Columnists

The Truth About Hearing Aids

Issue 26.16

Hearing aids can be confusing.  There are many different types and brands of hearing aids and even more places they can be purchased.  It is understandable that many people feel confused when deciding how or when to move forward.

We often see patients that have spent hours online trying to decide what is right for them, and end up at our office with even more questions.  So, we want to offer three main points we consider success factors and three main things to be aware of in your research.

Success Factors

* Testing -Thorough and correct testing are imperative for proper selection. Your Doctor of Audiology needs to know how your brain is hearing and processing sound in quiet and noisy listening environments.

* Selection – Selecting the right hearing aid should be done after proper testing.  Your Doctor of Audiology will be current on the latest technologies and understand the benefits of each.  Understanding your lifestyle and concerns are critical for selecting correctly.  Prepare a list of listening situations you would like to see improvement is a great idea.

* Continued Care – Working closely with a Doctor of Audiology for the first three to six months of wearing new hearing aids will help you adjust to your new technology and help your brain adjust to sounds it hasn’t heard in a while.  It will be surprising to hear the little sounds you didn’t even know you were missing.

Be Aware

* Pricing – Prices can be deceiving. When looking for a place to purchase hearing aids, ask about what is included in the price of your hearing aid.  Does it include a warranty and follow up care?  Hearing aids can be sold as a product only or as a product wrapped in service.  In the product only approach, the cost for hearing aids is low, follow up care is not a priority, and warranties are limited. Other pricing approaches include long term follow up care, warranties and possibly batteries.  Often times the higher initial price saves you money over time.

* Locked technology – If you purchase a hearing aid somewhere that sells private labeled hearing aids, your hearing aid may have ‘locked technology’.  This means your hearing aid cannot be adjusted or serviced anywhere else.

* Free Hearing Tests – Medicare Credentialed providers cannot offer free testing.  Not all providers are able to bill Medicare or other insurance companies for testing.  To sell a hearing aid or become a Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS) in Utah, you only need a high school diploma and a certification.   To become a Doctor of Audiology, you are required to complete four years of postgraduate training at a credentialed university.  With this training, Doctors of Audiology are recognized as professionals and can bill Medicare and other insurance companies for your testing. They can offer free consultations and screenings, but not free testing.

We understand there are several other questions you may have about hearing aids.  You are welcome to call our office to set up a consultation with on of our Doctors of Audiology.   You can contact our office at, 435-688-8991.

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