What to Expect
Many people wonder how the process works when considering solutions for their hearing loss. We want you to be informed so you can know ahead of time what to expect and also so you can think of possible questions you might have. Here is what to expect:
1. Warm Welcome
Meet with our friendly receptionist and fill out a quick form with your general information. Then, you will meet our audiologist or one of our hearing instrument specialists in one of our private and comfortable testing rooms. Our first responsibility is to listen to your story about what has brought you to the point of seeing us.
2. Ear Examination
The first step in your evaluation is a simple and painless video otoscopic inspection. This procedure allows you and your specialist to look in your ear canal together on a large video screen. The specialist will check for excessive earwax, blockages, or any medical issues with your ear canal or eardrum. Your struggles to hear may simply be a build-up of wax, which we may be able to remove for you right in the office.
3. Hearing Assessment
Headphones will be placed over your ears, and sounds will be played into each ear one at a time across different frequency ranges. You will be asked to press a button on the remote in your hand each time you hear the tone. Your results will then be plotted on an audiogram, which is a graph indicating your hearing threshold (what sound levels you can and cannot hear in each ear). This allows our hearing expert to determine the type and degree of hearing loss you may be experiencing. Your results are documented, then you will be shown a chart that illustrates your condition.
4. Personalized Consultation
We will clearly explain your audiogram results and your hearing loss type. Then, we will guide you through your options to resolve your hearing struggles. It is our practice to advise you about options to improve your hearing health with and without the aid of amplification. We will take whatever time is necessary for you to fully understand your hearing loss and your specific options. In most cases, we will explain hearing aid technology and even allow you to hear what life could sound like with your own hearing aids.
5. Hands-on Demonstration
There are various hearing aid sizes and models, and we’ll help you choose the one that suits your needs best. We’ll program a demo hearing aid for you to try out the latest in hearing technology so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you. This initial visit typically takes about an hour, and we encourage you to bring someone with you, someone whose voice you’re familiar with, to help you evaluate the clarity of the hearing aid.
6. Your Decision
Once you’re comfortable with the information and solutions we’ve presented, the decision is entirely yours on how to proceed. We accept most insurance plans and can assist with claims. If you’re a current or retired Federal employee with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS-FEHB) insurance, your plan may cover up to $2,500 every three years. We’re your authorized BCBS-FEHB hearing professionals and we’ll take care of your claim.
If financing is needed, we offer Care Credit and Wells Fargo Health Advantage for qualifying patients.
7. Ordering and Fitting
Since most hearing aids are custom-fitted to your ear canal, the next step involves making molds of your ears. This process is painless and quick. We send your earmold to our manufacturer, who crafts a device custom-fit to your ear. We will schedule you to return later for your fitting.
8. Receiving Your Hearing Aids
Your hearing instrument specialist will fit you with your new hearing aids. During this appointment, they’ll also program and adjust your new hearing aids to ensure they feel as natural as possible. You’ll receive clear and easy-to-follow instructions on how to maintain the quality of your new hearing aids.
9. Follow-Up Care
Our standard practice is to see you back in 1 and 3 weeks, followed by a visit three months from your fitting. Afterward, we’ll schedule regular check-ups every 3-6 months to ensure your hearing instruments are working properly.
We’re genuinely excited to see you and make a positive difference in your life through improved hearing! If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to us.
We look forward to seeing you and making a difference in your life!