Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing aids are priced according to performance capabilities. As with most technology, devices that do more typically cost more. In general, noise reduction capabilities improve as cost rises. Lake Area Hearing Solutions will assist you to match the right technology to your lifestyle, listening needs, and budget.

Hearing aids come in many sizes and styles and are packaged according to performance capabilities. Your individual hearing loss, listening environments, options needed, cosmetic concerns, manual dexterity, and budget are all factors in finding your best personal hearing solution. Lake Area Hearing Solutions will take the time to guide you through the process.

Some medical insurance covers the cost of a hearing evaluation. Some medical insurance plans provide coverage for a portion of the expense for hearing aids. Generally, you pay something out-of-pocket for better hearing. Our staff will assist you with discovering if, and to what amount of coverage is available with your plan.

The following tips will extend the life of your hearing aid:

1. Clean hearing aids as instructed. Wax buildup can damage your hearing aid.
2. Avoid direct contact with hairspray and other hair products. Apply first, and then put on your hearing aids.
3. Power off hearing aids when not in use, this will also extend battery life.
4. Keep your hearing aids away from moisture and heat.
5. Replace dead batteries immediately.
6. Store your hearing aids and replacement batteries in a secure location: away from pets and small children.
7. See your hearing specialist every few months for a hearing aid check-up.
8. Lake Area Hearing Solutions provides repair, hearing aid supplies/accessories, and hearing aid cleaning for all patients.

Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into a desired response based on your degree of hearing impairment. It automatically adjusts the incoming sound making soft sounds louder and loud sounds softer. This allows you to remain comfortable with the response of your hearing aid without adjusting volume control. The digital response also includes information about a sound’s pitch allowing the aid to be custom-programmed to amplify certain sound frequencies more than others. Digital circuitry allows more flexibility in adjusting the aid to a user’s unique hearing loss and to certain listening environments. Lake Area Hearing Solutions only fits digital hearing aids.

Follow-up care is the most important aspect of any hearing aid fitting. Hearing aids require a period of re-training your hearing. Follow-up visits are always part of your treatment plan. Periodic adjustments may be needed to optimize performance as characteristics of your loss change over time and to accommodate your preferences in various hearing situations. Your hearing aids should also fit comfortably. Hearing loss should be managed over time throughout your life. If you experience changes in your ability to hear or problems with fit, you should call Lake Area Hearing Solutions to set an appointment immediately.

Generally two-ear assistance is superior to that of a single instrument. Even in instances where hearing loss between the ears differ, two hearing aids can provide balanced hearing, improved understanding of speech in noise or when there is more than one person speaking and better localization of sound. We will make appropriate recommendations based on the results from your evaluation. Having one hearing aid is always better than no hearing aid at all!

Yes, you will hear better by allowing your brain to receive more speech information. The digital advancements in hearing aids allow for selective reduction of frequencies where competing sounds exist without negatively affecting the speech frequencies. Advanced hearing aids can also automatically adjust the scope of what we hear, removing competitive sounds that challenge our understanding.

When someone tells you that you cannot be helped, get a second opinion. Most physicians are not experts in hearing science and treatments. It’s acceptable to solicit the expertise of a hearing care professional and obtain a second opinion. Breakthrough advances in the design and performance of hearing aids have given many people the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of amplification. You should have a thorough test to evaluate your hearing and discuss your options for improvement in your everyday hearing ability.

Today’s advanced hearing aids offer a variety of discrete and comfortable options. Award-winning designs have proven to be aesthetically appealing, naturally comfortable, and virtually unnoticeable. If you have experienced hearing loss over an extended time, there will be a period of adjustment as you begin to hear sounds that had gone undetected.

With advanced digital technology we are able to adjust the hearing aids when changes in your hearing occur. Rarely would we need to change a hearing aid due to changes in hearing. On average, people upgrade their hearing aids every 4-5 years to take advantage of new technology that is available.