Hearing Aid Information, Sales and Service
Buying a hearing aid can be confusing. Most of us have never had any experience with buying hearing aids, so it is difficult to know how to get the best hearing aid for your money. There are several decisions you will need to make, so be sure to be an informed consumer. A good hearing aid fitting starts with a complete hearing evaluation that includes listening to tones, understanding speech, testing the middle-ear function, and determining what level of loudness is most comfortable. This should be done in a sound-proof booth. Our Audiologist will then explain your hearing loss and may recommend that you see an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor to be sure there are no medical causes for your hearing loss. 
Hearing aids are made in a variety of styles and sizes. We deal with a number of
manufacturers - Phonak, Starkey, GN Resound, Audiofon - so that we
are sure to have the hearing aid that is right for you. What hearing aid you buy
depends on your hearing loss, your life style, and your concern about whether
it is visible to others.Hearing aid technology has come a long way in the past few years. The new digital as well as programmable hearing aids allow us to do a better job of fine-tuning the hearing aid to fit your hearing loss. This means that people who could not be successfully fitted in the past may now find that the new hearing aids are very effective. The latest in hearing aid technology is the mini BTE or RITC (receiver in the canal). These are comfortable and secure, offering hearing assistance in the mild to moderate hearing loss range. These products utilize digital signal processing to improve hearing in background noise. The aids are light-weight and cosmetically appealing as well as easy to insert and remove. Sound is clear and natural without a “plugged up” feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Click the number of the question to jump to the answer, or scroll down to the question and answer combinations. 1. I know that I have some hearing loss. How do I know if I ought to get a hearing aid? 2. Should I buy one hearing aid or two? 3. How do I know what brand to buy? 4. Why can't I just buy one out of a magazine or off the internet? 5. I've known people who bought hearing aids and never wear them because they say they don't help. Why should I waste my money? 6. I hate to spend the money on a hearing aid in case I don't like it. 7. Do I have to be a low-income person to buy a hearing aid at the Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Center? 1. I know that I have some hearing loss. How do I know if I ought to get a hearing aid? Deciding that it is time to buy a hearing aid is a very individual decision that depends very much on your lifestyle. Ask yourself these questions: Does your family tell you that you need to do something about your hearing? Do you frequently ask people to repeat what they said? Do you avoid certain situations such as restaurants or groups because you have too much trouble following what is being said? If you answered yes to any of these questions, hearing loss is interfering with your life, and you owe it to yourself to look into getting hearing aids. Back to the top 2. Should I buy one hearing aid or two? That depends on several things. If your hearing is the same in both ears, it is probably a good idea to buy two so that your hearing is balanced. You don't always want to be turning your head to hear or missing out on what was said on your unaided side. If, when the Audiologist tests your speech discrimination, she finds that you have difficulty understanding speech in one ear, it might only be confusing to aid that ear. We do find that most people who need two hearing aids are much happier when both ears are aided. Back to the top 3. How do I know what brand to buy? That depends on your hearing loss, your ear, and the kind of sound quality you are comfortable with. That is why we deal with a variety of manufacturers, so we can find just the right hearing aid for you. Back to the top 4. Why can't I just buy one out of a magazine? No two hearing losses and no two sets of ears are alike. Based on the results of the hearing evaluation, a hearing aid is made specifically for your loss. For most people, just turning up the volume does not help much in the understanding of speech. An aid that is not fit to the shape of your ear could cause soreness and could fit poorly causing feedback (squealing). For hearing aids purchased off the internet, people are finding that they are not US based and therefore parts and software necessary for programming are not available in this country. Back to the top 5. I've known people who bought hearing aids and never wear them because they say they don't help. Why should I waste my money? There are several factors at work here. The new hearing aid user must understand that putting on a hearing aid is not like putting on a pair of glasses. Hearing aids make your hearing better but not perfect. You have to be willing to adjust to them in different listening situations. Do you remember when you first got bifocals? You thought that surely there was some mistake in making the lenses, but you had no choice but to adjust to them if you wanted to be able to read. Some people are just not willing to make the same effort with a hearing aid. Indeed, some people have hearing losses that are very difficult to fit successfully. The digital and programmable hearing aids have greatly improved our ability to fit these people. Back to the top 6. I hate to spend the money on a hearing aid in case I don't like it. The FDA and state laws require that all hearing aid dispensers offer a thirty-day trial period. If you return the aid during that time, you will have your money refunded less a testing and handling fee. Back to the top 7. Do I have to be a low-income person to buy a hearing aid at the Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Center? Absolutely not! Being a private non-profit means that we are committed to providing a high-quality professional service at a fair price. We are not a government agency, and our customers come from all walks of life. Back to the top Contact the Center for additional details via voice or TTY at 440-992-4433, or e-mail shrc1@suite224.net>. |
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