Common Questions

Hearing aids are expensive, no question. However, it is important to understand that treating hearing loss involves more of a step-by-step rehabilitative approach with your active participation in the process. From the initial hearing evaluation, hearing aid fitting, counseling, and follow-up appointments, the expertise of an audiologist ensures your journey to better hearing has professional doctoral-level care.

Hearing loss limits our ability to hear soft sounds, which enable us to distinguish between words. In the presence of background noise, this can become even more challenging for someone living with hearing loss. Our brains struggle to understand speech in background noise because our ears cannot send sound to the brain as effectively as they used to. In addition, the brain needs to focus more intently to try and identify soft sounds. This means less attention is given to other sounds like conversations in a group or crowd setting. All of these factors combine to make it difficult to understand what people are saying.

Audiologist: An audiologist trains at a doctoral level to diagnose, treat, and monitor disorders of the hearing and balance system. This training includes clinical externships at different sites (hospitals, private practice, schools) for each semester throughout the four-year university program. Audiologists receive significant training in anatomy and physiology, pathologies of the auditory and balance system, geriatrics, pediatrics, acoustics, practice management, clinical skill development, amplification devices, cochlear implants, electrophysiology, and auditory rehabilitation. 

Doctors of Audiology complete, at a minimum, undergraduate coursework and a doctoral-level degree in audiology, as well as a year-long supervised externship prior to state licensure and national certification. Continuing education requirements are necessary for an audiologist to maintain state licensure. Many audiologists have a CCC-A (certificate of clinical competency from the American Speech Language Hearing Association) and/or F-AAA (fellow with the American Academy of Audiology) as well as ABA (American Board of Audiology – audiologists who exhibit a commitment to professional audiology standards, ethical practices, and professional development). For individuals with hearing loss, auditory issues, or balance problems, a doctor of audiology is the most qualified professional to assist with diagnosis and treatment.

Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS): Hearing instrument specialists have a license to perform hearing tests and to fit, repair, and sell hearing aids. In the state of Wisconsin, the requirements for a HIS includes a high school diploma, certification of having completed training with hearing aids, and passing a state exam. Hearing instrument specialists are not able to diagnose hearing loss.

Yes, we clean and repair most hearing aid brands/styles. We have the equipment and parts for programming and will help you if your hearing aids require repair from a manufacturer.

1. I don't have a problem hearing. Everyone else is mumbling!
2. I'm fine with just getting by with the way I can hear now. 
3. I've heard so many friends say they've had bad experiences with their hearing aids.
4. Why should I take care of my hearing, there isn't really anything important to listen to anyway.
5. My (spouse, family member, friend, etc) thinks I have a hearing loss but I can hear just fine. 
6. Hearing aids are too expensive but I'm about to purchase a new car for $50k.
7. I wish I could hear better but I only use my hearing aids once in a while.
8. Hearing aids are for old people.
9. Buying hearing aids online, from TV, or by mail saves me time and money.
10. Personal amplifiers and hearing aids are the same thing.