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OUR OFFICES |
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SERVICES |
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HEARING SERVICES |
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Buying a Hearing Aid
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I don't hear
well. What
should I do?
What should I
expect?
Because some
hearing problems
can be medically
corrected, first
visit a
physician who
can refer you to
an
otolaryngologist
(an ear, nose,
and throat
specialist). If
you have ear
pain, drainage,
excess earwax,
hearing loss in
only one ear,
sudden or
rapidly
progressive
hearing loss, or
dizziness, it is
especially
important that
you see an
otolaryngologist.
Then, get a
hearing
assessment from
an audiologist
(a nonphysician
health care
professional). A
screening test
from a hearing
aid dealer may
not be adequate.
Many
otolaryngologists
have an
audiologist
associate in
their office who
will assess your
ability to hear
pure tone sounds
and to
understand
words. The
results of these
tests will show
the degree of
hearing loss and
whether it is
conductive or
sensorineural
and may give
other medical
information
about your ears
and your health.
Where do I go to
get hearing
aids?
Because
federal
regulation
prohibits any
hearing aid sale
unless the buyer
has first
received a
medical
evaluation from
a physician, you
will need to see
your physician
before you
purchase a
hearing aid(s).
However, the
regulation says
that if you are
more than 18
years old and
are aware of the
recommendation
to receive a
medical exam,
you may sign a
waiver to forego
the exam. An
otolaryngologist,
audiologist, or
an independent
dispenser can
dispense aids.
Hearing aids
should be custom
fitted to your
ear and hearing
needs. Hearing
aids purchased
by mail-order
typically cannot
be custom
fitted. |
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How
expensive
are
hearing
aids?
Hearing
aids
vary in
price
according
to
style,
electronic
features,
and
local
market
conditions.
Price
can
range
from
many
hundreds
of
dollars
to more
than
$2,500
for a
programmable,
digitalized
hearing
aid.
Purchase
price
should
not be
the only
consideration
in
buying a
hearing
aid.
Product
reliability
can save
repair
costs
and the
frustration
of a
malfunctioning
hearing
aid.
What
kinds of
hearing
aids are
available?
There
are
several
styles
of
hearing
aids:
-
Behind-the-ear
(BTE)
hearing
aids
are
placed
over
the
ear
and
connected
with
tubing
to
custom-fitted
earpieces.
-
In-the-ear
(ITE)
hearing
aids
fill
the
entire
bowl
of the
ear
and
part
of the
ear
canal.
-
Smaller
versions
of
ITEs
are
called
half-shell
and
in-the-canal
(ITC).
-
The
least
visible
aids
are
completely-in-the-canal
(CIC).
Hearing
aid
options,
which
are
appropriate
for your
particular
hearing
loss and
listening
needs,
the
size,
and
shape of
your ear
and ear
canal,
and the
dexterity
of your
hands
will all
be
considered
in
deciding
what
type of
hearing
aid is
the best
for you.
Many
hearing
aids
have
special
telecoil
"T"
switches
to aid
in use
of the
telephone
and
certain
public
sound
systems.
Discuss
your
need for
a T-coil
switch
while
you are
considering
hearing
aid
options.
Will I
need a
hearing
aid for
each
ear?
Usually,
if you
have
hearing
loss in
both
ears,
using
two
hearing
aids is
best.
Listening
in a
noisy
environment
is
difficult
with
amplification
in one
ear
only,
and it
is more
difficult
to
distinguish
where
sounds
are
coming
from.
If,
however,
the
quality
of
hearing
in one
ear is
very
different
from the
other,
one
hearing
aid may
be
better
than
two. |
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What other questions
should I ask?
- Ask about charges
for the hearing
evaluation, dispensing
fee(s), and future
servicing and repair.
- Inquire about the
trial period policy
and what fees are
refundable if you
return the hearing
aid(s) during the
trial period.
- Ask about the
warranty coverage for
your hearing aids and
the consumers'
protection program for
hearing aid purchasers
in your state.
What will happen at my
hearing aid fitting?
- The hearing aids
will be fitted for
your ears.
- Then, while
wearing your hearing
aids, you will be
tested for word
understanding in quiet
and in noise and for
improvement in hearing
tones.
- Next, you will
receive instruction
about the care of your
hearing aids, the
batteries used to
power them, a
suggested wearing
schedule, general
expectations, and
helpful communication
strategies.
- You will also
practice properly
inserting and removing
the hearing aids and
batteries.
How should I begin
wearing the aids?
- Start using your
hearing aids in quiet
surroundings,
gradually building up
to noisier
environments.
- Note where and
when that you find the
hearing aids
beneficial.
- Be patient and
allow yourself to get
used to the aids and
the "new" sounds they
allow you to hear.
- Keep a diary to
help you remember your
experiences.
- Report any
concerns on a
follow-up appointment.
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Conductive Hearing Loss
A hearing loss is conductive when
there is a problem with the ear
canal, the eardrum and/or the three
bones connected to the eardrum.
Common reasons for this type of
hearing loss are a plug of excess
wax in the ear canal or fluid behind
the eardrum. Medical treatment or
surgery may be available for these
and more complex forms of conductive
hearing loss.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A hearing loss is
sensorineural when it results from
damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or
auditory nerve, often as a result of
the aging process and/or noise
exposure. Sounds may be unclear
and/or too soft. Sensitivity to loud
sounds may occur. Medical or
surgical intervention cannot correct
most sensorineural hearing losses.
However, hearing aids may help you
reclaim some sounds that you are
missing as a result of nerve
deafness. |
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©
Arnaldo Garro, M.D. 2006
Any information provided on this
Web site should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a
consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your
local physician for diagnosis and
treatment.
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juan
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