How to get a hearing aid

Keyvisual

The way to your hearing aid

The following guide helps you to decide whether a hearing aid would be helpful for you and what the steps are to get one.

Hearing questionnaire

This short checklist helps you to quickly determine if you have problems in specific situations that might indicate a hearing problem:

Questions

  1. Do you set the volume of a TV higher than others who are watching with you?
  2. Do you often need to ask people to repeat themselves?
  3. Does it often seem to you that other people are “mumbling” or speaking with muffled voices?
  4. Do you have problems following a conversation in a noisy environment?
  5. Do people ask you if you have a hearing problem?
  6. Do you stay at home more than you used to because you feel uncomfortable with noise or do not understand others when you go out?
  7. Do you often misunderstand what is being said?
  8. Do you find long conversations more tiring lately?
  9. Have you started sitting closer to speakers (e.g. at meetings or at a dinner)?
  10. Have you noticed that you do not hear people talking to you unless you have eye contact?
  11. Do you find it hard to find out which direction a sound comes from?

If you answered one or more of these questions with a “yes”, it might indicate you have a hearing problem.

An individual and professional assessment of your hearing should be conducted by a hearing care professional (HCP); most of them offer a thorough hearing test for free.

The typical result of a hearing assessment will show your general hearing capability including the identification of the frequencies where your hearing loss is located and to what extent. Your HCP will then use your audiogram and other factors regarding your preferences and lifestyle to determine your need.

How does a typical first visit look like?

You can make an appointment with a hearing care professional without any obligation and risk. In many cases the assessment of your hearing and hearing needs is free of charge. Hearing care professionals even often offer the testing of a hearing aid without any obligation.

Typically, your first appointment with a hearing care professional (HCP) will include the following steps:

1. An interview
The HCP will ask questions regarding your general health, history of hearing problems in your family, medication, your exposure to loud noises in your job or leisure activities and other relevant topics.

2. An examination
The HCP conducts an examination in order to determine whether your hearing problems are caused by physical damage to your ear canal or ear drum. An otoscope will be used to visually inspect your outer ear.

3. A hearing test
Using a hearing test, the nature of your hearing loss is determined. A thorough hearing test can include an audiometric pure tone evaluation to measure your hearing at different frequencies, a speech evaluation to measure how well you hear speech at different volumes and in different sound situations, and a middle ear evaluation to measure the reaction of your ear drum to air pressure.

4. Your treatment options
Unless your hearing problem has to be addressed surgically, the HCP will now discuss your specific hearing needs and evaluate which hearing aid would cover your needs best.

Selecting the right type of product for you is the next step.

The general degree of your hearing loss, the affected frequencies, your expectations, and the structure of your ear are important indicators to determine the best solution for you. There are two basic models of hearing aids you can choose from: Aids that are worn behind the ear that transmit sound through a thin tube or wire into the ear canal, and aids that are worn in the ear. Both represent the same technology level. Important factors that need to be taken into consideration are:

  • Comfortable fit
  • Handling
  • Sport and leisure activities
  • Your use of telephone
  • Your use of headphones
  • Your typical sound environments

Your hearing care professional will discuss all suitable options for your needs and preferences in order to determine the right hearing aid which covers all your needs.

USA

Financing
In the USA, hearing aids are typically paid by the consumer. Medicare – the primary national insurance company for elderly people – and other private health insurance companies do not cover hearing aids.

However, there are some states with mandates for the coverage of hearing aids, and private organizations with programs for veterans, children, or people on low income.

Batteries and service
Batteries are paid for by the user. Service comes under normal customer and warranty terms.

What hearing aids can do

Continue

Sona makes a difference

Usually, after the examination and testing, the hearing care professional will ask you questions regarding your lifestyle and preferences and then order a possibly suitable hearing aid for you. You will have to wait for a second appointment until you can actually try the hearing aid.

Sona hearing aids are programmed according to your individual hearing loss. Since most hearing care professionals have sona:vogue hearing aids on stock, you can immediately try them after your first visit, go shopping or drinking a coffee in a noisy sidewalk café to get a new hearing experience!