FAQ's (Contact Us)

Answer: 28 million Americans have a significant hearing loss. One of every four households in America has a member who is hearing impaired. Hearing loss is the third most common health related problem in America today. Half of those with hearing loss are under the age of 65.

Answer: Audiologists receive 6 years of formal training at an accredited university and graduate with a Masters degree in audiology. Some audiologists also have a doctorate degree in audiology. They specialize in hearing, and balance disorders. Audiologists are not physicians. Audiologists do not perform surgery, or prescribe medication. Many, though not all, dispense hearing instruments. Not all hearing aid dispensers are audiologists. In the State of Ohio, hearing aid dispensers do not require formal training.

Answer: Generally, if there is hearing loss in both ears, you should wear two hearing aids. Wearing two hearing aids provides a better sense of balance, sound quality, and the ability to detect the direction of sound. In addition, people report better understanding in group, and noisy situations with two hearing aids vs. one. Studies have shown that the unaided ear loses its ability to understand speech. It is also difficult to hear people on the side of the unaided ear.

Answer: Most people who complain of tinnitus (noises in the head) also report a significant history of noise exposure, such as a loud work environment, loud music exposure, shooting noises, or recreational noise exposure. Tinnitus from noise often has a delayed onset and therefore, may occur years after the exposure. Other causes of tinnitus include diabetes, high blood pressure, medications, ear wax, and deterioration of the inner ear. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Treatment for tinnitus involves products designed to help live with the tinnitus, as there is no cure. Spontaneous remission of symptoms is common. Tinnitus maskers generate a noise and are worn in the ear to mask out the noise. Hearing aids can also be effective in masking out the annoying ringing noises.

Answer:Audiologists are the only professionals who are university trained and licensed to identify, evaluate, diagnose, and treat audiologic disorders of hearing. Audiologists may practice in Private Audiology Offices, Hospitals, Medical Practices, Universities, Public Schools, Private and Public Agencies.

All individuals with suspected hearing loss require audiological evaluation to determine the type, degree, and cause of the hearing impairment. Insurance companies and managed care organizations are realizing that efficient cost-effective hearing health care requires that primary care physicians refer patients directly to audiologists to determine whether rehabilitation or medical/surgical treatment is indicated. Insurance companies recognize that only 20% of all individuals with hearing loss require medical or surgical treatment for their hearing loss. Rehabilitation treatment consists primarily of design, selection and fitting of hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices. These services are provided directly by audiologists.

Services provided by audiologists include:

• Comprehensive Audiological Evaluations including tests of hearing sensitivity, speech understanding, middle ear function, inner ear and auditory nerve function.
• Diagnostic Tests for Balance/Dizziness Disorders.
• Auditory Processing Evaluations for Children and Adults.
• Design, selection and fitting of hearing instruments and/or assistive listening devices.
• Design, selection, installation and monitoring of classroom amplification systems.
• Hearing conservation programs for industry.
• Rehabilitation therapy for hearing disorders which might include strategies to improve aided and unaided hearing, speech-reading (including lip-reading) and sign language.
• Rehabilitation for Auditory Processing Disorders.
• Rehabilitation for Vestibular (balance) Disorders.