5 Questions to Ask Before You Buy Hearing Aids
We understand there are a lot of questions that come with deciding to buy hearing aids, and there are a lot of different types. Not sure where to start or which ones would be best for you? Well, we compiled a few questions to ask your audiologist before buying hearing aids.
If I Suspect I Have A Hearing Loss, What Should I Do?
If you suspect that you have a hearing loss, consult with an audiologist. An audiologist is trained to identify whether a hearing loss requires medical or non-medical treatment and will refer you to the appropriate medical specialist when necessary. The audiologist will identify, diagnose, treat and manage your hearing loss.
What Can I Expect From An Audiological Evaluation?
We have a four-step process beginning with the initial interview. Some typical questions we might ask:
Has anyone else in your family had hearing difficulty?
Have you had any illnesses or injuries that might have affected your hearing?
Have you taken any medications that might have affected your hearing?
Have you been exposed to loud noises in your job or leisure activities?
To help determine whether the issues you are experiencing could be caused by an obstruction or damage to the ear canal or eardrum. We will use a special instrument called an otoscope to inspect the outer ear. This is a quick and painless procedure!
After considering a patient's history and performing a visual inspection of the outer ear, we will perform an audiological evaluation composed of a series of tests. Tests, like the following, may be used depending on their assessment of your needs:
Audiometric pure tone evaluation to measure your hearing at different frequencies.
Speech evaluation to measure how well you hear and understand ordinary conversation at different volumes.
Immittance middle-ear evaluation to measure how your eardrum and hearing react to varying degrees of air pressure.
Your results will be documented on an audiogram. We will meet with you immediately following the testing procedures to assess your results and discuss the best treatment options for you.
The final step is discussing our findings and our recommendations to help you hear your best life!
How Do I Know If I Need Hearing Aids?
The results of the audiological evaluation are a critical factor in helping to determine the need for hearing aids, the type of hearing aids and whether one or two aids are needed. Our audiologists will review the results of your evaluation and provide various options and recommendations for remediation, if needed.
What Kinds Of Hearing Aids Are Available?
Hearing aids come in a variety of designs, with a wide range of functions and features to address an individual’s specific needs. We carry all brands with many different colors and features, so if it is decided that you need a hearing aid, you will have a lot to choose from! If you are worried for cosmetic reasons, we completely understand. The good news is that most of the hearing aids today are small enough that they are virtually invisible!
How Can I Troubleshoot My Hearing Aids?
Age and use can take their toll on hearing aids. We offer smaller repairs on the spot while our patients wait in the office. Depending on the issue you’re having, you may be able to troubleshoot or repair your hearing aid on your own. Here are a few common hearing aid fixes you can try right now:
Replace the battery
Remove and reinsert your hearing aid
Clean your hearing aid
Replace the wax filter
Open and close the battery compartment
Check your input settings
Still having trouble with your hearing aid? Contact us or stop by for a consult on the issue.
If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask during your initial consultation. If you're not sure whether to make that first appointment, take our online Hearing Questionnaire. We'll contact you with your results and make recommendations about whether an appointment is necessary. If you are interested in seeing our audiologists, please fill out our form here, and we will be in touch soon!
