Heartland Hearing Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some of the Side Effects of Hearing Loss?
1.) Hearing loss can take many forms and cause many social and physical problems if left untreated.
2.) The ear and the brain are directly linked, the ear being the organ that converts sound into electrical signals and sends them to the brain. When the ear cannot send the correct signal to the brain, the brain can only process what it receives.
This can result in both short and long term problems:
- Misunderstanding words
- Inability to understand speech
- Frustration for friends and family
- Withdrawal from family and or other people
- If left untreated, Hearing Loss can cause the brain’s ability to recover, to interpret speech
- Increased risk of Alzehimers and other Dementias
- Psychological and other issues
3.) As in most medical problems, time is of the essence to reduce or intercept the severity of hearing loss and related issues.
4.) Hearing Loss, unlike Vision loss, affects everyone in the individual’s world almost as much as it does themselves.
5.) Get a Baseline Hearing Exam so you have a record of where your are and can compare future exams to your Baseline to be able to manage your hearing and not get caught when it’s too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Questions do you Ask in a Hearing Exam?
1.) The basic medical questions all medical professionals request due to mandates from Medicare and other entities.
2.) In addition, related to hearing specially:
- Your perception of how well you hear
- What types of noise and environments give you the most problem with understanding speech
- Do you have ringing or noises in your ears
- How long have you noticed some challenges to understanding speech, in certain environments
- How is your memory?
What Insurances Do you Accept?
We accept most Insurances.
What is an “ Over the Counter Hearing Aid (OTC) ” and what’s the difference between an OTC and a “Prescription Hearing Aid”.
Answer: It’s very similar to Reading Glasses versus Prescription Eyeglasses or Contacts.
(Personally I went through about 40 pairs of reading glasses before I did the smart thing and went to the doctor, who provided a prescription and glasses with features I needed. Readers were a stepping stone)
Over the Counter Hearing Aid (OTC)
1.) It does not require a hearing test, or a prescription.
2.) It is not regulated by State Law,
3.) It has power limitations
4.) It makes sounds louder, but probably not clearer
5.) Limited controls and adjustments
There are some benefits and challenges to the Style that you choose.
For most, the Over the Ear style may work best because it is the least likely to make you feel stuffed up, similar to what it sounds and feels like sticking your fingers into your ears and talking. If your hearing loss is more linear, the in the ear may be better for you.
Prescription Hearing Instruments
Prescription fit Styles not only improve cosmetics but enhance the acoustics
Require a hearing test by a licensed AUD or LHIS
Your hearing will likely change or your Rx Instruments may need service because of body oils, sweat, flaking skin or dandruff, hair sprays, and multiple other things that can diminish an instruments performance. It may sound like it’s working but is it able to produce your Rx needed to maximize your understanding of speech?
Hearing is more about the Brain than just the Ears.
There is much more a Hearing Professional and Prescription Hearing Instruments professionally fit to you and your needs can do for you. But like reading glasses, OTC hearing aids can be a start.
Telehealth Hearing Care can now be a Reality
Until recently Audiology was limited in our ability to provide much more than counseling through Telehealth, due to the computer programming necessary for most patients. We could advise, but could not fix.
Starkey Hearing Instruments has changed Telehealth in Audiology. If you have a smartphone and can download a Free App, we can provide you with most every computer programming in addition to counseling and teaching in the convenience of your home or work place. Audiology Telehealth can now save you _me, travel, and waiting for Professional Hearing Care. Other manufactures are quickly adding their ability within their software to provide the ability for complete Telehealth.