There are many questions that arise when one is concerned about hearing loss. There are a few questions that are commonly asked, but feel free to call us with any other concerns you may have about your hearing. You can also check our “Hearing Loss Symptoms” page for typical symptoms that lead patients to investigate potential hearing aid assistance.
About 28 million Americans have a hearing impairment, nearly 1 in 10 of our population. Hearing loss affects all ages, but it becomes more prevalent as we grow older; 60% of those with hearing loss are over 65. Hearing loss often occurs so gradually that the person with the loss doesn't notice, but others around them do. Most people are not aware of the extent of their hearing loss until family or friends bring it to their attention. It is helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
Do I frequently ask others to repeat themselves?
Do I hear people speaking but have difficulty understanding them?
Do I turn up the TV or radio louder than normal to hear clearly, or do others complain I need it louder?
Do I avoid situations because of my hearing problem?
Do I have difficulty hearing on the phone, or in groups?
Do I often feel tired or stressed from concentrating during a conversation?
Do I frequently misunderstand phone numbers, directions or names?
An Audiologist holds a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited university with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment and referral for medical treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists are required to complete a full-time nine-month post-graduate fellowship and pass a demanding national competency examination. The initials CCC-A following an audiologist's name indicate that he or she has a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology awarded by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). With their advanced education and training, audiologists are the most qualified professionals to perform thorough hearing examinations, refer patients for medical treatment and provide hearing rehabilitation services including the fitting of hearing aids.
Hearing aid dispensers DO NOT have any formal education requirements. A hearing aid dealer can be identified by the initials H.I.S. following his or her name. Dealers commonly work out of retail stores and may be a salesperson for a particular manufacturer.
Hearing aids today are far more complex than in the past. Programmable and digital hearing aids can be precisely programmed to match your specific hearing loss. A complete understanding of hearing loss and the anatomy of the ear is essential to providing the most accurate fit possible. Hearing aids are not a cure for hearing loss; they should be part of a program which includes comprehensive testing, medical clearance, counseling, instruction, and follow up care. Audiologists use specialized equipment to obtain accurate results regarding your hearing loss. These tests should be conducted in sound-treated rooms, whenever possible, and with calibrated equipment. An audiologist is trained to inspect the eardrum and ear canal, perform limited wax removal, conduct diagnostic audiologic tests and check for medically related hearing problems. Hearing loss is caused by medically treatable problems about 10% of the time. Audiologists are educated to recognize these specific medical problems and, if appropriate, refer patients to ear, nose and throat physicians (otolaryngologists).
There are over 28 major manufacturers of hearing aids. With all of these choices, it can be overwhelming. That's why we've researched numerous manufacturers to offer you the most reliable, advanced technology and sound quality available today. We specialize in the following brands: Bernafon, Phonak, Siemens, Starkey, and Widex. Go to our links page for more information on these companies. We attend educational seminars throughout the year to stay current with the latest advancements and products available.
Hearing aids come in a range of sizes and circuits. By carefully reviewing your audiogram, dexterity, cosmetic concerns, lifestyle and listening needs, our audiologists can choose the most appropriate device for you.
Check with your insurance company regarding your policy, as everyone's policy is different. If your insurance does cover hearing aids, we will be happy to bill as a courtesy, but payment up front is still required.
We would be happy to see you. Hourly rates do apply for hearing aids purchased outside our office. If your hearing aid requires a factory repair and is no longer under warranty, repair fees may be charged by the manufacturer. We also offer a service contract for those who may have recently moved to the area or for those who would like to transfer their hearing aid service to our office for a longer period of time.
Return within the trial period and receive a full refund, minus the $50/per ear professional fee.
You will need time to adjust to having something in your ear as well as the amplified sound from the hearing aids. Because it may have taken years to lose your hearing, you may have become unaccustomed to hearing normal environmental sounds like the hum of a refrigerator or computer, the ticking of a clock, traffic noise, background conversation, as well as the sound of your own voice. When you begin to wear hearing aids, your brain must re-educate itself to filter out some sounds and concentrate on those you wish to hear. This process does not happen over night; most patients learn to adapt to the hearing aids in several weeks, however, for some, the process can take a month or more.
If both ears have a hearing loss then both ears need amplification. The brain does a much better job of understanding when it has equal input from both ears. When your ears work together, less volume is required. This means that a user of two hearing instruments can set the volume of each one lower, resulting in more pleasant hearing and less amplification of distracting background noises. When several people are talking at once, it results in a very difficult listening situation. When we are able to use two ears, we increase our ability to filter out some of the unwanted sound and focus more on the information we want to hear. With two ears providing information, a more balanced, natural sound quality is achieved. Listening is more relaxed because you aren't straining one ear to understand what is being said. Also, we need two ears to tell the direction of sound. If only one ear is amplified with a hearing aid, sound will seem to always be coming from the amplified ear. This is important for safety reasons, like determining the direction of an oncoming car, and for social reasons, like determining the location of someone calling your name.
You can start with a
phone call to our office at (360)671-7530 to schedule a free consultation and
hearing exam. During your consultation, we will determine the most appropriate
device for your loss, lifestyle, and listening environment. An impression will
then be made of your ear canal(s) using soft material that hardens in about
five minutes. This impression is mailed to the manufacturer so that the shells
of the hearing aids precisely match the contours of your ears. It takes about
two weeks for the instrument to be made. When we receive them in our office,
we will call you to schedule the fitting appointment. A deposit of 50% is due
at the time we place your order, with the balance due at the fitting. Your
60 day trial does not start until you are actually fit with your new hearing
aids.
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