FAQs

What is an audiologist?
Audiologists are the primary health-care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. Audiologists are licensed in the state of Indiana. Most have doctoral degrees (Au.D., Ph.D.). Most types of hearing loss are treatable by an Audiologist.
How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
The best way to know if you have a hearing loss is to have a comprehensive audiological evaluation. However, there are several signs and symptoms to alert you to having a hearing test. Some of the signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing on the phone, turning the TV up, difficulty hearing in groups and comments from family members.
What can I expect during my initial visit?
You will complete a history form, submit insurance information, and receive a hearing test including otoscopy, middle ear assessment and pure-tone testing including speech testing. You can also expect the Audiologist will review your results with you and provide recommendations for follow-up treatment, referral, or preventive care.
How do I know if I need a hearing aid?
Hearing aid candidacy is determined by type and degree of hearing loss as well as assessment of functional needs and goals. The Audiologist will review audiometric test results with the patient and assess functional need. Recommendations are tailored to the individual.
How much do hearing aids cost?
Hearing aids are expensive and vary in cost from 1500-6000. Price is determined by style and technology features.
Will my insurance cover hearing aids?
Most insurances do not cover hearing aids including Medicare. Check with your provider and review your individual policies. We will file with your provider if you have coverage.
Why should I receive services from Hoosier Hear Gear?
Comprehensive testing ensures we understand your unique level of hearing loss. Our experience gives you confidence to takes the right steps toward better hearing. State of the art hearing aids mean you can optimize your ability to hear. We believe educated patients are satisfied patients. We provide exceptional follow-up care and ongoing personalized customer service including hearing aid repairs.
What kinds of hearing aids are available?
A variety of hearing aids are available today from custom in the ear instruments some of which are minimally visible to instruments that fit behind the ear. Like most technical things today, advancement and change are constant. Today, patients can experience improved speech recognition in noise and greater sound comfort. Let us help you experience better hearing and hear the difference for yourself.
What if my hearing aid stops working?
If your hearing aid stops working the easiest thing to troubleshoot is the battery. Replace the battery with a clean, new, fresh battery. Clean your hearing aid, especially the area around the receiver. Ear wax can often clog the speaker. If these simple techniques do not work, follow-up with your audiologist.
What if hearing aids are not enough?
Hearing aids are not enough for every hearing impaired individual. Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) can be a bridge to better hearing, alone or in addition to a hearing aid. ALDs can help on the phone, with television, and especially in background noise. LOOP systems are an affordable solution at home and in public places.
How can I recognize hearing problems?
Most of the time hearing problems begin gradually, without discomfort or pain. What’s more, family members often learn to adapt to someone’s hearing loss, without even realizing they are doing it. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether hearing loss is present:

  1. Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
  2. Do I have trouble following conversations with more than two people?
  3. Do I have difficulty hearing what is said unless I’m facing the speaker?
  4. Does it sound like other people are mumbling or slurring their words?
  5. Do I struggle to hear in crowded places like restaurants, malls and meeting rooms?
  6. Do I have a hard time hearing women or children?
  7. Do I prefer the TV or radio volume louder than others?
  8. Do I experience ringing or buzzing in my ears?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, chances are you do suffer from hearing loss.

If I had hearing loss, wouldn't my doctor have told me?
Not necessarily. Only about 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss. Since most people with hearing impairments hear just fine in quiet environments (like your doctor’s office), it can be very difficult for your physician to recognize this problem. Only a trained hearing professional can determine the severity of your hearing problem, whether or not you could benefit from a hearing aid, and which type would be best for you.
What are the most common hearing loss causes?
There are several causes. The main ones include excessive noise, infections, genetics, birth defects, infections to the head or ear, aging, and reaction to drugs or cancer treatment.
Are there different types of hearing loss?
Yes. There are three types of hearing loss:

  1. Sensorineural: The most common type, it occurs when the inner ear nerves (and hair cells) are damaged and do not properly transmit auditory signals to the brain. Can be treated with hearing aids.
  2. Conductive: Is typically the result of obstructions in the ear. Can usually be treated medically or surgically.
  3. Mixed: A combination of sensorineural and conductive.

