AudioNova

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable, with the use of appropriate hearing protection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6-19 years and 17% of adults aged 20-69 years have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive noise exposure.

Hearing protection should be used any time you are participating in a high-noise recreational activity or job. Some of these include: hunting, music industry, motor sports, construction, etc. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur from exposure to noise over time, as well as exposure to one intensely loud, brief event. The louder the sound, the less time it takes to cause damage. If you experience ringing in your ears or temporary hearing loss in your ears after a high noise event, the environment was too loud and could cause damage.

Custom hearing protection is modeled after an impression taken of the ear. This will provide the best and most comfortable fit in the ear, which will eliminate ear pain or soreness that can occur with non-custom products. Custom hearing protection also provides a tight seal in the ear that prevents the unwanted high-level noise to leak into the ear.

Some hearing protection devices are marked red (right) and blue (left). If they are not marked, they are not side specific.

For custom products: Slide the thinner side into your ear canal and twist the plug until it fits comfortably in the ear. Pull up from the top of the ear, to straighten the ear canal, as you push the ear mold into the ear.

For non-custom products: Slide the thinner side into your ear canal and pull up from the top of the ear, to straighten the ear canal, as you push the ear plug into the ear. If you are using a foam plug, tightly squeeze and roll it before putting in the ear canal.

More and more often private insurance companies and some Medicare Advantage Plans are offering at least a partial coverage or discount program for hearing testing and hearing aids. Our insurance specialists are happy to verify your benefits prior to your initial consultation and evaluation.

This is dependent on your specific plan. Most commercial PPO plans do not require a referral from your primary care physician to see one of our in-network providers. Certain insurance policies, including Medicare, do require a referral in order to cover testing and treatment recommendations. We are happy to gather your insurance information to determine if a referral is necessary. If it is necessary we will guide you through obtaining the proper referral or documentation for your services to be covered.

Medicare does not currently cover medical equipment as it relates to dental, hearing and vision. This does include hearing aids for the treatment of hearing loss. If your primary care physician feels a hearing test is medically necessary, they can send a written referral to one of our Medicare in-network providers and the diagnostic testing will be covered with your Medicare plan.

In most cases, there is an allowed amount that this percentage applies to based on your particular insurance plan. The exact amount is plan specific. We will check your benefits prior to your appointment to know more specifically what is covered and how it applies to your needs.

Healthcare providers can elect to be in or out of an insurance network. This will determine what type of financial coverage and responsibility you may have versus what your insurance plan will pay. We are in-network for the health insurance plans shown above and are happy to let you know prior to your appointment if we are in or out-of-network with your specific plan.

Audiologist and Hearing Care providers cannot bill insurance for cerumen (wax) removal, however we are trained and experienced in performing these services. We bill a nominal office visit fee for these services.

Yes! As part of a thorough examination, an audiologist or hearing care provider will evaluate the presence of tinnitus and hearing loss. They will complete a hearing and tinnitus examination as well as a review of history and symptoms to determine the likely source of your tinnitus.

There is no universal tinnitus timeline. If the noise is new or occurs in spells of a few minutes at a time, it is possible for the tinnitus to gradually fade over time. If symptoms have been ongoing for months or years, the tinnitus is more likely to be permanent. Regardless, your hearing care provider can work with you to address symptoms, even with long-term tinnitus.

It is best to see a hearing care professional trained in tinnitus as soon as you suspect you might be facing tinnitus or hearing loss to determine the course of action suited to your needs.

Tinnitus perception can vary from person to person. It can start gradually or suddenly. The sound can be more like a tone, a hiss, or a roar. Make note of these characteristics of your tinnitus to discuss with your hearing care professional.

 –   Is the tinnitus in one or both ears – This can help your hearing care provider start to understand where the tinnitus is coming from.

–   How long have you had the tinnitus – Is the tinnitus constant or intermittent? If it comes and goes, how long do you hear it when it you have an episode?

–   What does it sound like – The pitch may help differentiate a cause of the tinnitus. Low pitches may suggest Meniere’s disease, while high pitched noises are usually the result of damage to the inner ear.

–   Does the sound have a beat or rhythm – If the sound beats in time with your pulse, it may be a symptom of other more serious conditions.

–   Hearing loss – While your hearing care provider will measure your hearing, you should always share whether you think you perceive difficulty hearing or understanding sounds around you.

Most tinnitus results from damage to hair cells within the inner ear. These hair cells convey electrical impulses about sound to the brain. Damage to these cells can be caused by exposure to loud sounds, certain medications, or genetics. Your hearing care professional should do a thorough review of your ear and medical history to determine the cause of your tinnitus.

