Hearing Care for Everyone

The usual hearing evaluation starts with a complete medical history followed by an otoscopic examination of the tympanic membrane, in which a small camera is placed inside the ear canal to get a picture of the eardrum to see for any occlusion or earwax. In cases with earwax, It will be lavaged or looped.

Once we can get a clear view of the eardrum, the actual hearing evaluation will be done in a sound booth.
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During the first part of the test, there will be some air that will be put a slight pressure on the eardrums to see how the eardrums are moving and to assess the health of the middle ear, followed by a few tones which test the auditory pathway across the auditory cortex, the hearing area in the brain.
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The next step would be the basic hearing test which involves you responding, by pushing a button or by raising your hand, to a series of beeps at different frequencies to assess the actual hearing thresholds.

Then an oscillator will be placed behind the ear on the mastoid bone to measure the hearing thresholds directly from the cochlea, the inner ear.

The last part is the most important part of the hearing evaluation to recommend an effective amplification plan is the functional speech testing which measures the actual speech recognition thresholds, speech discrimination capabilities in quiet and noise, and the speech to noise ratio is assessed.
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Further testing might need to be done if tinnitus is the primary concern. The audiologist will explain the complete evaluation and results.

It’s not a simple answer. It depends on the kind of tinnitus, duration, degree, and loudness. However, the simple answer is that hearing devices can help manage your tinnitus. Hearing devices bring the environmental sounds to the forefront and are capable of pushing the tinnitus to the background, and the tinnitus maskers built into hearing devices can be very helpful.

Hearing devices are not a cure for hearing loss nor a replacement for normal hearing. They are one tool to help you with your hearing. Hearing devices are a lot more advanced than they used to be, but they are as good as they are programmed.  An audiologist helps to achieve the best possible hearing with the hearing devices by following best practice protocols.

In most cases, the price of the hearing device actually includes the hearing device itself along with the programming, the fitting, the follow-up care, warranty on the hearing devices for repair and service. On average, most of our patients in our office spend around $4000-$5000. Depending on the options it can be cheaper or more expensive.

Unfortunately, I cannot give a blanket answer on this. There are a few insurance companies that have a partial hearing device benefit, although most of the health insurance is only covering for hearing health care services like hearing tests.
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We are in-network with most insurances and we will be able to call your insurance and check on your benefit prior to your appointment. We would also recommend you to call your insurance to make sure of the benefit if any.

An audiologist is a hearing healthcare specialist who also serves as a primary care provider for hearing and balance issues. They specialize in identifying, assessing, managing, and preserving hearing and balance in people of all ages. We are in-network with most insurances and we will be able to call your insurance and check on your benefit prior to your appointment. We would also recommend you to call your insurance to make sure of the benefit if any.

Audiologists hold a doctorate in audiology (Au.D) or a  master's degree in audiology from a nationally recognized university. This consists of six to eight years of postsecondary education followed by nine to twelve months of supervised internship, as well as passing a standardized national exam. After completing intensive practical training, they must maintain education credits by enrolling in approved courses in order to stay current with research and maintain their licensure. They are specially trained in hearing aid fitting protocols based on the type of hearing loss, lifestyle, and best practice protocols to achieve the best possible hearing.

The scope of practice for hearing aid dispensers is limited. Hearing tests are performed by dispensers, but only for the purpose of dispensing hearing aids. The requirements vary by state; for example, in North Carolina, one must have a high school diploma, work experience under a licensed audiologist, and pass a state exam.

An ENT is a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. They are trained to diagnose and treat medical issues such as traumas, tumors, infections, diseases, and abnormalities of the ear, nose, and throat. They can prescribe medication or do surgeries when needed if the problems are medical-related.