I don't hear as well as I used to and want to get my hearing checked. What should I expect?
After introducing himself, the audiologist explains how the ear works and examines the inside of the ears to check for wax blockage, infection, scar tissue, or other visible causes that may contribute to loss of hearing. A hearing test in a sound-proof booth follows in order to test hearing capacity at various decibel levels, determining the severity of hearing loss, if any. The audiologist explains the test results with the patient and discusses which options best meet the patient's needs. A report with the test results is then sent to the patient's physician.

I was told that I have "nerve deafness" and that hearing aids won't help. Is this true?
It is absolutely not true. Hearing instruments were designed to help primarily with sensorineural or "nerve deafness" hearing loss. Nerve deafness refers to a loss of hearing in the inner ear. Thousands of little hair cells are found in the inner ear which can become damaged due to age, noise exposure, and heredity, creating hearing loss. What doctors mean when they say nerve deafness isn't treatable, is that medical treatments, such as surgery or antibiotics, will not help. Hearing instruments definitely help "nerve deafness".

My wife is sure that I have hearing loss, but I insist she mumbles. How can I tell the difference?
From our experience, most wives are generally correct (in all subjects, not just hearing). All kidding aside, let me ask you a few questions: how long has your wife been mumbling? Your whole marriage or just the last few years? Have other people told you that she mumbles? Have you noticed that other people mumble? In your wife's defense, there is a type of hearing loss that makes it seem like people mumble. The easiest way to solve this "discussion" is to visit one of our clinics and have your hearing screened.

Will hearing aids restore my hearing back to normal?
Unfortunately, no. Hearing instruments cannot restore a person's hearing back to normal. Sensorineural hearing loss, or "nerve deafness", is the most common type of hearing loss and affects the hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells die or get damaged, creating hearing loss. Hearing instruments can't repair the damage that has been done to the hair cells; however, they can help to maximize the remaining hearing and help people understand better. This immensely improves the person's quality of life.

What is the best brand of hearing aids?
The best brand of hearing instruments depends on what the individual person needs. High-quality brands generally last longer and are more adjustable. It's important to work with an audiologist that has access to a number of brands, so you can be fit with the most appropriate hearing instruments for your situation. Below are some of the high-quality brands we work with:

  

     

My spouse has a hearing loss and wears hearing aids but still has to ask me to repeat all the time. What should I do?
There are two reasons for this. The first concerns the hearing instruments; there could be a mechanical problem with the hearing instrument or they could be improperly programmed. The other reason could be that your spouse has word recognition difficulties. This means that your spouse hears words but doesn't understand them. To determine which reason is the cause, contact our office to schedule an appointment with an audiologist.

How long should my hearing aids last?
Hearing instruments are like anything else; how long they last depends on the quality of hearing instruments with which you are fit and how well you keep them maintained. There are varying degrees of quality among hearing instruments - cheap instruments aren't going to last as long as high-quality hearing instruments. High-quality, digital hearing instruments last anywhere from 3 to 6 years on average.

Why are there so many different prices on hearing aids?
The level of technology has the biggest effect on the price of hearing instruments. Because of this, it is important to work with an audiologist who takes time to determine your hearing loss and your listening lifestyle. Your listening lifestyle, or areas of hearing difficulty, determines the most appropriate technology, and thus the price of the hearing instrument. Other price factors include the quality and size of the hearing instruments and what services are included with the purchase (i.e. warranty lengths, cleaning, repairs, batteries, etc.).

Why are hearing aids so big? I feel that I could probably use the help but I have shied away from getting them because they are so large and unsightly.
You will be delighted to know that hearing instruments don't have to be large and unsightly now. Over the last number of years the size of hearing instruments have gotten increasingly smaller. There are hearing instruments called CIC's that fit all the way into the ear canal and are very cosmetically appealing. In addition, several types of behind-the-ear hearing instruments have gotten considerably smaller and use a clean, thin tube to connect the hearing instrument to a small dome. These instruments are called Open Ears. However, these hearing instruments won't fit all types of heaing loss; to determine if the smaller hearing aids will work for you, contact us to set an appointment for a hearing test.

In the pictures below, on the left side, the red hearing aid is the CIC. Note how much smaller it is than the other hearing aids. On the right is one of the many variations of open ear hearing aids. This picture shows how hidden it is behind the ear.

                              

Should I wear two hearing aids or will just one do?
This is a question we hear a lot. The answer is dependent on the hearing loss. If there is hearing loss in both ears then it is best to be fit with a hearing instrument in both ears. With both ears working together, you can localize sounds better, understand better in quiet and noisy environments, and take advantage of the "stereo" effect.

I have a constant ringing noise in my ears. Will hearing aids help it go away?
The constant ringing that you describe is called tinnitus. Hearing instruments help make tinnitus less noticeable (not get rid of it) in 50-60% of cases. In 20-30% of cases the level of tinnitus remains the same, and in 10-20% of cases the tinnitus can actually seem louder. One question: do you notice the tinnitus in noisier situations or only in quiet? If it's primarily in quieter situation, then it is likely that hearing instruments will help minimize the level of tinnitus.

Do insurances cover hearing tests or hearing aids?
Some insurances will cover the hearing tests; unfortunately, most insurances do not cover the hearing instruments. However, there are some that do. The best thing to do would be to call our office with your insurance information so we can call your insurance company to check your hearing benefits and see what they will cover. We are providers for most major insurances.