What is an Audiologist?
An Audiologist specializes in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss. Audiologists hold a masters or doctoral degree from an accredited university and special training in the prevention, identification, assessment and non-medical treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists dispense and fit hearing aids, administer tests of balance to evaluate dizziness and provide hearing rehabilitation training.
To practice audiology as well as dispense hearing aids in North Carolina an Audiologist must be licensed by The Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
What causes hearing loss?
The most common cause of hearing loss is the deterioration of inner ear structures due to aging or noise exposure. Heredity, certain heavy-duty antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs or radiation treatments can also affect your hearing abilities.
Does earwax cause hearing loss?
Ear wax is an oily, fatty substance that is created to protect the ear canal. Every person creates different amounts of wax. Ear wax can partially or completely block the ear canal resulting in a mild to moderate hearing loss. Once the ear wax is removed, hearing is restored.
What are some signs of hearing loss?
- You hear voices but they are not clear, people sound like they are mumbling
- Others may tell you that you are not hearing well
- Children or female voices are harder to hear than male voices
- You have difficulty hearing/understanding in groups, restaurants, background noise
- You find yourself missing parts of what people are saying
What is the ringing in my ears?
The ringing, roaring, tea kettle, cricket-like sounds in your ear(s) is called Tinnitus and is usually an indication of some damage to your auditory system. These sounds can be constant or occasional, in both ears, one ear or in the middle of your head. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are strategies which can help you live with it.
Will wearing a hearing aid restore my hearing to normal?
Hearing aids cannot restore your hearing to normal nor prevent your hearing from decreasing over time, but they can help you hear in most listening situations. The level of improvement you receive from hearing aids will vary from person to person, will vary with the extent and nature of your hearing loss as well as the amount of auditory deprivation you have experienced.
How much do hearing aids cost?
Hearing aids range in cost from as low as $900.00 to over $3000.00 based on the level of technology and the features of the product. The more sophisticated the technology, the better the hearing aids will help you hear in challenging and noise environments.
What Brands of Hearing Aid do you work with in your Office?
Our experience has helped us select the best and most reliable hearing aids in the market. We use only the highest quality products available and work mainly with the top 4 hearing aid manufacturers worldwide, Oticon, Phonak, Siemens and Widex. These companies together make 80% of all hearing aids sold on a worldwide basis and we believe offer the greatest advances in hearing aid technology, to the benefit of our patients.
What warranty is provided with hearing aids?
The standard warranty from the manufacturer on all new hearing aids is a 2 year warranty which covers normal wear and tear as well as manufacturer defects and a 2 year loss and damage warranty with a small deductible. In addition Hearing Health Care Services also offers 3 to 4 year extended warranties which cover repair and replacement.
I know people who purchased hearing aids and do not wear them, say they don’t work, will this happen to me?
Although you may know someone who has had a bad experience with hearing aids, this does not mean you will. There are many reasons why a person does not wear their hearing aids or feels that hearing aids don’t work well:
- The hearing aids were not fitted properly and the person was not counseled on how to use them
- The technology chosen was not appropriate for that person’s listening environments
- The hearing aids were not worn on a daily basis but only when “needed” which never allowed the brain to become acclimatized to sounds.
Does my health insurance cover the cost of hearing aids?
Most standard health insurances do not cover the cost hearing aids. However there are many health insurance policies which will cover a portion of hearing aid costs. We will be happy to check with your insurance company regarding your hearing aid benefits as well as submit all necessary paperwork so you may be reimbursed by your insurance company.
To ensure all your questions are answered, please feel free to call us to schedule a personal hearing consultation at 919-489-0995
