Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I have my hearing tested?
How old should a person be to have his/her hearing tested?
Why should I come to Hearing Care of Summerville?
What is an Audiologist?
What causes hearing loss?
Are there different kinds of hearing loss?
Are there any medical or surgical fixes for my hearing loss?
What hearing aid is best for me?
Why doesn’t my insurance pay for hearing aids?
Is there a trial period to test the hearing aids? What fees are non-refundable if the aids are returned at the end of the trial period?
Why should I have my hearing tested?
Hearing loss affects everyone, young and old. It also affects everyone around you. If you’re a child, it causes significant language and learning delays. If you’re an adult, it effects how you communicate with others. For these kinds of hearing losses, amplification is often the answer. Some hearing losses indicated the need for medical intervention or treatment. An otolaryngologist (ENT) is often able to treat these types of losses.
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How old should a person be to have his/her hearing tested?
It is mandated in 47 states that infants are tested prior to leaving the hospital at birth. Hearing evaluations are possible from birth through any age. With the advent of technology, it is now possible to evaluate hearing function through electrophysiological testing.
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Why should I come to Hearing Care of Summerville?
We take pride in treating the whole patient. Hearing Care of Summerville offers an audiologist with over 30 years of experience. When we select hearing aids, we are looking at what aids are appropriate today and for the next 5-6 years and we also consider what aids will fit your hearing loss and your budget. Additionally, we are aware of how severely tinnitus can affect a person’s life. Therefore, we have actively sought out and use the best and the latest techniques for managing this life-altering event.
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What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are university trained and hold a master’s degree or a doctorate in audiology. An audiologist is trained to recognize the need for medical intervention and is trained to understand the anatomy and physiology of hearing loss and other disorders of the auditory system. Audiologists are also very well educated in regards to amplification and hearing aids.
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What causes hearing loss?
Most often, a hearing loss develops gradually and painlessly. However, hearing loss can occur for many reasons including:
- Exposure to loud or constant noise
- Genetics/Heredity
- Diseases and disorders of the ear
- The natural aging process
- Traumatic injury
- Ototoxic medications
- Tumors
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Are there different kinds of hearing loss?
Yes. Hearing loss is either conductive or sensori-neural. Conductive hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear. Sensori-neural loss occurs in the cochlea or hearing nerve.
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Are there any medical or surgical fixes for my hearing loss?
A comprehensive audiogram by an audiologist can determine if there is a medically treatable condition that would benefit from seeing an ear specialist. Some causes of hearing loss can be treated through medications, surgery or simply removing ear wax!
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What hearing aid is best for me?
The best aid for you will address your needs and fit your budget. We will determine your needs and help you through the selection process.
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Why doesn’t my insurance pay for hearing aids?
Insurance companies nor Medicare nor Medicaid pay for hearing aids for adults. That is a benefit they simply cannot afford to cover. However, our professional associations currently have a bill in Congress for a tax credit for the purchase of aids and you can support this by going to the website http://www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org/ and voice your support.
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Is there a trial period to test the hearing aids? What fees are non-refundable if the aids are returned at the end of the trial period?
All hearing aid purchases are required to have a 30 day trial as mandated by the state of SC (and almost all states). Typically there will be minimal fee for returning the aids to cover the cost of the professionals’ time, restocking fees paid to the manufacturers, and programming time.
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