Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing Loss

I think I may need hearing aids-what should I do?
The first step should be a comprehensive evaluation performed by a licensed Audiologist. The "free tests" frequently offered at health fairs, small clinics, etc. are only screenings. They are not very accurate, are commonly done by less qualified individuals, and are not extensive enough to fully assess your hearing status and reasons for hearing loss. 

Could my hearing loss only be due to wax build-up?
It is possible. Your audiologist will look deep in the ear canal using the appropriate instruments and assess the need for wax removal.

I very suddenly lost my hearing. What should I do?
Pick up the phone and call us, or your primary doctor, RIGHT AWAY!!! Sudden hearing loss needs to be medically evaluated and treated right away.

I've been told that I have nerve deafness? Can hearing aids help that?
Absolutely. Over 95% of our patients have nerve-type (sensori-neural) hearing loss; we utilize appropriate hearing aid technology to yield remarkable improvements! Since each hearing loss is unique, your Audiologist will discuss your expectations after the hearing evaluation is completed.

Insurance, Billing

Will insurance cover the cost of my hearing aids?
It may. We participate in most health care plans. Have your insurance card and contact our office. Our insurance specialist will be happy to assist you and explain your benefits. Frequently, insurance plans cover a portion of the total cost of your hearing aids.

We are providers for the majority of all insurance plans including: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, UPMC, Health America / Advantra, and more. 

Does insurance cover the cost of hearing aid repairs?
Repairs are covered by manufacturer's warranties but not by your medical coverage.  Please  contact our office  and our staff will be able to provide specific information on your coverage. 

Cost of Hearing Aids

What is the cost of a hearing examination?
A comprehensive hearing evaluation is, commonly, covered by your insurance (in case of insurance payments: fees are regulated by each insurance plan; please contact our office for details on your coverage). 
This specialized testing is performed by the Audiologist and covers: 
  1) otoscopic (visual) assessment of the external ear, deep ear canal, and ear drum
  2) evaluating hearing sensitivity with tones through earphones
  3) evaluating hearing nerve function with tones via bone conduction
  4) determining word understanding performance for speech in quiet and noisy conditions.  

How much do hearing aids cost?
Hearing aids range from approximately $500 to $2500 per aid. As a large independent private practice, we are proud to offer a Best Value Guarantee and the most competitive prices in the area! The cost does depend upon the size and style of the hearing aid but mostly varies based on the type of technology. Better quality digital hearing aids start at $1,000. Features such as background noise reduction, directional microphones, feedback suppression, etc. increase the cost of the device. 
It is important to note that not all patients require all the 'bells & whistles' on a hearing aid. Your audiologist will explain what is meaningful for your hearing loss and can give you the opportunity to listen to hearing aids even during your initial evaluation.
 

Do you offer a trial period? I'm afraid hearing aids may not work for me.
We not only offer extended Risk-Free Trial Periods, but we also offer our patients a Clear Speech Guarantee. Our goal is your improved hearing ability and complete satisfaction. Our trial periods allow you time to adjust to the newly discovered sounds, also giving you the opportunity of trying your new hearing aids in a variety of situations to fully evaluate them.
Our Doctors of Audiology not only prescribe high-quality products, but are also committed to providing outstanding service and support for as long as you have your hearing aids.

Hearing Aids

Do hearing aids use batteries?
Yes, all hearing aids need batteries to work. Some use rechargeable batteries and the hearing aids need to be placed in a box that charges them overnight. Most hearing aids use small 'button-type' batteries that need to be replaced every 1-3 weeks (depending on size, power, etc.). We are pleased to offer our patients the highest quality hearing aid batteries at no charge for the life of their hearing aids!!! Please note that select insurance plans that cover the cost of hearing aids prohibit us from providing batteries at no charge.

What are "digital" hearing aids?
Digital means that a computer chip performs arithmetic calculations to change the sound before it's amplified. Unfortunately, the word 'digital' is often meaningless: many 'digital' hearing aids can have poor sound quality. Many 'digitals' are not even computer adjustable! Good digital hearing aids utilize high-fidelity components and offer features that can reduce background noise, automatically adjust volume for different sounds, and, ultimately, help the patient get a high level of hearing performance in speech understanding.

Do you have 'invisible',  'completely-in-the-ear-canal' hearing aids?
We dispense all types of hearing aids, including Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC). Everyone's hearing is unique and, consequently, what may be an appropriate hearing aid choice for one person is completely inappropriate for another. Hearing aids should be chosen for how they will perform, not just how they look. Most patients have many choices, including CICs, and the Audiologist will explain how they relate to your hearing loss and which will give you the best results.

