If you’re feeling nervous about a hearing assessment – we understand! Whether you know that you’re experiencing hearing loss, you have had a bad past experience with a hearing test, or you’ve just never had a hearing assessment before, it’s normal to be nervous. We’re here today to walk you through every step of the process at HearingLife.
First, you’ll book an appointment by calling us, emailing or chatting online. Our friendly representatives will help you locate your nearest HearingLife location and encourage you to bring a friend or family member to your appointment. You can learn more about why we ask you to bring someone with you here. You can also let us know if you’ll need Universal Translation Services at your appointment.
When you arrive at HearingLife, you’ll be met by the patient care coordinator at the front desk. They will greet you and let you know if you have any paperwork to fill out before your appointment.
Next, you’ll be brought back for your assessment. At HearingLife, your hearing assessment will be completed by a qualified, compassionate hearing care professional who has undergone extensive training in assessing your hearing and helping find a solution for any loss you may have.
Your hearing assessment
Now it will be time for a series of procedures to check your hearing ability. First, your hearing care provider examines your ears with an otoscope to make sure there isn’t any wax blockage. If there is, you may have to reschedule your appointment for a time after your wax can be removed.
Next, you’ll sit in a soundproof booth and wear headphones while a series of tones of various volumes and frequencies (both high and low pitches) are played. This is similar to the hearing checks you may have experienced in grade school.
After that, your hearing care provider will check your bone conduction, which uses a different type of headphone device. This headphone sits painlessly on the bone behind your ear and conducts sound through it.
Finally, a word discrimination test will take place – the hearing care professional will say a series of words (usually while hiding their mouth so you cannot lip read) and you’ll repeat the words back as you hear them.
Reviewing your hearing assessment results
The hearing assessment has now been completed! Your hearing care professional will review your results with you and your support person and let you know if you have hearing loss. You’ll also discuss whether you’ve noticed having a hard time hearing things like the TV or telephone, and if your support person has noticed your hearing loss. This is one of the reasons we recommend bringing a third-party with you to your appointment.
Your hearing care professional will also ask you about your hobbies and lifestyle and make a recommendation for the best hearing aid for you based on your specific situation and hearing loss.
Trying on hearing aids
Now it’s time to try a pair of hearing aids in the office! Your hearing care provider will program a pair of the recommended hearing aids and let you try them on. (Note: if you are interested in the new custom hearing aids [the Oticon Own™], you’ll actually demo Oticon More™ and have impressions taken for your custom Own hearing aids to pick up at a later date.)
Your support person will be especially helpful during the in-office demo of hearing aids – since you know their voice, you’ll really be able to tell the difference hearing aids make right away. Take your time and enjoy all the sound!
Cost and financing options for hearing aids
Now you can decide if you want to purchase and wear hearing aids out of the office today. Your hearing care provider has a variety of financing options and promotions available, and they will review those with you at this time.
HearingLife offers a 30-day return period on most hearing aid purchases (return period may be longer in some locations). That means you get your money back if you decide to return the devices within 30 days – so your purchase is risk-free. Our AfterCare program comes with hearing aid tune-ups and programming adjustments, cleanings, and batteries (if applicable) for the life of your hearing aid.
You can also contact our OnDemand team after hours for any issues that may come up, or you can visit our video library to learn how to maintain your devices yourself.
After purchasing hearing aids, we’re still here for you
Check out a variety of resources available:
- Tips for adjusting to your hearing aids
- How to let others know you wear hearing aids
- What is a telecoil and hearing loop?
- Tips for hearing during the holidays
- Accessories available
