Q: What types of hearing loss are there?
A: There are three main types of hearing loss: Sensorineural (affecting inner ear, nerve-related and typically permanent), Conductive (affecting middle ear, often resolved w/ medical management), and Mixed (combo of both). After completing your hearing evaluation, your Audiologist will let you know which one you have and describe what that means.
Q: Will hearing aids restore my hearing to normal?
A: Hearing aids will not cure your hearing loss, but they will greatly improve your ability to hear and understand speech. It will be a new “normal” for you.
Q: How long do hearing aids last?
A: Typical lifespan is around 5-7 years with good care. At Gardner Audiology, we recommend coming in every 6 months for routine servicing. Hearing aids typically have a 3-year warranty, and around that time a lot of patients tend to look into new technology as once hearing aids are out of warranty, repairs can become more costly. Hearing aid manufacturers are constantly doing research and improving their hearing technology every year.
Q: Why does my voice sound different with my new hearing aids?
A: If you are a first-time hearing aid user, one of the first things that you may notice is that your own voice sounds different. This is completely normal and happens because your mouth is the closest thing to your hearing aid microphone. If you are a previous hearing aid user, this may be due to having a new hearing prescription and technology. Wearing the hearing aid consistently and talking will help your brain adjust to how your voice sounds with amplification. If after a few weeks of consistent wear your voice is still bothering you, please contact your Audiologist.
Q: How often should I have my hearing checked?
A: We recommend testing every 12-18 months. If you are an established patient, we typically schedule you on a 6-month basis, so one of those visits will be a rescreen of your hearing to make sure everything is stable.
Q: Can I use my hearing aids with my phone and TV?
A: Possibly. This will depend on the type of hearing aid and what kind of phone you have. For example, some custom (in the ear) hearing aids are too small to have Bluetooth compatibility. Also, some phone models are not compatible with certain hearing aid manufacturers and/or their models (each has their own compatibility list). Each manufacturer sells their own TV streamer for direct hearing aid to TV streaming. If this is an important feature for you, please bring it up with your Audiologist prior to ordering hearing aids.
Q: What are my hearing aid benefits for next year?
A: Like all benefits, hearing aid benefits may change on the calendar year. You will need to contact your insurance directly to determine your hearing aid benefits or schedule an appointment for an evaluation/consultation with us for our insurance team to verify prior to your appointment.
Q: Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
A: Unfortunately, they do not. If you have a supplemental plan, there may be hearing aid coverage.
Q: Will my insurance cover my hearing aid office visits?
A: If you recently got new hearing aids through your insurance (typically the 3rd party that your insurance uses to provide hearing aid benefits), they may cover a few office visits to be used within the first year of ownership. This will be specific to your plan and is best practice to reach out to your insurance or Audiologist to verify how many visits will be covered. If you do not have any covered visits left and/or the year since you got the hearing aids has passed (whichever comes first), you will be responsible for the office visit charges which will vary depending on appointment type.
This causes confusion for many patients as they think appointments for their hearing aids fall under the “specialist” category for office visits where they have a specific copay. We cannot bill your insurance for hearing aid related office visits. The only visit typically covered by insurance that we can bill for is your initial hearing evaluation appointment, and you may have a copay for it depending on your plan.
Q: My hearing aids are out of warranty (OOW), what does that mean? Are they going to stop working now?
A: When hearing aids go out of warranty, it doesn’t mean they will stop working. This just means that the manufacturer no longer covers you for repairs, in-office replacement parts, etc. Your hearing aids can still be sent in for repair, it just means it becomes more costly, and you will now be responsible for the cost of the repairs and replacement parts along with the office visit fee. If your OOW hearing aids stop working, some patients find that they’d rather put that money towards upgrading to new technology with a new warranty than towards their current OOW devices.
Q: I just ordered new hearing aids. When can I expect them to arrive?
A: We typically expect your hearing aids to arrive in 2-3 weeks. This is why we typically preschedule you 2 weeks out from your evaluation appointment to be fit with your new hearing aids. However, some insurances/3rd parties have longer processing times and may delay this. Please be patient with us and know we are doing everything you can to get you hearing better as fast as possible!
