Q: How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
A: If you experience a number of warning signs or if people often tell you that you’re not hearing well, you may have a hearing loss.
Q: If I suspect a hearing loss, what should I do?
A: Make an appointment for a hearing test with a licensed Beltone hearing care professional. The test will determine if you have any hearing loss.
Q: What should I expect when getting my hearing tested?
A: Your Beltone hearing care professional will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle and hearing needs. You will be given a comprehensive hearing test, a video ear exam, and a word discrimination test. These tests and exams will determine whether or not you have a hearing loss and if any further steps need to be taken.
Q: How will I know what hearing aids are right for me?
A: Your Beltone hearing care professional will recommend the best product for your lifestyle, budget, and measure of hearing loss.
Q: How much do hearing aids cost?
A: Not all hearing aids cost the same. The price will depend on the style and technology that you choose. We have a wide variety of products that fit any budget and lifestyle. We work with most insurance companies. There are discount programs for members of retiree associations, labor unions, and employer organizations. We also offer interest-free payment plans.
Q: Can I try a hearing aid before I buy it?
A: Yes. Beltone allows you to “test drive” a hearing aid in the office so that you can see what it is like to hear with the product in different types of settings before you make your purchase.
Q: What is digital technology?
A: Digital hearing aids convert sound in the microphone from an analog to a digital signal, and the sounds are amplified depending on the level of hearing loss, which helps to keep the sounds at a comfortable level.
Q: What is open fit technology?
A: Open fit technology is designed for a comfortable fit and natural sound quality. The patient does not feel “plugged up” when they wear the hearing aid, and it does not distort the patient’s own voice. Hearing aids with open fit technology are also cosmetically pleasing.
Q: How frequently should my hearing be tested?
A: Your hearing should be checked annually.
Q: Do I really need two hearing aids?
A: Ninety percent of patients have to wear hearing aids in both ears. Therefore, you most likely also have two ears with hearing loss. Most kinds of hearing loss affects both ears equally. These are advantages to wearing two instead of one:
- Localized sound – ability to detect the direction and distance of sounds, which can only be achieved with two ears.
- Balanced hearing – more accurately respond to sounds, like conversation on your left or right sounds.
- Better speech comprehension.