Hearing aids are designed to overcome the loss of hearing by making sounds louder as they reach the ear. The more sophisticated the hearing aid, the greater its ability to manipulate the sounds you need in order to understand speech and other things of interest. However, every hearing loss is as unique as a fingerprint. Because of this "one size fits all" doesn't apply. Hearing specialists such as Otolaryngologists and Audiologists understand the difficulties in matching the appropriate hearing aid to your type of hearing loss and that is one reason why aids are dispensed from our clinics.
Federal law requires that all persons receive a medical evaluation for hearing loss before a hearing aid can be sold to them. You can receive a waiver from this if you are 18 years old or greater but we strongly recommend you see your physician before making a decision on hearing aids. One reason for this is there may be a treatable medical condition causing your difficulty in hearing that only a medical examination will reveal.
Hearing aids cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars because there are many different kinds (remember, one size doesn't fit all). Some are disposable, others are programable and digital, some offer only a mild boost in sound while others are very powerful. This variabilty in style and electronic features is another reason why our team of otolaryngologists and audiologists dispense hearing aids on site.
W have the answers you are seeking so when you come for a hearing evaluation ask many questions. For example, ask about insurance covering the cost, about all the different styles, will I need one or two and why, and what kind of support to expect from the clinic staff are just a few questions. We look forward to helping you find the answers.
