QUESTIONS:

ANSWERS:

How do I know I have a hearing loss? Recognizing a hearing loss in yourself or someone you know is the first step toward improving the situation. Often, among the first sounds which "disappear" are those in the higher frequencies, that is, those which are most high-pitched.

From the listener's point of view these sounds include:

  • Women's and children's voices
  • Birds' singing
Other symptoms of hearing loss include:
  • Difficulty hearing in public gatherings - concert halls, theaters, house of worship - where sound sources are far from the listener.
  • Difficulty hearing television and/or on the telephone.
  • Difficulty understanding conversation within a group of people.
  • Adults avoiding group meetings, social occasions, or family gatherings where listening may be difficult or where one may feel embarrassed about misunderstanding what is being said.

It's important to remember that hearing loss is generally a gradual process that goes undetected due to the body's incredible ability to develop subtle coping strategies. These strategies include:

  • Asking others to repeat themselves.
  • Turning the head to one side while listening to sounds or speakers.
  • Turning up volume levels on TV, radio or stereo.
  • Avoiding social gatherings.
  • Misinterpreting a spoken message.

At some point, however, a hearing loss will be noticed and by then it will probably be too late to restore normal hearing. The only sure way to determine a hearing loss is to get a hearing test from a qualified Hearing Health Care Professional.

How much of a hearing loss is necessary before hearing instruments can be beneficial? Because individual hearing requirements and listening preferences vary, there is no simple answer. However, as a general rule, hearing aids for even the mildest losses (25dB HTL) can help.

Is a hearing test painful? No. A hearing test is painless, easy and only takes a few minutes. This simple test, which should be done annually as part of a medical physical, is important to detect a loss as soon as it develops. In that way, your Hearing Health Care Professional can suggest an appropriate intervention program which may minimize further hearing loss.

I suspect I have a hearing loss and want to know more about hearing aids. What should I do now? You should always see your doctor first to make sure there are no other problems that could be medically or surgically corrected. After a medical evaluation you may wish to go to a licensed Hearing Health Care Professional.

If you have employment benefits, and/or health care coverage, check with your provider or employer to see if some, or all, of the costs are covered.

Finding a Hearing Health Care Professional is relatively easy. If you have a friend who wears a hearing aid, ask them to recommend their dispenser. Or, refer to the yellow pages of the local telephone book under "Hearing Aids."

Many, but not all, dispensers offer hearing aids from a variety of manufacturers. Ask the dispenser if they recommend a certain brand of hearing instruments. If you have a specific model in mind, ask if they can dispense that product to you.

Choose your Hearing Health Care Professional carefully. Do not select a dispenser on the basis of price alone. Most dispensers "package" their price based upon the services, support and follow-up they offer. Therefore, the dispenser that charges more may offer you more of these than a "discount" dispenser. Also consider conveniences like parking, accessibility (bus stop nearby? office hours? lots of stairs a concern? handicap access?) etc.

Remember, your hearing aid will probably require service eventually, and you will need to occasionally visit your dispenser for fitting and follow-up. Driving 100 miles to save a few dollars on the original purchase will probably be regretted later.

How long will it take for me to receive my new hearing aid? From the time an ear impression is taken to the time the hearing aid is delivered can range from 3 days (if it is a rush order ) to two weeks, depending on your location, the time of year, your particular ear anatomy, and other factors.

Do hearing aids come with any guarantees? American Hearing Aid Center offers a standard 1 year warranty with single incident loss and damage coverage. However, there is a professional fee for services and shipping/handling during that time even though the repair itself is covered.

A second or third year warranty maybe available - depending upon the manufacturer - upon request and at time of purchases at an additional charge. Repairs on hearing aids that are past their warranty coverage are normally warranted for 6 months after the repair.

American Hearing Aid Center also offers a 30 day trial period on all products to all our clients. Therefore you can try an instrument and see if it's right for you virtually risk free. However,if you do return a hearing aid within this period, there is a nominal charge.

I used my new hearing aid for a week and do not like the way it sounds. I can understand better, but the sound is not as "natural" as with my old hearing aids that I've worn since 1989. Why?  The difference between sounding "natural" and hearing better is very important. There have been many advances in hearing aid technology in the last 5 years, and like a new pair of shoes, there may be an adjustment period to the new product.

