Ashtabula & Painesville, OH
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Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing aids are a significant investment that can make a huge difference in your quality of life. But before you make a big decision like whether to get hearing aids or not, it’s important to make sure all your questions are answered. We believe in educating patients so they know what to expect and how to get the most out of their hearing aids.

Q. How will a hearing aid help?

Hearing instruments are designed to help the ear do a better job of sending accurate information to the brain. Our brain determines what sounds are speech sounds that we use to exchange ideas, opinions, and feelings.

Q. How do I know if I have hearing loss?

Mother Nature has a way of gently telling us something’s wrong. If you notice you’re saying “huh?” and asking people to repeat themselves, or you’re turning the TV up to hear it better, you may have hearing loss. Left unaddressed, hearing loss can get in the way of your connections with other people and how comfortable you feel being involved in things you love. Chances are if you’re wondering whether or not you may have hearing loss, it’s worth getting your hearing tested.

Q. How do hearing aids bring back my hearing?

Hearing instruments cannot bring back hearing, as most losses are permanent, but they can assist the hearing that is still good to do a better job. Just as glasses help the brain to see better, hearing aids help the brain to hear better.

Q. How large are today’s hearing aids?

Today’s devices are tiny and unobtrusive that are also cosmetically acceptable. Some devices are so small, they are 100% invisible; some sit inside the ear while others sit comfortably behind the ear. All are designed to help you to hear better and clearer.

Q. Will I hear as well as I used to?

No, hearing aid cannot improve your hearing to sound exactly the way it did before you had hearing loss. And if you wait a long time to get hearing aids, your brain may lose some of its ability to recognize and understand the sounds it has stopped hearing. To get the best experience, you should have your hearing loss treated with hearing aids as early as possible so that you can get closer to hearing 100% of sounds with hearing aids. However, regardless of how long you’ve waited or how severe your hearing loss is, hearing aids will be a huge improvement and make a world of difference from how things have been.

Q. How much do hearing aids cost?

The investment made in today’s devices is quite varied and tied to the level of technology selected. In hearing healthcare, it is critical for the specialist to be able to select the appropriate level of performance to ensure patient satisfaction. There is usually a range of technology to select from to meet most requirements for cost concerns. American Hearing Centers offers convenient payment programs through CareCredit as low as $39 monthly.

Q. Will I hear better right away?

You’ll definitely notice a difference as soon as you put your hearing aids in. However, there is a process involved. Think of stepping from a dark room into the sunlight and how you squint and might want to grab sunglasses. A sudden change can be shocking! That’s why hearing aids are programmed to start with a lower setting and automatically step up to your full prescription over time. You should be able to adjust comfortably as your ears get used to hearing sounds you haven’t heard in years.

Q. How long will my hearing aids last?

In general, hearing aids last between 3–5 years if properly maintained. Most hearing aids we sell come with four-year manufacturer warranties. We also offer extended warranty plans through American Hearing Centers that will help support your hearing aids for another couple of years after the manufacturer warranty has ended. Hearing aid technology is always changing, so you may find yourself wanting new hearing aids to take advantage of the latest advancements after 5 years or so.

Myths

One misconception regarding hearing healthcare is that hearing aids are just for old people! Hearing loss can and often does begin in our much earlier years going unnoticed or ignored. The common belief is that a hearing aid can restore hearing back to its natural state. It is critical that a hearing loss be detected and treated as soon as possible for optimum results. Hearing loss is not simply related to hearing; the brain is losing its ability to identify certain sounds in our speech frequencies, which causes difficulties with everyday conversations.

Myth: “Hearing aids won’t help.”

It’s been our observation over the past 33 years of hearing healthcare that 98% of the patients we see get relief from their hearing loss by the use of amplification. Just as a pair of glasses causes the brain to “see” better, properly fitted hearing aids do the same thing to help a person’s brain to “hear” clearer.

Myth: “Everybody will know I have hearing loss.”

Today’s technology has allowed the development of tiny devices so no one knows a person is wearing hearing instruments. In reality, everybody knows when another cannot hear well. Saying “huh” or “what” often is a sure sign of a hearing difficulty. The use of today’s modern technology allows the brain to retain its ability to understand human speech and to help preserve those critical auditory skills we need for accurate communication.

Myth: “Hearing aids cost a lot.”

Hearing aids are an investment, and the price is largely connected to the level of technology selected. Hearing instruments at American Hearing Centers can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. We offer convenient payment programs that are designed for all incomes and budgets.