HEARING LOSS NORMAL FOR MY AGE -  It is true that hearing loss is more prevalent among older adults. One third of adults over age 65 experience some degree of hearing loss, but doesn't it seem strange just to accept it as part of growing older? Hearing loss can be treated. You wouldn't deny yourself eyeglasses just because vision problems are common as we grow older.

IF I HAD A HEARING LOSS I WOULD KNOW IT OR MY DOCTOR WOULD HAVE TOLD ME -Hearing loss typically develops slowly over time. Our own built-in defenses make it difficult for us to tell if we have a loss. Also, most physicians do not routinely screen for hearing loss. Since most people with hearing impairment hear well in a quiet environment like a doctor's office, it can be difficult for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Typically the first people to recognize a hearing loss are the friends and family members of the person with the loss.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT MY TYPE OF HEARING LOSS CANNOT BE HELPED - This statement is based on old information. In the past, many people with high frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage were told, often by their family physician, that they could not be helped. Modern advances in technology allow for approximately 95% of people with sensorineural (nerve damage) hearing loss to be helped with hearing instruments.

HEARING AIDS DON'T WORK. I'VE TRIED THEM - There are many variables that have an effect on the success of hearing aids. You may have tried hearing aids that amplified background noise too much, made your own voice sound loud inside your head, or whistled all the time. No one hearing aid is right for every individual. The success of the instrument will depend on your lifestyle, the shape and severity of your hearing loss and your individual preferences. The tremendous technological advancements in recent years have focused on these issues. You should be told about the benefits and drawbacks of each style of hearing aid before making a decision.

YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR HEARING TESTED AT HOME WHERE YOU ARE MOST OF THE TIME - Hearing tests should be conducted in a sound treated room to provide the most accurate results. The information obtained from the testing is used to select the most appropriate hearing aid and to fine-tune the instrument to meet your individual needs. Testing conducted at home should be limited to individuals who can not travel away from their home.

The truth is that the consequences of living with your hearing loss are probably more obvious to those around you then hearing aids would be. Constantly asking for people to repeat themselves or incorrectly responding to misunderstood conversation is more apparent than wearing hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss can cause you to feel less confident in social situations, cause you fatigue from having to put extra efforts into understanding others, and in general reduce your quality of life. If you believe that you or someone you know suffers from untreated hearing loss or has been unhappy with their current hearing aids call me for a free consultation.

Do you offer trade - in value on old hearing aids? This is something I am asked frequently. It seems many of the large hearing aid franchises are offering discounts of  thousands of dollars during “special events” or for “trade in” of your old hearing aids. Please be aware of the bottom line. How much will you be paying for the new instruments with your trade in?  It is likely that a company that offers discounts that large probably charges more for their hearing aids in the first place!  I know this first hand. Generally speaking you will pay less for the same level of technology at the Hearing Advancement Center than you would with the trade-in “discount” somewhere else. Your old hearing aids are of more value to you as “back-ups or spares” than they are to anyone else. If you do have hearing aids you no longer need, I will be happy to send them to the Lion’s Hearing Conservation Foundation where they can be used to help people who could otherwise not afford amplification.

Is it o.k. to price shop?  YES! I wish more people would. It is difficult to do since many times you will find clinics reluctant to quote prices over the phone. It is also important to know exactly what you need a quote on. What make, model, and style hearing aid are you inquiring about?  What is the warranty? What is the service commitment? Are there any hidden fees? If more people price shopped they would see the value offered at the Hearing Advancement Center.

Do I need the most expensive hearing aids?  The answer to this question depends on a number of issues.  What is the shape and degree of your hearing loss?  How active is your lifestyle?  Do you have difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments?  There is a wide variety of hearing aid technology available in an equally wide range of prices.  The least expensive aids cost between $600-$995 and are useful for people who live quiet lifestyles, have worn older technology hearing aids all their lives, have a very limited budget or for people who want spare hearing aids to use as back-ups for their more advanced instruments.

Will insurance help me pay for hearing aids?  Some insurances do assist with the purchase of hearing aids but very few will cover the entire cost and many will not help at all.  Medicare will not contribute to the purchase of a hearing aid.