Images courtesy of Elliott Berger, Senior Scientist, Aearo Technologies.

Here are some of the most common questions we answer about hearing aids. You may click the questions to jump to the answer.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Wouldn't I know if I have some degree of hearing impairment?

How can an audiologist help me care for my hearing?

Is a hearing aid or amplification device for me?

One Hearing Aid vs. Two?

Wouldn’t I know if I have some degree of hearing impairment?

• Surprisingly, you might not. Some forms of hearing loss are very mild and may only involve difficulty in hearing certain sounds or hearing in certain situations. Furthermore, some kinds of hearing loss may occur so gradually that they progress unnoticed.

Still not sure? Take the 5-Minute Written Hearing Test! Click here.

How can an audiologist help me care for my hearing?

• Your audiologist is a professionally trained hearing expert with a Master’s or Doctoral degree. Audiologists specialize in evaluating hearing ability and can help you make sure that your hearing health care needs are most appropriately addressed. If you have any hearing loss, your audiologist can assess its extent, identify its source, and direct any needed non-medical rehabilitation for hearing impairment. Audiologists do not treat medical diseases of the ear, but will refer you to a physician if necessary. Clinical audiologists are not trained merely to fit hearing aids, but to give complete and accurate information. At Bloomington-Normal Audiology we pride ourselves in providing quality services and counseling!

Is a hearing aid or amplification device for me?

• Hearing is a precious gift that many of us do not appreciate until we have a problem. In the event it is recommended that a hearing aid or other amplification device may be of benefit to you, here are some facts that you should keep in mind…
  • Your hearing aid will be specifically selected to best meet your hearing needs.
  • A 30-day acclimation period will be provided.
  • Follow-up hearing aid checks will occur at no additional charge, including minor adjustments for aids purchased at our office.
  • If one particular aid is not satisfactory, we will work with you until your maximum satisfaction is reached.

One Hearing Aid vs. Two?

• Two ears are better than one, and that is what nature intended. Hearing with both ears allows the brain to process sound naturally to get a sense of balance and direction. Amplifying sound in one ear when there is a loss in both only allows half of the correct signal to reach the brain. Wearing two instruments allows us to hear as nature intended.

Research has shown these benefits of binaural amplification:

• Increased Speech Understanding: Binaural (hearing with both ears) delivers sound from both ears, which allows for proper processing. Studies have actually revealed that wearing just one hearing aid can make it more difficult to understand speech in noise.
• Enhanced Sound Quality: Wearing two instruments allows overall volume levels to be set at a lower level reducing the chances of distortion. Sounds will be more comfortable and natural.
• Improved Localization: Receiving stimulus from both sides allows the brain to determine where a sound originates from. This is not only helpful in group settings but may also be a safety issue, e.g. determining the location of an alarm or traffic.

If you are ready to try hearing aids, the first step is a hearing aid evaluation. This will supplement the hearing evaluation by providing further information regarding comfort levels and speech understanding in quiet and noisy environments. Communication needs and goals will be established at the initial appointment and be evaluated for success throughout the acclimation period. Often we encourage family members and/or spouses to attend these appointments to provide a more complete picture for goals and measuring success.