What hearing aid makes/brands do you have?
As an independent practice, Pittsburgh Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, Inc. is not exclusive to one brand of hearing aids. Unlike large franchised chains that carry only one brand, we are proud to be able to offer our patients a selection of over 20 of the best manufacturers. This ensures that the best technology, style, and features can be found at the lowest cost. 
Some of the manufacturers whose hearing aids we dispense include: Phonak, GN ReSound, Starkey, Omni, Sonic Innovations, Oticon, Siemens, Rexton, AVR Sonovations, Unitron, Bernafon, and many others not listed. We only select quality products at all price levels.

Do you make hearing aids at your offices?
No. We strongly believe that patients are best served by quality products manufactured by major hearing aid companies. Even though it would be easy to assemble hearing aid parts in our lab (at a cost savings of $100 to $400), the resulting quality of the hearing aid and shell is compromised.  Hearing aid manufacturers spend tens of millions of dollars in constructing and maintaining state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities; we simply can not match that!
For patients who need to get hearing aids ASAP, we do offer a 72hour Rush Service.

Do you adjust the hearings aids for my hearing loss?
Yes. All hearing aids we dispense are fully digital and are adjusted to your exact hearing thresholds. Furthermore, since ear canal acoustics change hearing aid performance, we confirm and fine-tune all of our fittings with the most advanced methods utilizing calibration based on tones and live speech (measured with a tiny microphone placed in the ear together with the hearing aid). Even the best hearing aids will not give you clear speech when not appropriately adjusted.

I've spent thousands of dollars but my hearing aids still don't work for me. Why should I expect anything different from your practice?
Good quality hearing aids are often limited by poor or inadequate programming and adjustments. The knowledge, experience, and care that goes into our hearing aid fittings is matched by state-of-the-art adjustment capabilities with Live Speech Mapping and Real Ear Measures. We believe, however, that the real difference comes from our highly skilled, licensed & board certified Doctors of Audiology. Our Doctors of Audiology will work with you from your initial hearing evaluation to the hearing aid fitting and all subsequent follow-ups to ensure the best hearing performance. We are so confident in our equipment and professional staff that we offer extended Risk-Free Trials and a Clear Speech Guarantee.

Hearing Testing & Hearing Aid Services

Do you repair hearing aids?
Pittsburgh Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, Inc. provides Hearing Aid Service & Repairs for All Makes & Models (Analog, Programmable, and Digital) including: Argosy, Beltone, Bernafon, Danavox, Electone, Fidelity, GN-ReSound, Magnatone, Marcon, Miracle Ear, Nu-Ear, Omni, Oticon, Phonak, Rexton, Siemens, Sonar, Sonic Innovations, Sonotone, Starkey, Telex, Unitron, Widex, Zenith, 3M, and others not listed. 
Minor repairs can be completed in our offices; major repairs are sent to the hearing aid manufacturers. Loaner hearing aids can be provided to the patients for the interim.
Please contact our office with questions on your hearing aid repair.

Do you offer hearing testing "over the telephone" or "on the web"?
Absolutely not! Having evaluated the accuracy of those screening hearing tests we have found that results can be very misleading and can often obscure conditions that require medical attention. Any concerns of hearing difficulties can be fully addressed with a comprehensive hearing evaluation by a licensed Audiologist. 
We do offer hearing screenings (at no-charge) in observation of Better Hearing Month and, frequently, as part of community health initiatives and 'better hearing health' promotions. Please contact our office for more details.

What are the credentials of your staff? What is the difference between Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers?
Our staff have earned the highest credentials available: Doctors of Audiology. They have first earned Bachelors of Science Degrees, then continued to Masters of Science Degrees, completed a residency/fellowship, and, finally, earned Doctorates in Audiology.  
Hearing aid dispensers are technicians who have completed an apprenticeship; many of them pass a state examination and earn the designation BC-HIS. They are not required to have any other education more than a High-School Diploma (or GED) and are very limited in the scope of services they can provide.
To ensure the highest level of care, all of our testing and follow-up care is provided only by Doctors of Audiology, not hearing aid dispensers. 

Hearing Evaluation Process

I would like to find out more details before my visit. What happens during the hearing evaluation visit?