Doesn't hearing loss only affect old people?
Hearing loss can occur at any time, at any age. In fact, most people with hearing loss (65%) are younger than age 65! There are six million people in the U.S. ages 18-44 with hearing loss, and around one-and-a-half million are school age.
Are there operations or medications I can take for hearing loss?
Only 5% of hearing loss in adults can be improved medically or surgically. The vast majority of Americans with hearing loss (95%) are treated with hearing aids.
If I think I have a hearing problem, what do I do?
You should make an appointment with a hearing professional like an audiologist, hearing aid specialist or ENT doctor for an evaluation, consultation and hearing test. Many hearing care professionals offer this evaluation at no charge.
Won't wearing a hearing aid make me look old or weak?
While you are no doubt concerned about appearance, compensating for a hearing loss by asking people to repeat themselves, inappropriately responding — or not responding at all — to people talking, or even withdrawing from social situations is more obvious than wearing a hearing aid.
Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and more stylish than ever before. Some are even invisible. And, chances are that once you have a hearing aid, your quality of life will improve so much that cosmetics won’t be as much of an issue for you.
How will a hearing aid improve my quality of life?
Research on people with hearing loss and their significant others has shown that hearing aids play a significant factor in a person’s social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being.
More specifically, treatment of hearing loss has been shown to improve1:

  • Communication in relationships
  • Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
  • Ease in communication
  • Earning power
  • Sense of control over your life
  • Social participation
  • Perception of mental functioning
  • Emotional stability

When you consider all the benefits of better hearing, you can see that hearing aids hold great potential to positively change your life.

Will a hearing aid restore my hearing?
While no hearing aid can restore your hearing to normal (except in cases of very mild hearing loss), Starkey hearing aids are designed to let you hear soft sounds that you couldn’t hear before, and prevent loud sounds from becoming uncomfortably loud for you. They are also designed to improve your ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments.
Will I be able to hear in noisy places?
While no hearing aid can filter out all background noise, Starkey hearing aids are designed to reduce some types of background noise so that you can enjoy conversation and improve communication in places like restaurants, business meetings and social gatherings.
What are some advances in hearing aid technology?
Like many other high-tech devices (TVs, phones, computers), hearing aids have experienced a major technological revolution in the past decade and especially in the last couple years.
The best of today’s digital hearing aids are designed to virtually eliminate feedback; make listening in noisy environments easier and more comfortable; stream stereo sound from TVs and radios directly to the hearing aid itself; and much more. All in instruments that are smaller (in some cases, invisible) and more comfortable and powerful than ever before.
Is there an adjustment period to wearing hearing aids?
Yes. Most people need an adjustment period of up to four months before becoming acclimated to — and receiving the full benefit of — wearing their hearing aids. However, you should expect to notice demonstrable benefits right away.
Will I need a hearing aid for both ears?
Two-ear hearing (called “binaural”) is better than one. If you have hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age- and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, you will probably benefit more with a binaural solution. Today, about two-thirds of new users opt for dual hearing aids, and as a group they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single hearing aid.
How much will a hearing aid cost?
The price of a hearing aid will vary depending on the specific model and features you need, and how effective it is in various noise environments. Whatever the final cost, most hearing professionals do offer financing plans. You should also check to see if you qualify for free hearing aids or discounted hearing aids from your employer, union, the Veteran’s Administration, insurance provider, HMO or local charity (such as Lions Club).
Are $100 hearing aids any good?
These inexpensive models are simply hearing amplifiers that will make everything louder (including all the ambient noises around you). They will not, for example, separate human voices from background noises, or hear directional sounds like today’s more sophisticated hearing aids are designed to do.
Should I consider purchasing a hearing aid online?
We believe that you achieve the best possible results with your hearing aids by consulting with an audiologist.  Read this news release from State Health officials urging consumers to the potential risks of buying hearing aids without being evaluated by a licensed hearing healthcare professional.

 

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