If you experience tinnitus, it’s always a good idea to get an evaluation from a hearing care provider trained in tinnitus. They can talk to you about treatment options as well as hearing protection.

A tinnitus evaluation can measure the characteristics of your tinnitus. A hearing care provider will check your ears for obstructions, evaluate your middle ear function and hearing thresholds, complete pitch and loudness matching, and have you fill out questionnaires that assess how you are experiencing tinnitus. All of this together can determine what treatments will be best for you.

Currently, there is no medicine to cure tinnitus. However, there are several good treatments depending on the cause of your tinnitus. For some, tinnitus can become highly disruptive–particularly if it interferes with sleep and quality of life–and so it’s best to consult a professional to find a solution that is right for you.

 While it’s always best to consult with a hearing care provider to directly explore the options appropriate for you, some common tinnitus treatment options include:

 –   Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) – A trained professional will help retrain your brain to reduce or alleviate the reaction to tinnitus which will, in turn, reduce or alleviate the perception altogether.

–   Hearing aids – By amplifying external sound, the brain has more to focus on than the tinnitus alone.

–   Sound-masking devices – Table top and bedside sound machines can help reduce the impact of tinnitus, especially in quiet and at bedtime.

–   Cognitive behavioral therapy – Many people with tinnitus find talk therapy helpful in learning to cope with their tinnitus and the depression, anxiety, and insomnia that may exacerbate it.

We carry all four major types of hearing aids—behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-canal (ITC), in-the-ear (ITE), and receiver-in-canal (RIC)—from all major device brands, including Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Siemens, Oticon, ReSound, Widex, and more.

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are hearing devices that may be purchased without a prescription or professional evaluation, to support better hearing in adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. OTC hearing aids are designed to be cost-effective and convenient to purchase; the FDA has set guidelines for eligible devices, noting that they must be safe for consumers.

OTC hearing aids do come with major limitations. They are not fitted for each individual’s ear, meaning they are more likely to be uncomfortable or not stay in your ear. OTC hearing aids do not come with the same advanced features and technology as prescription devices, nor can they be adjusted as finely as a prescription hearing aids. Buying OTC hearing aids also bypasses the hearing assessment that accurately measures hearing loss—which is often more severe or complex than people realize—and can pinpoint bigger underlying issues.

When you buy hearing aids from one of our clinic locations, you have a 30 day evaluation period with your devices. If the hearing devices are not the right solution for you, you are able to exchange for another hearing solution or return the devices for a full refund.

We know that trying on hearing aids briefly in-store is different from letting your ears get used to the device and giving them a test spin in your everyday life. Only after wearing them for a few days as you go about your normal day-to-day will you be able to really judge whether they work for you. If, within 30 days, you decide hearing aids are not the right solution for you, you are able to return the devices and receive a refund.

Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss. For the majority of people, tinnitus is the result of the brain generating sounds that is missing. For most people treating the hearing loss with amplification can result in a reduction of tinnitus perception. As a result, most hearing aid wearers report improvement in their tinnitus symptoms.

Some hearing aids have specific features to target the sounds of tinnitus. For example, ReSound hearing aids often have a Tinnitus Sound Generator (TSG) that helps mask tinnitus noise to help provide some relief.

Hearing aids do not cause vertigo. The only reason you may see hearing loss and vertigo occur together is because the damage to the ear that can cause vertigo may also cause hearing loss.

The ear contains a network of membranes and tubes that participate in not just the auditory system (responsible for hearing), but also the vestibular system (responsible for balance). The cochlea is part of the inner ear, made up of spiral tubes covered in sensitive hairs that produce nerve impulses in response to sound or air movement. Damage to the cochlea is one common example of why an individual may experience both hearing loss and vertigo. Supporting their hearing would help their symptoms but would not trigger vertigo.

There are five different levels of hearing loss: mild, moderate, moderately-severe, severe, and profound. Mild hearing loss involves being unable to hear soft sounds like someone whispering or leaves rustling. Moderate hearing loss is usually where audiologists start to recommend hearing aids for everyone, since this is where speech becomes difficult to hear (particularly in noisy environments)—and that can have mental health effects or be outright dangerous.

If you suspect that you have hearing loss, speak to a hearing care professional. You may benefit from a hearing aid, while everyone may benefit from hearing protection.

Many major brands rate their hearing aids as lasting an average five years, but each device has its own estimated lifespan. Depending on your specific hearing care needs or the wear and tear on your devices, you may need to replace your hearing aids as soon as three years or as long as seven years. Your hearing care professional can help you check the lifespan and warranty for any device you are looking to buy.