First of all, you need to understand what the audiologist will be looking for. The Audiologist will most likely test your hearing in a number of different ways, to determine where the hearing problem is located. At the end of your hearing test, the audiologist will take time to explain the tests they performed, interpret the results, and provide suggestions for correcting the problem.

Your History 
Before proceeding, your Audiologist will ask you questions about your medical history. They will want to know about noise that you have been exposed to at or outside of work, any medical problems with ears, past illnesses and any other medical history that may have had an impact on your hearing. Bringing a list of medications you are taking is very helpful.

Otoscopic Examination
At the beginning of your hearing exam, the audiologist will look into your ears with a lighted  instrument (otoscope) that allows a magnified view of the ear canal and ear drum. The ear canal, external ear, and ear drum will be inspected for signs of wax and/or any signs of conditions requiring medical attention.

Sound Booth
The next step is for the Audiologist to place you in a quiet sound room. This sound-proofed environment will ensure that outside noises will not interfere with the very sensitive hearing assessment.

Tone Testing 
Next, your audiologist will conduct pure tone tests. They will place, either a set of headphones over your ears or insert a small set of earplugs into your ears. The headphones or inserted plugs will deliver a series tones into your ears. A device called an audiometer electronically generates these "pure tones" (beeps) which vary in tone and volume. This test helps the audiologist to determine the level at which a patient hears different pitches (or frequencies). Each ear is tested individually. You will indicate when you hear a tone by raising your hand or pushing a button.

Next, the audiologist will put a small device (bone conductor) behind your ear and with this device, they will test many tones again. The bone conductor transmits sound, through bone vibration, to the cochlea of the inner ear, bypassing the middle and outer ear. It allows the Audiologist to determine the type of hearing loss in the patient.

Speech Testing
The next step is Speech Testing. Like during the tone test, you will remain seated in the sound booth. You will then hear a series of words that you will be instructed to repeat. Some of the words will be two syllables and will become softer. A second set of one syllable words will be produced. The volume of these will stay the same. This test allows the audiologist to determine the level at which the patient can detect and understand speech (not merely that speech is present). Your Audiologist may also perform Speech In Noise Testing where you have to repeat words that are spoken in the presence of background noise. Speech testing materials are presented both in Live Voice (your Audiologist reads the words) and in Recorded form (from Standardized Compact Disc Recordings).

Test of the Middle ear
The audiologist may also check the middle ear with Impedance Tests (Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflexes). A probe is placed in your ear and air pressure is increased and then decreased while a tone is presented. A graph will be generated with the results of the test.

Audiogram
The results of these hearing tests are recorded in a chart called an audiogram. An audiogram is a graph with O’s and X’s connected with lines. The O’s represent the right ear and the X’s the left. Marks near the top of the graph are an indication of better hearing while marks further down the graph show worse hearing. Horizontally on the audiogram are frequency numbers ranging from 125 Hz, a very low tone on the Left, to 8000 Hz, a very high tone on the right.

On the left side of the graph a series of decibel (dB) numbers indicate loudness. Very soft sounds are at the top (-10 or 0 dB) and loud sounds (110 db) are located at the bottom. Zero dB does not mean that there is no sound! This level is merely the softest sound a person with normal hearing ability can hear. A normal conversation usually occurs at about 40-45 dB on the decibel scale.

Looking at your audiogram you can tell which ear you hear better in, as well as how mild or severe your hearing loss is. You can also determine the frequencies at which you hear best and worst. The word tests indicate test reliability and/or where in the hearing system you may have problems. It is important to remember that the decibel numbers on the graph show only one part of your hearing ability. Simplifying to a "percent hearing loss" is very inaccurate and not a good way of understanding the problem. 

Your audiologist will help you and take time to explain your test results, how they relate to your hearing ability, and what needs to be done to correct the problem. In some cases, a consultation with an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, & Throat Surgeon) may be recommended. If the hearing aids need to be prescribed, your Audiologist will explain all available options and make sure that the one selected will meet your hearing needs, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Since most hearing aids are custom devices (both the Behind-The-Ear and In-The-Ear), an ear-mold impression (cast of your ear) will be taken. This is a simple and painless procedure where a hypoallergenic silicone fills the ear canal to form a cast of the ear (in about 5 minutes). A shell or mold is made from that cast and, in approximately two weeks, we can fit you with your new hearing aids.

If you'd like to discuss your hearing loss with one of our Doctors of Audiology please feel free to contact us. Our goal is your better hearing and complete satisfaction!