When it’s time to purchase a car, most of us know exactly what to do. We carry out some research, compare options, and compose a list of questions to ask the dealership. We do this so that by the time we’re ready to stop by the dealership, we have an idea of what we’re looking for and we know which questions to ask.
When it’s time to choose hearing aids, however, many people don’t know where to get started. While the process is comparable to purchasing a car, it’s also in many ways more complex (and probably not quite as fun). It’s more complicated because every individual’s hearing loss is distinct and each pair of hearing aids requires custom programming. If purchasing a car was like this, it would be like you bringing it home and needing to install the transmission yourself.
Thankfully, you don’t need to know how to program your own hearing aids, but you do need to know the questions to ask to make sure that your hearing specialist covers all bases, correctly programming the most appropriate hearing aids for your requirements and lifestyle. In this manner, putting together a list of questions to go over with your hearing specialist is the single most important thing you can do before your hearing test.
But which questions should you ask? Here are 35 to get you started off, broken down by category:
HEARING LOSS
Different kinds of hearing loss require different kinds of treatment. The more you know about your own hearing loss, the better you’ll be able to compare hearing aid alternatives. You need to identify what form of hearing loss you have, if it will get worse, how soon you should treat it, and all of your treatment choices.
Questions to ask:
- What kind of hearing loss do I have?
- Do I have unilateral or bilateral hearing loss?
- Can I have a copy of my audiogram?
- Will my hearing loss worsen in the future if left untreated?
- Will hearing aids enhance my hearing?
- How much of my hearing will hearing aids regain?
- What are my other choices aside from hearing aids?
HEARING AID STYLES AND FEATURES
Hearing aids come in multiple styles, from many manufacturers, loaded with many features. You need a organized way to narrow down your choices to be sure that you get the best hearing aid without wasting money on features you don’t need or want.
Questions to ask:
- How many different types of hearing aid styles do you offer?
- Which hearing aid style is most effective for my requirements and lifestyle?
- Which digital features would be important to me, and which could I do without having?
- What are telecoils and directional microphones and do I need them?
- Do I need Bluetooth compatible hearing aids?
- Do my hearing aids need to be professionally programmed?
- Do I need one or two hearing aids, and why?
HEARING AID PRICES, FINANCING, WARRANTIES, AND TRIAL PERIODS
The total cost of a pair of hearing aids commonly includes the professional fees associated with custom fitting and programming, along with several other services or accessories. You want to ensure that you understand what you’re getting for the price, if financing is available, if insurance will help, what the warranty covers, the duration of the trial period, and if any “restocking fees” apply to the end of the trial period.
Questions to ask:
- What is the total price of the hearing aids, including professional services?
- Do you supply any financing plans?
- Will my insurance policy help pay for hearing aids?
- How much will my hearing aids cost me annually?
- Do the hearing aids have warranty coverage?
- How much do hearing aid repairs cost after the warranty has concluded?
- Are repairs handled at the office or someplace else?
- If my hearing aids have to be mailed out for repairs, are loaner hearing aids supplied?
- Is there a trial period and how long is it?
- Is there a restocking fee if I return my hearing aids during or after the trial period?
HEARING AID OPERATION, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE
Your hearing specialist should tell you how to care for, clean, and control your hearing aids. To ensure that nothing is forgotten, see to it that all of these questions are addressed:
Questions to ask:
- How do I operate my hearing aids?
- How do I use hearing aids with telephones and other devices?
- Can you show me how to use all of the buttons, features, and settings for my hearing aids?
- What are environmental presets, and how do I access them?
- Do I need a remote control, or can I use my smartphone to control the hearing aids?
- What batteries do I need, how long will they last, and how do I replace them?
- How should I clean and store my hearing aids?
- Do I need to come back for follow-up appointments?
- How long will my hearing aids keep working?
- Do I need to update the hearing aid software program?
- Do I become eligible for future hearing aid upgrades?
YOU’RE READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR HEARING TEST
Okay, so buying a pair of hearing aids might not be as enjoyable as buying a new car. But the quality of life you’ll obtain from better hearing might very well make you happier, as you’ll reconnect with people and take pleasure in the subtleties of sound once again. So go ahead and book that hearing test — your new pair of hearing aids are waiting for a test drive.