910-295-6831 | Toll-free 800-755-2500
Pinehurst Audiology: Frequently Asked Questions
Are hearing aids covered by insurance?
How can I make the most of my hearing aid?
Why do hearing aids cost so much?
An audiologist is a professional who holds a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited university with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment, and non-medical treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists are required to complete a full-time internship and pass a demanding national competency examination. Their academic and clinical training provides the foundation for patient management from birth through adulthood.
By virtue of their education, professional certification and licensure, audiologists are the most qualified professionals to perform hearing tests, refer patients for medical treatment and provide hearing rehabilitation services.
Do I need two hearing aids?
If you have a hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids are recommended. We ultimately hear with our brain, not our ears. Our brain adjusts better when it receives information equally from both sides. A hearing aid in each ear results in:
- Better speech understanding in noisy places
- Better sound localization
- Better sound quality
- Improved hearing at a distance
- Improved sound identification
- Less exertion to hear
- Feeling of balance
Research shows that when only one ear is aided, the unaided ear’s ability to understand speech and tolerate sound deteriorates.
Are hearing aids covered by insurance?
At present, Medicare and most other insurance plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids. They do however cover some of the costs of the hearing evaluation. Some insurance plans do cover the cost of hearing instruments and some may cover only a partial cost or reimburse the patient for a set amount. You should always check with your particular insurance plan to see if you have coverage for hearing aids.
How can I make the most of my hearing aid? I know people who keep their hearing aids in their drawer more than they keep them in their ears.
Unfortunately, there are some people who do not find appropriate benefit with hearing aids. There are several issues that are critical to a successful adaptation to hearing aids. It is likely that a hearing aid user is not successful if the following issues are not managed appropriately.
- Does the user have a good, comfortable fit?
- Does the user have realistic expectations based on their hearing aid size and technology? It is very important that your expectations match not only the limitations of your hearing loss, but the type of hearing aid you received.
- Did the user receive effective counseling regarding the adaptation to new hearing aids during their initial adjustment period?
- Are the hearing aids functioning properly?
To ensure success with hearing aids, our audiologists work closely with the patient to be sure these issues are addressed. We do offer a 30 day adjustment period for all hearing aids. Any time during the 30 days you can return your hearing aids for a full refund minus a professional service fee.
Why do hearing aids cost so much?
The reasons hearing aids cost so much are:
- They are sold in relatively low volume compared to other kinds of electronic technology, such as computers and televisions. Less than two million hearing aids are sold per year in the United States. This contributes to high manufacturing costs per unit.
- The amount of time and money spent by manufacturers on research and development is considerable. One manufacturer claims to have spent over twenty million dollars developing one of their advanced hearing aid circuits.
- Hearing aids are custom-made devices. This means that a hearing healthcare professional has to physically examine your ear, safely take an ear impression and then ship the impression to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then assembles the device so that it fits your ear exactly.
- The amount of time spent by an audiologist with a patient is very significant. This professional service component is included with the price of the hearing aid. An audiologist spends an average of five direct contact hours with a patient during the first year of hearing aid use. This time is critical for new users, particularly to assist during the acclimatization process and make fine tuning adjustments to the hearing aid. Audiologists, like consumers, are concerned about keeping the cost of hearing aids affordable. The reality is, communication is one of the most important skills humans have. So if wearing hearing aids allows you to resume normal activities and communicate with loved ones, the cost becomes much more justifiable.