Some people report that when they first start wearing a new hearing aid, they may experience some headaches early on. Because the hearing aid is working well to deliver better hearing, the brain must get used to receiving more input. Often, these reported headaches are the result of the brain being overloaded by hearing more sounds. Usually, these headaches resolve on their own after wearing the hearing aid a few times.

If these headaches do not resolve, it is best to call or visit your hearing care professional. What likely needs to happen is that the volume of the hearing aid needs to be adjusted, but they will determine what is the best course of action.

There are waterproof hearing aids available, but most hearing aids are simply water-resistant. These devices can handle some moisture—things like sweat, rain, or general humidity—but are not meant to sit submerged in water for an extended period of time.

Most people get used to their hearing aids within two to three weeks of starting to consistently wear them. Whether it’s your first hearing aid and you need to get used to having something in your ear, or if it’s a new hearing aid and the change of device is throwing you off, odds are it will likely take some time before you are accustomed to the device. It can take up to four months for you to fully acclimate to your hearing aids and to really get the most out of them. You will notice small changes right from the start, but it’s important to be patient. Acclimating to hearing aids requires consistent use of the devices.

This timing is why we offer our 30-day risk-free trial. If after giving yourself a chance to really get accustomed to your hearing aids, you are not satisfied, you can return them for a full refund.

It can be easy to miss mild hearing loss, which usually affects sounds like whispers or ambient noise, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t benefit from a hearing aid. Most hearing aids can help with mild hearing loss; the question is what fit is most comfortable for you, and what sorts of features are you looking for. Because you do not need extensive amplification, your hearing aid options can include even the most discreet, completely in-the-canal (ITC) options.

Our clinics get asked this question all the time. The reality is that there is no single “best” hearing aid. A better question to ask is, “What is the best hearing aid to address my hearing loss?” The answer to this question will depend on many factors, including what type and extent of hearing loss you have, the shape of your ear, your lifestyle, your budget, and more.

Your hearing care professional will assess your hearing loss, help you navigate the available options, and work with you to determine the best solution for your hearing care needs.

Your hearing care professional will likely recommend a behind-the-ear (BTE) or an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid to address your severe or profound hearing loss.

– BTE hearing aids provide maximum amplification with minimal feedback.
– ITE hearing aids work like BTE devices, except they are custom-made to fit your ear—providing the best possible fit—and work well for people with arthritis or other dexterity issues.

Most types of hearing aids can work for people with moderate hearing loss. Work with your hearing care professional to pick the style that fits your ear most comfortably, and that has the technology you need for your particular range of hearing loss and other lifestyle considerations (e.g., if you tend to frequent noisy environments). If you have tinnitus, you may choose a hearing aid that aims to filter out tinnitus sounds (ringing, whooshing, etc.).

There is always new hearing aid technology coming out, but some of the bigger trends in emergent features include:

– Multidirectional microphones that automatically detect and differentiate between speech and environmental sounds, to curate a better experience for the hearing aid
– Wind reduction by sensors that detect the wind noise and remove it from the amplified sound, so that you can hear better outdoors
– Bluetooth connectivity that directly syncs your hearing aid with smart devices like televisions or mobile phones
– Rechargeable batteries that save you the hassle of having to change your device’s disposable battery every week or so

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are gaining ground with hearing aid manufacturers, and generally come with the device.

There are still some hearing aids that use disposable batteries, usually using zinc-air technology. These batteries come in four different sizes, each of which has a distinct lifespan: size 10 lasts 3-7 days; size 312 lasts 3-10 days; size 13 lasts 6-14 days; and size 675 lasts 9-20 days.

The different types of hearing aids vary in how noticeable they are. Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are the least visible and smallest, fitting entirely in your ear canal. Behind-the-ear hearing aids offer the most amplification, but as a result tend to be the biggest hearing aid.

Unfortunately, Medicare coverage (Part A or Part B) does not cover the cost of hearing aids or examinations.

It is possible that your health insurance may cover some or all the costs associated with hearing aids and exams. Because insurance coverage varies widely, your best option is to work with one of our insurance specialists who can help you navigate the terms of your plan—and field any required conversations with your insurance provider.

An audiometric evaluation is the central part of a hearing test, where an individual’s ability to hear different sounds at various pitches and frequencies is assessed. This can help classify and quantify any hearing loss.

Our hearing care professionals include more analysis in their hearing test. Aside from tone testing in each ear, they also assess your ability to discriminate speech. Our experts use tympanometry to measure how well your eardrum moves, and bone conduction tests to evaluate your inner ear. Of course, they also visually examine your ear to look for any obstructions or other abnormalities.

Together, this set of tests gives a holistic picture of your hearing health, and helps pinpoint what sorts of solutions would work best for you. A hearing care professional will check for signs of major underlying health issues contributing to your hearing loss, and refer you for further evaluation if needed.