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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
1. How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
2. Cosmetics are very important to me, how big do my hearing
aids have to be?
3. How do I choose a hearing instrument specialist?
4. What type of hearing aid will be best for my lifestyle
and hearing loss?
5. Why do I need two hearing aids and not just one?
6. What if I don't like my hearing aids after I spent all
this money?
7. How do I know what brand of hearing aids to get?
8. My father got hearing aids years ago but he never wore
them because he couldn't stand the "background noise". Am I
going to have the same problem?
9. What are the different types of hearing losses possible?
How are they treated?
10. Is age a determining factor for hearing aids?
11. Are there any other devices available that would make my
hearing loss easier to cope with?
12. What can I expect the hearing test process to contain?
How long will this test process to take?
1.
How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
You
might consider taking the short test on this web page - do I
have a hearing loss? If you answer, "yes" to one or more
questions you may consider calling your local hearing
instrument specialist for a complete hearing evaluation.
Upon completion your hearing professional will be able to
determine the type and degree of hearing loss you have and
whether amplification would be helpful for you. Most
professionals offer this evaluation free of charge to you.
Your Hearing Instrument Specialist is specially trained to
help you identify the nature of your hearing loss. This
expert will also select and fit the proper hearing
instrument for you, and will provide support, encouragement,
counseling and instruction as you learn to use the hearing
instrument to your best advantage.
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2. Cosmetics are very important to me, how big do my hearing
aids have to be?
Hearing
aids come in several different sizes or models as pictured
below:
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CIC
(Completely in the canal) is the smallest size available
in a hearing instrument. This model fits deep in the ear
canal and in most cases cannot be seen by others. A small
string is attached to this model for easy removal. Though
small, this instrument is very powerful and fits a variety
of hearing loss needs.
-
Canal
(ITC - in the canal) is one of the most popular models fit
today. This hearing instrument fits in the ear canal and
cannot be detected when someone looks straight on but can
be detected from the side or behind.
-
Full
shell (ITE - in the ear) fits completely in the outer ear,
extending into the canal. This model accommodates a wide
variety of hearing losses.
-
Behind
the ear (BTE) model is a small hearing instrument housed
in a curved case that fits securely behind the ear. It is
attached to the ear mold by a short, plastic tube. Sound
is delivered from the hearing instrument through the ear
mold and into the ear canal. BTE models will fit the
widest range of hearing losses.
-
Body
worn hearing instruments, though powerful with easy to
manipulate controls, has been replaced for the majority of
applications by the more powerful small models of hearing
instruments.
^^ TOP ^^
3. How do I choose a hearing instrument specialist?
This is
a very important choice as a consumer you may use one of the
following methods:
-
Personal referral from friends or family. You may consider
asking aquatints that may wear hearing aids for a possible
recommendation.
-
Contact the Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals for information
packet on hearing loss and referral of the hearing
instrument specialist member in your local area.
-
You
may consider interviewing the hearing instrument
specialist in your area. This will give you the
opportunity to see the environment of the office;
equipment used for the hearing evaluation and meet the
hearing instrument specialist who would be servicing you.
Most dealers offer a free hearing evaluation; seek a few
opinions until you feel comfortable with the hearing
instrument specialist you choose. This will be lasting
relationship as you will be seen regularly during the
testing and adjustment period and after for maintenance
and service with you hearing instruments is necessary.
-
Contact the Better Business Bureau and inquire regarding
complaints of unfair business practices.
^^ TOP ^^
4. What type of hearing aid will be best for my lifestyle
and hearing loss?
Following the complete hearing evaluation by your hearing
instrument specialist if a loss is found a recommendation
will be made as to the type of amplification instrument to
best correct your hearing loss. Several factors must be
taken into consideration when selecting the type of hearing
aid, which will best suit you. Occupation, lifestyle,
environment and physical limitations (because of the
dexterity needed to adjust the hearing instrument's volume,
change batteries, etc.) must be considered before proper
selection of the hearing instruments can take place.
Price
should not be the primary concern, except for the
limitations of your budget, when selecting hearing
instruments. The objective is to select hearing aids that
will meet your needs by providing the most effective
assistance for your hearing impairment.
Expert,
personal assistance is required in the evaluation of your
hearing, the selection and fitting of the hearing instrument
and the follow-up services needed for the successful use of
your hearing system. This can only be accomplished through a
professional relationship between you and your Hearing
Instrument Specialist.
^^ TOP ^^
5. Why do I need two hearing aids and not just one?
Extensive laboratory and field research has scientifically
proven that people benefit most from wearing a hearing
instrument in each ear. This is commonly referred to as a
binaural fitting. In most cases if a sensorineural hearing
loss exists that loss is in both ears to some degree.
Several reasons for wearing hearing instruments in both ears
are:
-
Patient is unable to detect the direction the sound is
coming from with only one instrument. This problem proves
to be uncomfortable for some patients.
-
Two
instruments provide better speech discrimination or
understanding for the hearing impaired patient.
-
Increased understanding in groups and noisy background
situations.
-
More
relaxed hearing, patient not longer has to strain to use
the best ear.