Many of today's hearing aids have extended frequency ranges and greater possibilities to achieve a more appropriate fitting of the loss to help one hear better. Just as a new hearing aid user has to become accustomed to listening with the awareness of many sounds not heard for some time, a previous user of hearing aid may also need to become accustomed again if either his "prescription" for appropriate amplification has changed or the ability to deliver that amplification can now be realized.

Of course it's always important to convey any dissatisfaction so that we may be able to appropriately address these concerns on an individual basis.

I know I have a hearing loss because loud sounds like my lawn mower and electric saw seem softer now.
Can these sounds still damage my hearing?  YES!
The effects of noise exposure are the same regardless of how loud they seem. Wear appropriate hearing protection or your hearing loss can become more severe.

What are the expected advantages of Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing instruments?   Since CIC's are practically invisible, they are an excellent cosmetic improvement over other types of hearing aids. In addition to their minuscule size, they also offer other potentially important benefits including:

  • Suitability for a wide range of hearing loss
  • Comfortable and secure fit
  • More realistic sound
  • Reduced feedback
  • Improved directionality
  • Easy insertion and removal
  • Wearability during sleep
PRECAUTION: Proper fitting of deep canal hearing instruments requires the taking of a deep-canal impression. Hearing health professionals should not attempt this type of fitting unless they have developed the necessary skills needed to take this type of impression safely.

Why does my hearing aid battery only last one week now when it used to last three weeks?   One possibility is that the receiver of the hearing aid is partially blocked with cerumen (ear wax) or ear drainage. In this case the blockage acts as an extra load for the amplifier and will drain considerably more power from the battery. This is somewhat like driving a car with the parking brake on: the engine will burn more gas for the same job.

Battery drainage can also be increased because the hearing aid wearer keeps turning up the volume of the hearing aid over previous settings. This may be due to a change in hearing loss or the presence of impacted cerumen explained above.

If an increase in hearing loss is suspected, consult your Hearing Health Care Professional. If the receiver is blocked with cerumen, follow the directions in your user's manual to clean your hearing aid, or bring it to us for cleaning. In rare instances there may be a problem with the circuit or electronics of the hearing aid which requires professional service.

My hearing aid works intermittently: it works for a few hours then fades out. If I put it aside for a few hours, it will work again. Why?   This symptom is typically associated with either cerumen (ear wax) or moisture build-up in the receiver and/or microphone port.

In the morning hours, at room temperature, when the aid is first used, it will be dry and thus perform well. As the day progresses, due to higher body temperature, the cerumen build-up tends to become more fluid and will block the receiver port. The effect is to first reduce high frequency gain, and then ultimately a complete loss of function. When the instrument is set aside for a few hours, it may start to work again as the cerumen solidifies and becomes porous, opening up the receiver port. This intermittent cycling can be repeated daily.

It is likely the aid will need to be serviced, and a receiver and wax protection device installed. Storing the instrument in a dry aid kit (which can be purchased from us) when not in use, is also recommended.

Will American Hearing Aid Center repair any hearing aid? Yes!  We will repair any make or model hearing instrument at competitive prices. Many hearing instrument problems can be corrected immediately in our office.

Can an extended warranty be purchased after the hearing aid has been ordered? An extended warranty can be purchased from us at any time during the original warranty period. The maximum extended warranty is 3 years. Extended warranties are also available for repairs and out of warranty hearing instruments.

Are CIC hearing aids suitable if both ears have ear tubes (ventilation tubes) installed?   In general, wearing hearing aids in the presence of ventilation tubes should not be a problem. This would, however, require some monitoring on the part of the patient. If the ventilation tubes become blocked or the ear begins to have drainage or a discharge, they should consult their physician immediately. The venting of the CIC instrument should provide for adequate ventilation.

Prior to considering any form of amplification or obtaining hearing instruments, anyone with ear pathology should consult with a physician, preferably a specialist in ear, nose and throat disorders.

What factors determine the retail pricing of hearing aids? How can I shop for a good value? The retail price of hearing instruments in the United States is affected by many factors, including the specific instruments prescribed and the technology they use, the amount and type of audiological testing which is performed, the type and severity of hearing loss, other related audiological services provided, and the number and duration of office visits for fitting, adjustments, etc. These prices are set independently by each hearing instrument distributor and may vary depending on specific distributor policies and programs.

The instrument style also plays a factor in the final price, with the completely-in-canal (CIC) instruments and programmable instruments typically at the top end of the price schedule. Determine which instrument styles and technology fits your budget without compromising your ability to receive benefits from wearing properly fitted amplification.