1. WHO SHOULD CONSIDER
GETTING A HEARING AID?
A person of any age, from infant to
adult, might need a hearing aid. In general, hearing aids help
people who have a communication difficulty. Some have
difficulty hearing clearly. Others have difficulty hearing
when there is background noise. Some people just need to have
the volume turned up - sort of like turning up the volume on a
TV.
Have your spouse or friends
commented on how loud you turn up the TV or radio? They often
notice before you do because a hearing loss can creep up on
you over years or decades. People who need hearing aids often
have noticed difficulty hearing or communicating at parties,
in restaurants, crowds or theaters. Others have difficulty
understanding children or female voices or people with
accents.
2. HOW MUCH WILL A HEARING AID
HELP ME?
Hearing aids really do help, often
tremendously. Because everyone is unique, the level of benefit
varies. You need proper guidance on what to expect. Remember
that a hearing aid will not restore your hearing, but when fit
properly should dramatically improve your hearing.
Eyeglasses with a bad prescription
will give you the wrong results, and a hearing aid that is not
properly customized for you similarly, will be "out
of focus." This is particularly true with today’s programmable
and digital hearing aids. Usually, you also need several
follow-up visits to get the aids working just right for you.
After that, we have found, most people are completely
satisfied.
3. IS IT TRUE HEARING AIDS
AMPLIFY A LOT OF IRRITATING BACKGROUND NOISE?
No. lf the aid is fit correctly,
and if the audiologist helps you have reasonable expectations
and works with you on follow -up visits, background noise will
not be a major problem. Aids with digital technology have more
sophisticated ways of controlling background noise, but even
aids using older technology should have acceptable
results.
4. IS THERE REALLY AN
"INVISIBLE" HEARING AID?
The completely-in-the-canal hearing
aid (CIC) can come close. It’s the smallest aid made, fits
into the ear canal, and from the front and side (depending on
the individual's ear) often is virtually invisible, but it has
limitations. Depending on your hearing loss, a CIC aid may not
have enough power. Sometimes a CIC aid simply will not fit, if
the ear canal is very small or has too many angles. A
qualified hearing professional can decide, by administering a
hearing test and physically examining the canal, whether you
are a good candidate for a ClC aid or if another type would
work better for you.
5. HOW
MUCH WILL A HEARING AID COST, INCLUDING EXAM, FITTING AND
FOLLOW UPS?
The
hearing professional begins by putting together a case
history, examining the ear, ear canal and eardrum, and
performing a hearing evaluation. If you have a medical problem
or have been referred by a physician for the hearing test,
those procedures usually are covered by Insurance.
We prefer
to perform our own hearing tests. However, if you bring a
previously conducted hearing evaluation, we will review it and
discuss it with you at no charge. That consultation includes
an explanation of the test as well as the pros and cons of
various styles of amplification. There is no obligation to buy
a hearing aid.
lf you
decide you want to try a hearing aid, the cost varies with
technology and style. There are four basic types of hearing
aids all-in-the-ear, behind-the-ear, in-the-canal and
completely-in-the-canal. These represent the different sizes
of hearing aids. The most basic hearing aid, either in-the-ear
or behind-the-ear, can start as low as $400 and typically
range from $700 to $900 for a quality instrument. A fully
digital instrument can cost more than $2,000 and can start as
low as $895. At the other end of the spectrum, a
completely-in-the-canal hearing aid (which is the smallest
instrument) usually starts at a little more than $1,000 and
can go up to more than $2,000. It is our job to counsel you on
which of the devices well or will not work and then let you
decide which hearing aid to try. All our aids are fitted on a
trial basis.
6. WHY SHOULD I GO
TO AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY, INC., RATHER THAN A
NATIONAL CHAIN OF HEARING AID CENTERS?
Audiology
and Speech Pathology, Inc. has been serving Palm Beach County
since 1978. Audiologists on our staff have a combined 80 years
of experience and continually attend classes and seminars
to stay current. Dealing with a private practice and not a
chain, will give you the personal attention that you deserve
in this important process of hearing improvement. Our
audiologists will be here to serve you in years to
come.
Here are
some "HEARING LINKS" that may find helpful in obtaining more
information.
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