Typically, a new patient is scheduled for a 90-minute appointment. First, you will talk with the audiologist to discuss case history, reason for your visit and how we can help you hear better in your everyday life. The audiologist will evaluate your hearing, discuss the results and go over treatment options.
At Hearts for Hearing, we provide comprehensive hearing evaluations that are not limited to objective or subjective measurements. The audiologist will perform an otoscopic exam of the insides of the ear canals and evaluate middle ear health, hearing related to specific tones/pitches, hearing related to speech, and performance of understanding speech in background noise.
Once hearing devices have been ordered, the audiologist will measure the specific acoustics of your ear canal shape and size. The hearing devices will be programmed according to a research-backed algorithm proven to improve speech clarity. Information regarding care and maintenance of the devices will be provided, and the provider will instruct on insertion and removal of the hearing devices. If you have a compatible smartphone, the hearing devices will be connected, and information regarding an app may be provided.
Yes. For quality assurance reasons we will complete a comprehensive hearing evaluation.
Yes. We can work with most hearing devices that were not purchased at Hearts for Hearing.
If dizziness or vertigo is your primary concern, you should consider an appointment with our Vestibular and Balance Clinic. You may also benefit from a medical evaluation with an ENT physician.
No. An audiologist can evaluate your hearing but does not prescribe medications. For medical ear problems you will first need to see a primary care or Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician.
The definite answer to the cause of hearing loss is uncertain as there are many contributing factors. These factors can include aging, genetics, ototoxic medication or drugs, noise exposure, comorbidities, ear infections or illness of the ear, or trauma to the ear or skull.
One of the common causes of hearing loss or tinnitus is exposure to excessive noise, whether that is occupationally or recreationally. The magic number to keep in mind is 85 decibels (dB). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends all noise should be below 85 dB for eight hours to minimize potential noise induced hearing loss. Wear hearing protection- foam earplugs, custom earplugs, or earmuffs-when you are around any sound louder than 85 dB. Ensure music, especially with earphones, is no more than half volume. If you are interested in purchasing electronic or custom hearing protection, please let your audiologist know.
Traditional hearing device costs can range from $3200 to $6400, depending on your lifestyle and hearing status. If financial assistance is required, we offer economy packages or our Hearing Angel program.
It depends on your insurance policy. We call all insurance and insurance supplements to see if there are any hearing aid benefits available on your plan. To see which insurances we are in network with, check out our resources page.
Typically, Medicare covers one hearing evaluation a year when medically necessary. A physician’s order is required before the appointment in order to bill Medicare for your visit. However, Medicare Part B does not cover hearing technology.
Typically, Medicare does not have a hearing device benefit available. Some private or federal insurance plans do allow for a hearing device benefit though. Once insurance information is provided, your benefits can be checked to see if one is available.
Our clinic can work with a broad range of finances. We have options for everyone regardless of finances. Schedule an appointment to discuss these options with your audiologist.
Yes, we would love your old hearing devices or accessories to donate to our Hearing Angel program. Because Hearts for Hearing is a 501c3 non-profit clinic, your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.
First check the battery to see if the battery may be from a bad batch. Next, check to see if the wax filter (small white circle near the end of the device that goes in the ear) is clogged with wax (if applicable). Properly clean the hearing device by wiping it down with a soft cleaning cloth and brushing the microphone ports. If issues persist, schedule an appointment with your audiologist or audiology assistant.
We work with all of the major eight hearing aid manufacturers: ReSound, Phonak, Widex, Starkey, Lyric, Oticon, Signia, and Unitron. We also work with other assistive listening devices’ manufacturers. For cochlear implants or bone anchored hearing devices, we work with Cochlear, Med-El, Advanced Bionics, Oticon Medical, and Sophono.
You can purchase batteries in many stores, including at Hearts for Hearing, and they will most likely be in the pharmacy section. If you can purchase the batteries in bulk (Sam’s Warehouse, Costco, Amazon), the batteries will likely be less expensive.
Most hearing device batteries are activated by air, and they will come with stickers on them. Once you peel the sticker off, let the battery be exposed to the air for a few minutes to allow the battery to fully charge. Ensure you are opening the battery doors when the hearing devices are not in use (i.e. sleeping, swimming/bathing, around excessive noise, etc.)
Hearing devices can connect with additional accessories to allow for better hearing in certain situations. Here are some examples of accessories:
Television streamer– This device will allow you to stream stereo sound from your television, computer, or music source. You can even mute any outside noise to just listen to the television.
