Hearing Associates of Libertyville, IL
Hearing Aids

FIND OUT WHICH HEARING AIDS ARE BEST FOR YOU

Today you have your choice of almost invisible, comfortable and high fidelity hearing aids. There are literally hundreds of hearing aid types and styles on the market. With the right hearing aids, your life could be transformed. With the wrong ones, your hearing could get worse.

Your audiologist or hearing aid specialist can help you choose hearing aids that are right for your hearing needs, the environments where you spend time, your lifestyle and your budget. Your hearing expert can fit, adjust and program your hearing aids so you get the best hearing possible.

Your options include the traditional behind-the-ear, receiver-in-the-ear and in-the-ear types. There are even extended wear hearing aids that you leave in for months at a time, and hearing aids that wirelessly connect to your TV through your smartphone.

Discover the hearing aid that will work for you!

Call or text us to schedule a visit to get your hearing tested and talk about which hearing solution is right for you.

CHOOSING HEARING AIDS

How Hearing Aids Work

Hearing aids use small microphones to collect sounds. A computer chip then converts the incoming sound, analyzes it and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss. Then you hear the audio signals through miniature speakers in your ears.
Which hearing aid is right for you? It depends on the severity of your hearing loss, the environments where you want to hear better, how active you want to be and which technology you are comfortable with.

Hearing Evaluation

At the time of your hearing evaluation, we will take a case history to determine the type of hearing problem that you have. We’ll ask you questions about the onset of your hearing loss, and whether you are experiencing tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and/or dizziness.

Based on the results of the hearing test and the answers to these questions, our highly trained hearing experts may make a referral to a medical doctor for an examination and possible treatment. If the testing reveals a sensori-neural hearing loss, we may recommend hearing aids.

There are literally hundreds of hearing aids from which to choose. Our highly trained staff will use the information that in your case history and in the audiological evaluation to help narrow those choices for you. You will make the final decision on which hearing aid to purchase. The two main types of hearing aids available today are conventional analog hearing aids and digital hearing aids.

Hearing Aid Fitting

During the hearing aid fitting, we program the device to meet your specific needs. We’ll give you instructions on how to put the hearing aids in your ears and remove them, how to change batteries and how to care for and clean the devices. We’ll also review with you the function of your hearing aids as it relates to your lifestyle, and how to get the most benefit from wearing your hearing aids. You can read more about hearing aid fitting here.

Digital Hearing Aids: 21st Century Solutions

If you plan to only use your hearing aids at home, the more basic units may suffice. On the other hand, if you want to enhance your hearing at home, in the car, at the supermarket, at restaurants, and at the concerts and  football games you attend — in other words, across a wide variety of listening environments, then you’ll want a more full-featured advanced digital hearing aid.

Of course the more you use your hearing aids, the more they will help you, the more you’ll be engaged with your friends and family and the more you’ll get out of life.

One Hearing Aid vs. Two Hearing Aids

You have two ears because you need two ears. If you have hearing loss in each ear that could be reduced by hearing aids, you should wear two hearing aids.

Wearing hearing aids in each ear will:

  • improve your ability to hear in noisy settings,
  • allow you to determine where sounds are coming from,
  • improve your ability to understand speech, even from a distance,
  • help you hear soft sounds at lower levels,
  • and give sound a fuller quality.

Which Brands Are Best?

We’ve spent the last decade or longer selecting the few hearing aid manufacturers that we know from experience are the cream of the crop.

Why do we only carry the best? Because we want to help you truly get more out of life. Call or text us to learn more about which individual hearing aid type and brand is right for you.

The longer you live with hearing loss, the more difficult it is to adjust to hearing aids. Call or text us today and get on your way to better hearing!

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PAY FOR HEARING AIDS?

How much you should spend to enhance your hearing with hearing aids or assistive listening devices depends on many factors. If you live alone in the woods, rarely talk on the phone, never listen to the radio or watch TV, and rarely venture out, then your hearing aid use will probably be low and it doesn’t make sense to opt for “top shelf” hearing aids.

On the other hand, even if you live by yourself, if you spend time in meetings at work, or like to watch TV, talk on the phone or listen to the news on the radio; if you enjoy socializing with friends and family, your use is going to be high. In fact, you’ll probably wear your hearing aids for 12 to 16 hours a day. You’ll want hearing aids that consistently perform well.

Given your high use, paying for high quality hearing aids is a good investment in your quality of life, in your ability to stay connected and to communicate well.

The Price and Value of Hearing Aids

Cost and value are two different things. Take out a piece of paper and make a list of how many times each day and each week you could benefit from using hearing aids. What are situations where hearing more clearly would help you enjoy life more? Look at your list and  calculate what it would be worth to you, per day, to be an active part of the conversation. That’s the value to you of wearing hearing aids.

Questions?

Talk to the experts.

Call or text us.

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

What Determines the Cost of Hearing Aids?

Cost is determined by a combination of hearing aid features and hearing services. Hearing aids that have more sophisticated technology allow for a higher level of performance across a broad spectrum of listening environments – including noisy restaurants! They tend to have a higher cost when compared with more basic hearing aids. Like any other technology, the price of your hearing aid depends on which features you choose and, more importantly, what your hearing healthcare professional recommends for you. 

All hearing aids come with an adjustment period, typically 30 business days from date of purchase. During this adjustment period, your audiologist will complete the necessary testing to ensure optimal audibility. You will be encouraged to provide your subjective feedback on how the hearing aids are working for you, and adjustments can be made as necessary to accommodate your personal listening preferences.

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the hearing aids, you can return them for a refund minus a small fitting/restocking fee.

Does Insurance Cover Hearing Aids?

Health insurance companies typically cover diagnostic hearing evaluations; however, hearing aids are often not covered by health insurance companies. We encourage you to contact your insurance company to get a detailed summary of your hearing aid benefit.

Medicare does not cover hearing aids for adults; however, diagnostic evaluations are covered if they are ordered by a physician to assist in developing a treatment plan. Since Medicare has declared the bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) a prosthetic device and not a hearing aid, Medicare will cover the BAHA if other coverage policies are met.

Some nonprofit organizations provide financial assistance for hearing aids, while others may help provide used or refurbished aids.

We’ll help you make the right choice for your hearing needs, lifestyle and budget. Contact us today.

QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY

Before you buy a hearing aid, ask us these important questions:

  • What features would be most useful to me?
  • What is the total cost of the hearing aid?
  • Do the benefits of newer technologies outweigh the higher costs?
  • Is there a trial period to test the hearing aids? (Most manufacturers allow a 30-to 60-day trial period during which aids can be returned for a refund.)
  • What fees are nonrefundable if the aids are returned after the trial period?
  • How long is the warranty?
  • Can it be extended?
  • Does the warranty cover future maintenance and repairs?
  • What service do they provide after the sale? Can the audiologist make adjustments and provide servicing and minor repairs?
  • Will loaner aids be provided when repairs are needed?
  • What instruction does the audiologist provide?

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

Why wait? You don’t have to live with hearing loss.

Why wait? You don't have to live with hearing loss. Call Us Today