Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are the signs of hearing loss?
2. What is involved in a hearing test?
3. What can I do about my hearing loss?
4. How do I help a family member who I suspect may have a hearing loss?
5. Do hearing aids really work?
6. Do I need one or two hearing aids?
7. What style hearing aid is best for me?
8. What advantages do digital hearing aids have?
9. How much do hearing aids cost?

What are the signs of hearing loss?

Hearing loss usually develops slowly, and generally worsens with age. Because it is of gradual onset, hearing loss may not be noticed right away. Often, the first sounds you have difficulty hearing are in the higher frequencies, such as women's and children's voices, and the chirping of birds. With sensorineural hearing loss or "nerve loss" in particular, clarity may be affected so that speech sometimes sounds as if it is mumbled or garbled.

If you answer "yes" to one or more of the following questions, you should have your hearing tested:

1. Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
2. Do you sometimes hear only part of what is being said?
3. Do people's voices sound muffled, as if they were mumbling?
4. Do you have difficulty understanding women and children?
5. Do you have ringing in your ears?
6. Do you experience problems distinguishing between people's voices and background noise in an open environment such as a restaurant or theater?
7. Do you have difficulty understanding people's speech on a telephone?
8. When you're listening to someone, do you turn your head to one side?
9. Do the people around you complain that your television or radio is too loud?

One reaction to hearing loss may be withdrawal from social situations.
If you are increasingly avoiding social situations, it may be in reaction to difficulty hearing and understanding due to hearing loss.

The only sure method of ascertaining whether your hearing is impaired is to have it tested by a Hearing Health Care Professional.

What is involved in a hearing test?

The only way to determine the condition and level of your hearing is by having an audiological evaluation, or a hearing test. During the test, a variety of speech sounds and tones are presented at different levels under headphones. The results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. Testing is also conducted which reveals how the patient understands speech under a variety of conditions including soft speech, with and without visual cues and speech understanding in background noise. This testing is critical to selecting the proper hearing aid technology. The test is noninvasive, painless and usually can be performed in under an hour. After the test, your audiogram will be explained, and any questions you have will be discussed. For infants or people with special needs, there are tests available to check hearing that do not require the ability to follow directions and voluntarily respond.

What can I do about my hearing loss?

There are many options and solutions for those individuals with a hearing impairment. In some cases, a referral to an otologist (ear doctor) may be indicated depending on the results of the audiogram. We can also determine what solutions are available for an individual with hearing impairment based on a variety of factors. In addition to the results of the audiogram, we can gain information about you by asking questions regarding your lifestyle, the environment in which you live and work, and personal preferences involving your hearing. By gaining as much information about you and your hearing, we offer solutions that are most appropriate and beneficial for your individual needs.

How do I help a family member who I suspect may have a hearing loss?

Often times, it can be difficult to communicate with a family member who may exhibit signs of a hearing loss. If some of the examples listed above, under "What are the Signs of Hearing Loss?" are familiar, it is important to address the matter with the individual, particularly if they are unaware of the possible problem. It is very common for other family members to notice signs of a hearing loss long before the individual with the loss. Sometimes, a person may be aware of a possible problem, but is hesitant to address the issue out of fear, denial and/or depression. The best way to open up conversation about hearing loss is slowly, during regular conversation. Try addressing the issue casually at first, for example when the request to have something repeated is mentioned, or the television is turned up to an unusually high volume. Opening up conversation and conveying your concern for a family member's well being may greatly motivate an individual to take further steps regarding their hearing needs. Offer to accompany the individual to have their hearing tested.

Do hearing aids really work?

Yes! Most hearing losses can be improved with the assistance of customized hearing aids. With the advancements in new technology, hearing aids have achieved great recognition in enabling individuals with all levels of hearing loss, from mild to profound, to lead more rewarding and satisfying lives. Since there are a wide variety of hearing aids available to suit many different hearing related issues, an individual consultation and a complete hearing test is needed to determine if you are a candidate for hearing aids.

Do I need one or two aids?

This can only be determined after a complete audiological evaluation and individual consultation. However, as we need two ears to hear best, in most cases where hearing loss is determined to be in both ears, wearing two hearing aids is the best solution to obtain maximum benefits. The benefits of two vs. one include better ability to localize, or to tell where the sound is coming from, better ease of listening as you don't have to turn your aided ear toward the person speaking, and possibly better hearing in noisy situations.

What style hearing aid is best for me?

Today's hearing aids come in an array of different styles and sizes including the popular deep-fitting, cosmetically-appealing Completely in the Canal, or CIC. The other models include the well known over the ear or BTE (behind-the-ear), ITE (in-the-ear) and ITC (in-the-canal). Degree of hearing loss, the size and shape of one's ear canal, lifestyle and daily activities all play a role in determining which style would be most appropriate and most beneficial for a particular person. Also, due to these variable factors, hearing aids are not "one size fits all" and what works for a friend may not necessarily work for you. An individual consultation would determine which of the various styles and technologies available would be your best solution.

What advantages do digital hearing aids have?

Hearing aids have come a long way since the basic instrument of yesteryear that could only achieve simple amplification with the wearer manually adjusting the volume control. The word digital is used to describe two different aspects of the technology of many hearing aids today: the sound processing and the programming or adjusting ability. Most hearing aids are digitally programmable, meaning that the settings of the instrument can be programmed using computer software. This ability allows the Hearing Health Care Professional to truly customize the hearing aid for an individual's shape and degree of hearing loss, as well as their sound preferences. The vast majority of hearing aids also incorporate digital sound processing, which provides a better sound quality (consider the quality you hear on a cassette tape, versus that on a compact disc) with less distortion. Hearing aids that incorporate both digital sound processing and are digitally adjusted or programmed are sometimes referred to as "fully digital". Most digital models have the ability to adapt and adjust to a wide variety of environments, automatically. We can help you decide which type of technology would best suit your hearing needs.

How much do hearing aids cost?

The cost of a hearing aid depends on the type of circuitry/technology chosen, as well as the model/style. There may be optional features or extended warranties that are available for an additional cost. There is usually more than one option available to fit a particular hearing loss/lifestyle. It is important to take into consideration all factors before deciding which option is best for you. We accept most insurance plans and honor benefits from Pacificare, Secure Horizons, Regence, Group Health, Uniform and others.