Frequently-Asked Questions
Q: What can I expect during my visits to Davenport Audiology and Hearing Aid Center?
A: You can expect four things:
- Audiology Evaluation: The extent of your hearing impairment will be determined, and medical referral will be made if necessary.
- Hearing Aid Evaluation: The requirements for amplification will be assessed, and the type of hearing aid will be selected based on your particular circumstances.
- Fitting: The three steps are orientation, so you can become comfortable with your new hearing aid; adjustments; and verification, to ensure the device is meeting your needs.
- Follow-up Visits: We offer confirmation checks, readjustments as necessary, hearing aid cleaning, and counselling.
Q: What technology underlies the hearing instruments you sell?
A: We offer amplification devices based on analog, digital, and digital-programmable technologies.
Q: What are the common signs of hearing loss?
A: Some common signs include:
- "having to strain to hear normal conversation
- having to watch other people's faces very carefully to follow what they're saying
- needing to ask people to repeat what they've said
- often misunderstanding what people are saying
- turning the volume of the television or radio up so high that others complain
- feeling that people are mumbling when they're talking to you
- having ear infections, dizziness, or a ringing in your ears
- finding that the effort to hear leaves you feeling tired and irritated
- noticing, when using the phone, that you hear better with one ear than the other"1
Q: Who does hearing loss affect?
A: Anyone may have a hearing impairment. Statistics show that one in eleven have some degree of hearing loss. For people over 65 years old, that ratio rises to one in three.2
Q: What can a hearing aid do for me?
A: "A hearing aid can:
- allow you to hear and understand speech better in most situations
- help you hear in certain situations that are difficult or dangerous for you
- help you hear the high-pitched sounds of speech, including the consonants
- increase your ability to participate more fully in group situations and meetings
- make life more pleasant for you and those around you, even if it only partially restores your hearing"1
Q: Are there situations in which a hearing aid may not help?
A: "A hearing aid may not:
- restore normal hearing or the ability to hear a complete range of sound
- allow you to hear speech clearly when there is a lot of background noise (for example, in a crowd or at a party)
- let you hear only what you want to hear (all sound is amplified, not just what you want)
- make distorted sound clear and distinct
- enable you to hear extremely soft sounds"1
Q: Are there different kinds of hearing aids available?
A: Yes, four types are used commonly:
- Behind-the-ear: a powerful and reliable style that works best in situations of mild to profound hearing loss
- In-the-ear: a model that fits in the outer ear which is used for cases of mild to severe hearing loss
- In-the-canal: a less visible model than either the behind-the-ear or in-the-ear types which is used for midle to moderately severe hearing loss
- Completely-in-canal: an almost invisible model which is placed in the ear canal to treat mild to moderately severe cases of hearing impairment
Q: How will I need to adapt to a hearing aid?
A: Hearing aids amplify some or all sound, allowing you to hear better. Those with hearing impairments may have grown used to not hearing background noise, such as that from an air conditioner or traffic. Therefore, the new hearing aid user must retrain his or her brain to listen selectively--deciding which sounds to listen to and ignoring the rest. The best way to accomplish this is by wearing your hearing aids as much as possible. Understand that adjustments may be needed to fine-tune your instrument, but cooperation from your friends and family can be just as important--encourage them to speak normally, so you can accustom yourself to active listening once again.
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