Hearing FAQs

Do you . . .

• Have difficulty understanding what is being said, unless you are directly facing the speaker?
• Find yourself complaining that people are mumbling or slurring their words?
• Continually ask people to repeat words or phrases, though they feel they're speaking loud enough?
• Prefer the TV or radio louder than others do?
• Have difficulty understanding a conversation within a group of people?
• Avoid group meetings, social occasions, public facilities, or family gatherings where listening may be difficult?
• Have trouble hearing at the movies, house of worship, concert halls, or at other public gatherings – especially where sound sources are at a distance?
• Have ringing in the ears or other head noises (hissing, buzzing, crickets, etc.)? This may be caused by Tinnitus which often accompanies hearing loss.

If you have answered in the affirmative to one or more of these questions you may have a hearing loss. A hearing exam will help you determine the extent of any hearing issues.

This opportunity varies by state. Ask your hearing healthcare professional about the laws and regulations in your area to find out more.

Because the cost and terms of extended warranties vary between manufacturers, we recommend discussing the pros and cons with your hearing care professional prior to purchase.

Ask your hearing care professional prior to purchasing any hearing aid as most hearing care practices have different return/exchange policies, therefore this is an important question to ask before you make a purchase.

People choose to upgrade their hearing aids for many reasons but most do so when their hearing aids are too old, there is a significant upgrade in technology, or because their hearing has worsened.

Fortunately if your hearing has worsened, you may not have to replace your hearing aids. Most digital hearing aids can be immediately reprogrammed by your hearing healthcare professional to accommodate incremental hearing loss.

In general it is recommended that you update your hearing aids every 3 to 6 years.

Treating hearing loss is a process. Hearing loss typically happens slowly over time, it will take time to retain your brain to properly process sound again. This means that progressive adjustments will have to be made to your new hearing aids as your brain relearns speech and sound.

The amount of time needed to make this adjustment differs from person to person but it is an important critical step so that you can take full advantage of your hearing aids.

Once you have acclimated to your hearing aids they should be comfortable enough to wear all day.

When you receive your new hearing aids, you'll also receive detailed instructions about how to care for them. Make sure to discuss any questions you may have with your hearing care professional.

It is called the occlusion effect and is very common for new hearing aid users. Most people get used to it but you may want to ask your hearing healthcare professional about a possible correction.

This depends on the size of your hearing aids and how often you wear them. Generally the smaller the hearing aid, the smaller the battery and faster it wears out. So you might change an ITC hearing aid battery every 5 days while a BTE hearing aid may need a new battery every 12 days. Ask your hearing healthcare professional for more information and about any promotions or discounts on hearing aid batteries.

Manual dexterity is one of the factors your hearing healthcare professional will consider before recommending a type and style of hearing aid to you. Learning how to change the batteries should be easy with some practice.

Although there are rechargeable hearing aid batteries on the market they may not be suitable for your device. Ask your hearing healthcare provider.

Most digital hearing aids are compatible with land line telephones, TV's and cell phones.

There are a number of new and exciting accessories that can offer added convenience as well as enhanced audio experience. Here are two made by ReSound:

• Unite Phone Clip+ allows you to hear your phone call through your hearing aids wirelessly. People on the other end of the line will hear you through the microphone that is built into the device.
• Unite TV Streamer plugs into your TV and sends a wireless audio signal directly to your hearing aids. You can adjust the volume of the TV to a level which is appropriate for you while the TV’s volume can be set at a comfortable level for others in the room.

These accessories are simple and easy to use. Ask your hearing healthcare professional for a demonstration.

Today's hearing aids are designed to withstand the rigors of modern life.

You can wear them while sleeping however most folks take them out at night. If you do choose to sleep in them, the batteries will have to be changed more often.

Because your hearing aids will be customized to your particular hearing loss and the shape of your ears, another person will not receive the same benefit from them that you do.