Audiology FAQ

We believe in a holistic approach to care. Hearing and balance are not just about your inner ear. We take a comprehensive approach in considering your past medical history, your present symptoms and how to provide solutions that include not only rehabilitative options for the ear, but work with the other healthcare professionals on your team to ensure we provide a comprehensive plan of care. You will find our culture based on our values of being Selfless – your time with us is about you!

Doctors of Audiology (AuD) are healthcare professionals educated for eight years beyond a high school diploma and trained to recognize specific conditions of the auditory system, including hearing, balance, tinnitus, and brain health. They assess the effects on your health, make an appropriate Plan of Care that includes your overall wellness, partner with your primary physician and other specialties for the best outcomes to improve your hearing ability, and provide ongoing follow-up to maximize continued benefit.

Just like your vision and teeth, regular checkups are recommended for your hearing and balance. Hearing loss tends to be gradual and we falsely believe our lack of balance is due to aging.

If you are missing the clarity of speech, frustrated by background sounds, have ringing in your ears or are straining to hear the TV or a phone call, it is time for evaluation with us. Most insurance companies will cover your evaluation.

• A written order from you Primary Physician.
• Your family medical history
•  Your medical history
• A list of your medications
  Your insurance card*
  A Significant Other*

Hearing loss affects nearly everyone at some point in their life. The causes of hearing loss are many but commonly include:

• changes to inner-ear function
• damage from exposure to loud sounds
• damage from certain medications
• diseases of the middle ear
• viral/bacterial infections
• autoimmune disorders
• insults to the auditory nerve
• heredity/genetics
• vascular disease
• renal disease
• endocrinological disorder.

The answer is . . . it depends. Most insurance companies, including Medicare, will cover a hearing test if you are having decreased hearing, ear fullness, and tinnitus or balance symptoms. Your type of appointment will depend on your out-of-pocket expense. Any tests, services or products that are eligible to be billed to insurance will be filed. We will work directly with your insurance to verify benefits and prior authorizations.

These hearing aids are prescribed, programmed, and fitted by a hearing aid specialist or audiologist. Because they are fitted to a unique prescription generated by a hearing test, this kind of hearing aid can be expected to offer the best outcome possible for each case of hearing loss. Additionally, modern prescription hearing aids are usually compatible with smartphones and other devices to optimize your listening experience and can also be customized according to your needs and lifestyle.

These are hearing aids that can be purchased from an online or brick-and-mortar store without any diagnostic hearing evaluation or doctor’s prescription. OTC hearing aids may be “one-size-fits-all” devices coming with a standard sound program (not programmed to a particular prescription) OTC hearing aids are approved only for mild to moderate hearing loss. Those who fall outside of that category will not achieve adequate results with OTC devices.

The primary difference is that a prescription hearing aid is fit to an individual prescription generated by a thorough hearing exam and then fine-tuned using actual in-ear measurements. This guarantees that the devices will closely meet the wearer’s needs and give the best possible hearing.

Another difference is that, with the assistance of your audiologist, you can select an ideal model not only for your type and degree of hearing loss but also for your habits and lifestyle. Finally, prescription hearing aids can only be purchased from a licensed audiologist or dispenser, who will then work closely with you to make adjustments, clean and check the devices, and ensure that you are receiving the full benefit of your hearing aids with personalized follow up care.

There are 3 main reasons why you should be seeing your hearing care professional no less than 2 times per year.

1. General Check and cleans to keep your hearing aids in the best possible condition.
2. Your hearing care professional can perform Electroacoustic Analysis (EAA) to ensure that your devices are performing up to specs. 
3. Your hearing can change.  – Just because your hearing loss was at one level last year, doesn’t mean that it hasn’t changed since then. If your prescription has changed, then your hearing aids need to be reprogrammed.

Yes. Even if they ae not purchased through our facility. We will do our best to repair your personal aids. However, some models may be obsolete or may have “locks” in place to insure you return to the original place of purchase. 

Yes, we do. Please visit our Veteran Community Care section for more information.

We are committed to building a successful relationship with you. We strive to be transparent in all matters and work with you, your insurance, and any other financial options most beneficial to you.

Our Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 to 4:30.

We are closed all national holidays. Please feel free to call us during regular business hours if you need assistance.