Do you or someone you know have a hearing loss? The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) offers this simple hearing loss test to determine if you may have diminished hearing.
If you answer “yes” to three or more of these hearing loss test questions, it is time to have your hearing checked:
- Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
- Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
- Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
- Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
- Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
- Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
- Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?
What next?
If three or more questions were answered “yes, ” you have some options:
1) Head over to Costco for a quick hearing assessment and fitting or hearing aids
For a mild hearing loss, this might be acceptable. They conduct a basic hearing loss test and then fit you with hearing aids that are somewhat affordable compared to other private dealers.
2) Schedule an appointment with an audiologist under your health plan
From my own and a friend’s personal experience, getting a hearing test under your health plan is a good idea vs a Costco cookie-cutter type of test. BUT, if your health care plan has a specific location where you can get hearing aids at a reduced cost, I’d be wary.
The hearing tests and dispensing of aids under my coverage were available only with a specific dealer. Years later I found out, by accident, that this dealer had a special relationship with one of the major hearing aid manufacturers in the country, so I was never offered any other type of hearing aids made by other companies AND I was never told about some extra perks available with Bluetooth, streamers, etc. When I asked why they never told me about these other types of aids and technology, their audiologist was “cool” in her response. I left in a huff and never went back. The real kicker is this: The HMO insurance coverage offered $1,100 per aid, every 3 years. Yet, the private audiologist I now see was able to meet that reduced price WITHOUT INSURANCE. It turns out the actual cost of the hearing aid is jacked up to compensate for the insurance “price break.”
Recently a good friend of mine had a similar experience with an HMO-specific hearing aid provider. His first hearing aid he purchased at Costco. It served its purpose for a couple of years. But as his hearing grows worse with age, the aid is no longer effective. So, he had his ears tested by his HMO audiologist, then went to the HMO-specific vendor to be fitted for a new hearing aid. Appallingly, all they did was put hearing aids on him with the small outer-ear microphone, which is not enough for his level of hearing loss these days. He needs an ear-mold! So, my friend is going to do what I recommend as the third option if you realize you have a hearing loss.
3) Visit a private audiologist for your hearing loss
Here are some suggestions and considerations in seeking a private audiologist to serve your hearing loss needs:
- Ask for a referral. Friends or family may know of Audiologists that provide exemplary service.
The audiologist I now enjoy was the result of a referral from a friend. I visited the audiologist recommended to me and was surprised at the difference in service.
- Distance. Fortunately, the referral did not require me to drive more than 30 minutes in light traffic to reach the audiologist. You will be visiting the audiologist for annual hearing tests, and more often, to have ear molds cleaned and tubing replaced. Ideally, you want to find an audiologist that does not require hours of driving to get back and forth.
- History. Consider a business with a history of at least 20-30 years. This was not one of my criteria, but one must agree that usually a company or individual who has been in business successfully for 20-30 years is doing something right. (I have since found out that my audiologist has been in business 22 years as of 2017).
- Caring, unrushed attention. This is so important. I NEVER felt special at the dealer mandated by my insurance coverage. In addition to not getting objective recommendations, I felt like an object moving down the assembly line. This is NOT how I feel with my current audiologist. She is sensitive. Patient. I never feel rushed. I feel special. That means a lot to me. Hearing loss is problematic enough without dealing with a cold machine-like audiologist or worst, used-car-salesman type of hearing instrument specialist at a hearing aid dealer.
Don’t wait too long to address your hearing loss
Studies reveal that people wait 8-10 years before getting needed hearing aids. There is that huge level of frustration for you and friends and family, to deal with. Additionally, the sooner you get hearing aids, the more quickly the brain will respond and interpret the sounds it has not heard, or maybe never heard, for years.
