind the eardrum, we coordinate with your physician or an ENT. Questions after your visit? Call or text (760) 503-1700.
Hearing Aids Tuned to Your Ears, Not a Factory
Hearing aids only help if they're set for your ears, not generic factory settings. That's why every new fitting at Optimum Audiology includes Real Ear Measurement, a quick test with a tiny microphone that confirms the sound reaching your eardrum matches your hearing loss. We check again at every annual visit, see you for follow-ups in the first month, and most purchases include a trial period so you can hear the difference at home.
Patient Reviews
What patients across the High Desert, Visalia, and La Verne say about their care with Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Expert Hearing Care From the High Desert to Visalia
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has helped patients hear better since 1991, and every plan starts with a thorough hearing evaluation.
Serving Southern & Central California
Four Offices, One Number
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., and her team see patients in Apple Valley, Jess Ranch, La Verne, and Visalia. Choose the office closest to you on the map.
- Call or text: (760) 503-1700
- info@optimumaudiology.com
- Doctor of Audiology since 1991
- Real Ear Measurement on every fitting
- VA Community Care & OWCP provider
Optimum Audiology is a great place to go to for my hearing aids. Friendly staff and very helpful. They take care of everything from insurance, to keeping your hearing aids properly working. Thanks for doing a great job for me Optimum Audiology.— Anthony A.
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