Q: Do I get to try the hearing aids for free?
A: If you are going through your insurance/3rd party and you have an out-of-pocket due, you will need to pay upfront for your devices prior to being fit with them. You will get a trial period after being fit, which can be 30 to 60 days depending on your plan. However, if you do not have any insurance coverage, at Gardner Audiology we offer a 1-week free trial for our “Field Study” eligible devices. There is no upfront payment required; we just ask that you share your experiences with the hearing aids, so we have an idea of how you are doing with them. After your week trial, you decide if you would like to purchase them and then that begins your 30-day trial period with us.
Q: What happens if I am late or can’t make it to my appointment?
A: At Gardner Audiology, we understand things happen and try our best to accommodate you if you are running late. However, we may have to reschedule you. Please give us a call if you are running late so we can best plan for next steps. If you cannot make your appointment at all, please try to let us know 24 hours prior to avoid a $50 no show/cancellation fee.
Q: What do the different hearing aid technology levels mean?
A: There are typically 4 different technology level tiers when it comes to hearing aids: entry, mid, advanced, and premium. How they differ is based on the microchip inside the hearing aid and how much noise reduction it will give the hearing aid user and number of frequencies for the audiologist to fine tune, automatic programs, and other advanced features.
In entry level, there will be no noise reduction features for loud environments like restaurants and crowds. In premium, it will provide the most aggressive noise reduction for difficult listening environments and other advanced features. What level will be best for you will depend on your lifestyle, hearing loss, budget, etc. Your audiologist will counsel you on the different levels to determine what will best fit you.
Q: I wear glasses every day, will this affect my ability to wear hearing aids?
A: No, many of our patients wear glasses along with their hearing aids. There are also different types of hearing aids that can better accommodate those with less room while wearing glasses, such as a slim receiver-in-the-canal hearing aid or custom in-the-ear hearing aid. ec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Q: I went to Walmart and saw they had hearing aids for sale. What are the differences between their hearing aids and yours?
A: At retail stores, they sell what are called over-the-counter (OTC) devices. These devices are mainly amplifiers and not prescription hearing aids. At Gardner Audiology, we dispense prescription hearing aids made by the top hearing aid manufacturers. These hearing aids can be adjusted based on your prescription (your hearing test) and can accommodate a wide range of hearing loss. OTC devices are made for those with only mild to moderate loss and do not require any medical or hearing exam to purchase them.
Q: Do I need a referral to see an audiologist?
Q: How do I know if I need my hearing checked?
A: You may benefit from a hearing evaluation if you:
- Frequently ask others to repeat themselves
- Have trouble hearing in noisy environments
- Turn up the TV or phone volume often
- Experience ringing/tinnitus in your ears
- Feel off balance or dizzy
Q: Are hearing aids my only option?
A: Not always. Treatment options depend on your diagnosis and may include:
- Hearing aids
- Assistive listening devices (like a remote mic, tv streamer, etc.)
- Medical referral to ENT
- Communication strategies or counseling
Q: How do I know if hearing aids are right for me?
A: If hearing aids are recommended, then your audiologist will discuss your lifestyle, listening needs, different technology levels/styles, and also your expectations and perceived benefits.
Q: Are hearing aids noticeable?
A: Today’s hearing aids are much smaller, more comfortable and discreet than ever. Many styles fit behind or inside the ear and are barely visible.
Q: How much do hearing aids cost?
A: Costs vary depending on technology level and features. If using insurance, this can change the cost as well. For those without insurance benefits, we provide our transparent hearing aid pricing if you click this link here. Your audiologist will discuss options that fit your needs and budget. Financing options through your insurance may be available.
Q: What is tinnitus?
A: Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing, buzzing, humming, or roaring sound in the ears. While there’s no single cure, there are effective management options we can discuss. Check out our tinnitus blogs linked here.
Q: How do I prepare for my appointment?
A:
- Bring updated insurance card and ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Arrive 15 min early if a new patient
- Bring list of medications (if applicable)
- Consider bringing a family member or friend to accompany you
