How to Choose the Right Fitter for Your Digital Hearing Aid
It is sometimes hard to accept that one is facing hearing loss
and may need a digital hearing aid or other hearing devices to improve
one’s quality of life. Jay Gerber, former vice president of
the National Football League Film Corporation and current manager
of the NFL Frequency Organization Group, had that experience. He
states, “At 40 years of age, I could not accept the idea that
I was afflicted with a form of progressive hearing loss. It took
family and friends over three years to convince me that I should
go for a hearing test and get some help.” When you are ready,
you will want to start the process of finding out the cause of your
hearing loss and then learning what options you have, whether it
be the purchase of hearing devices or the pursuit of medical treatment.
In order to find out if you require a digital hearing aid, you
should begin by seeing a local ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor,
so that all correctable conditions can be ruled out. You may find
that your hearing loss can be corrected without the use of hearing
devices if it is caused by a condition such as the fusion of the
bones in your inner ear, known as otosclerosis, or a build up of
ear wax. These issues can be corrected medically, however, once
your situation has been assessed and any medical issues have been
resolved, you may find that you are a candidate for a digital hearing
aid.
In the next step toward determining which hearing devices are right
for you, you will need to have a complete hearing test administered.
Jay notes, “I was recommended to an audiologist for testing,
and, at the time, the testing revealed that my hearing loss, although
slight, did render me incapable of word recognition involving the
high frequencies of the sound spectrum.”
Make sure that the hearing test is thorough and is administered
with high quality equipment. You should be tested not only for hearing
acuity, but also for tolerance levels and speech discrimination
to provide your hearing aid fitter with a complete assessment of
your hearing so that the best possible solution for your hearing
loss can be recommended. Note that under the HIPAA Privacy Rule,
you have a right to your test results, whether or not you will be
purchasing your digital hearing aid directly from the office that
administered the test, so you can request the results and then shop
around for your hearing devices.
When you receive your test results, make sure the test administrator
or doctor explains them to you thoroughly. A person with a low speech
discrimination score may never be able to understand speech clearly
even through the use of the best digital hearing aid, but may instead
find that hearing devices simply improve the situation to a degree.
A good digital hearing aid fitter will give you realistic expectations,
while someone who is only interested in selling hearing devices
may make you promises that can’t be kept.
In order to make sure you are getting the best price for your digital
hearing aid, make phone calls or go online to see if you can get
pricing information from a selection of providers of hearing devices.
This may not always be possible, as some companies will insist to
speak to you in person, but try to gather as much information as
you can about what the cost of your digital hearing aid may be so
that you can narrow down your search.
However, when you are selecting a digital hearing aid fitter, price
is not the only criteria with which you should be concerned. As
Jay explains, “Every hearing aid supplier feels that they
have the solution to everyone’s hearing loss symptoms and
problems. Unfortunately, I have found through my experiences with
hearing aid suppliers and audiologists that this is far from the
case. In fact, there are those companies, in my opinion, that cater
to the unaware and provide a minimum of technical sophistication
primarily to accommodate only one aspect of a hearing aid, and that
is the cost.”
To be sure you are making the right choice for a fitter, there
are several questions you should ask whomever you talk to—whether
it is the actual fitter of the hearing devices or a family member
or friend who is referring you to the digital hearing aid provider.
- Will my health insurance cover any or all of my digital hearing
aid purchase? While many policies do not cover hearing devices,
it is becoming more common in certain situations for part or all
of the device to be covered, albeit with restrictions. In some
states, your digital hearing aid may be covered by a vocational
rehabilitation program if you are an individual with an impairment
who is seeking employment. Some Medicaid programs also may cover
part or all of the cost. Research your coverage up front so that
there are no surprises down the road.
- What is your return policy on your hearing devices? While the
FDA mandates that you have 30 days to return a hearing aid, a
hearing aid provider also has the right to charge you a restocking
fee that can be up to 15 percent of the original cost. This can
amount to a substantial charge, so find out ahead of time, as
not all companies charge this fee.
- When my digital hearing aid warranty runs out, what sorts of
charges will there be for adjustments or repair? Do you offer
an extended warranty? What does it cover and for how long? Be
aware that charges for the adjustments or repairs of hearing devices
may go up significantly at the end of a warranty period.
- How long does it take to get an appointment for an adjustment
or repair of my hearing aid? What is your turn around time on
adjustments or repairs? If you rely on your hearing aid for day-to-day
activities, then you’ll want to be able to make an appointment
quickly and have the adjustments made as soon as possible. Some
providers may have a way to make adjustments for you over the
Internet, allow you to make adjustments yourself, or may guarantee
same-day service for any necessary corrections.
- What do you charge for hearing aid adjustments? Note that you
may need many adjustments in the early stage of owning your digital
hearing aid, so it is important that these costs be reasonable.
- If I relocate for any reason, who can I go to for my adjustments
or repairs? You want to be sure you are comfortable with this
answer. If you are planning to move, spend time at a second home,
or do extensive traveling you’ll need to know where you
can go for help with your hearing devices.
- What is your upgrade policy? Technology is rapidly changing,
and the hearing devices you purchase today may be outdated next
year. Find out if the provider has a plan in place that allows
you to trade in or upgrade your current digital hearing aid for
a substantial discount on a newer technology.
Most importantly, make sure that you feel comfortable with whomever
you are talking to when you are looking for a provider of hearing
devices. If you feel rushed or uncomfortable, then that is not the
ideal digital hearing aid fitter for you. The person on the phone,
the person answering your emails, or the person at the office should
take the time to listen to you, to address any concerns you may
have, and to make you feel like you are purchasing the right hearing
devices for your needs.
And remember, when something seems too good to be true, it often
is. Read all special offers and advertisements carefully. If you
go in for a digital hearing aid fitting and are immediately told
that the special offer doesn’t apply to you, or if you feel
you’re being pushed to buy hearing devices that are much higher
priced, leave. Always feel comfortable saying no if you feel any
sales pressure or you don’t think the hearing aid you are
being offered is right for you. As Jay notes, “Finding the
right professional help is critical to the successful implementation
of hearing aid instruments.”
About the Author
Henry Smith is the founder of America Hears, a leading digital
hearing aid manufacturer and distributor for over 26 years.
Henry started the company in 1979, following a 15-year career at
the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, including his work as an Acoustic
Technician. Henry is a pioneer in the use of computers and the Internet
to allow customers to have a hands-on approach to the tuning and
adjusting of their hearing devices.
He strives to be customer-centric in all aspects of his work.
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