-
Provides patient with a feeling of more balanced hearing.
-
Studies show that when only one hearing instrument is worn
the speech discrimination in the unaided ear many times
becomes worse.
^^ TOP ^^
6. What if I don't like my new hearing aids after I spent
all this money?
Most
hearing instrument dealers provide a 30-day trial adjustment
period to allow every patient the chance to see the
advantages of amplification to correct a hearing loss. This
means that within this time period a patient can return the
instruments for a partial refund if they prove to be
unsatisfactory. This business practice provides every
hearing impaired individual the opportunity to try
amplification and little to no risk. Make an appointment
today with your local hearing specialist for a hearing
evaluation.
^^ TOP ^^
7. How do I know what brand of hearing aid to get?
There
are many companies that supply high quality state of the art
technology hearing instruments. Most of these companies
provide a full line of products with many unique features
available to serve the needs of most patients. Your hearing
instrument specialist is knowledgeable about the products
and features available from these different providers and
should be able to make informed suggestions for the best
instruments for your lifestyle and hearing loss.
^^ TOP ^^
8. My father got hearing aids years ago but he never wore
them because he couldn't stand the "background noise". Am I
going to have the same problem?
Background noise has always been the biggest complaint about
hearing aids in the past. The advanced circuit technology
recently developed, background noise is no longer the
problem it was in the past. Some hearing instruments can
have features which when activated will further filter the
background noise for certain situations. The technology
today is so superior to the technology available for your
father there is no comparison. You owe it to yourself and
family members to try the technology of today make an
appointment today with your local hearing instrument
specialist.
^^ TOP ^^
9. What are the different types of hearing losses possible?
How are they treated?
The
three types of hearing loss are explained in that
section along with possible treatment options. The Georgia
Society of Hearing Professionals upon request will supply an
informational packet about hearing loss. We would also like
to provide some hearing conservation information. We would
much prefer to conserve hearing with information even though
we are in the hearing instrument business.
^^ TOP ^^
10. Is age a determining factor for hearing aids?
Hearing
loss is an equal-opportunity symptom of ear pathology that
affects people of all ages. Since hearing loss is sensory
deprivation, it changes a person's life dramatically. People
of any age who have auditory deficits may feel frustrated,
angry, or isolated from family, peers, and community.
Assessment of hearing is an integral component of the
hearing instrument specialist's practice as any degree of
hearing loss affects one's quality of life.
^^ TOP ^^
11. Are there any other devices available which could be
helpful to make my hearing loss easier to cope with?
There
are many assistive listening devices, which can prove to be
helpful for the hearing, impaired individual and provide
safety on some level. Some of these helpful devices are:
^^ TOP ^^
12. What can I expect the hearing test process to contain?
How long will this test process take?
 Certainly,
the test process will vary with each hearing instrument
specialist, although there are basic test you can expect
with every comprehensive hearing test given. These are as
follows:
Air
conduction test - this test is done with headphones or
inserts placed on the patient. This test process will be
done in a sound dampened booth by some hearing healthcare
specialists as pictured at left.
 The
other method of testing is done without a booth; still using
headphones placed on the patients ears in a quiet setting as
pictured at left.
During
this test a series of pulsating beeps will be presented to
the patient at different frequencies or tones. The patient
is instructed to press the patient response button when they
hear the tone, even when they think they hear the tone. The
response for air conduction is then recorded on the
audiogram form.
-
Bone
conduction test - during this part of the hearing test a
bone conductor or oscillator is placed behind the
patient's ear on the mastoid bone. Once again a series of
pulsating tones are presented to the patient who has been
instructed to press the patient response button when they
hear the tone, even when they think they hear the tone.
This bone conduction test is a measurement of hearing due
to vibration, directly to the cochlea or inner ear.
*If
the results of the air conduction test are significantly
different from the bone conduction test there maybe a
conductive hearing loss and this patient should be
referred for a medical evaluation. Many times a conductive
hearing loss can be medically corrected.
-
Speech
reception threshold (SRT) is a measurement of the lowest
volume a patient can hear and repeat at least 50% of
spondee words presented. This measurement is used in
determining the appropriate prescription for a hearing
instrument.
-
Most
comfortable level (MCL) is a measurement of the volume
level, which is a comfortable listening level for the
patient. This measurement is used in determining the
appropriate prescription for a hearing instrument.
-
Uncomfortable listening level (UCL) is a measurement of
the volume, which becomes uncomfortable for the patient
when presented. This measurement is used in determining
the appropriate prescription for a hearing instrument.
-
Speech
discrimination test (SDT) is performed using one syllable
words. The patient is instructed to repeat the word they
hear while being provided the necessary amplification.
Sometimes with a sensorineural hearing loss it isn't that
the patient can't hear the words as much as they can't
understand the words. The score received by the patient on
this speech discrimination test will provide the hearing
instrument specialist with some idea of the success this
patient may enjoy with amplification.
The time
necessary to the test process will vary between hearing
instrument specialists - usually between 30 minutes and an
hour. Certainly the patient's ability to respond and follow
directions is the largest factor to consider in the testing
time.
^^ TOP ^^
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