- What is the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser/specialist?
- Why do you charge for services, when hearing aid dispensers/specialists offer free hearing tests?
- What if I need to see an Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT) Physician?
- Is your facility Handicap Accessible?
- How do I know if I should seek help with a hearing loss?
- Do you offer batteries?
What is the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid dispenser/specialist?
The primary difference is that a dispenser is a salesperson, while an audiologist is a medical hearing professional. Read more in the discussion here.
Why do you charge for services, when hearing aid dispensers/specialists offer free hearing tests?
Offices with hearing aid dispensers/specialists generally offer free hearing screenings. As salespeople, the purpose of the screening is to sell a hearing aid, rather than diagnose a medical problem. They must give the tests away for free because they are not allowed to bill for hearing testing- they are not qualified to provide medical or diagnostic services.
As a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), our audiologist is a medical professional that provides comprehensive diagnostic testing to ensure your hearing aid fitting is medically appropriate. Because we are not a sales office, we must bill for our time just as your eye doctor, dentist, and physicians do. Evaluations are covered by insurance in many cases, but may require an order from your primary physician.
What if I need to see an Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT) Physician?
The audiologist can help you determine whether you need follow-up testing or treatment for ear disorders by an ENT through your history and diagnostic evaluation. Reports and results can gladly be forwarded to your ear, nose, and throat doctor of choice.
Is your facility Handicap Accessible?
Yes, our facility is fully ADA-compliant.
How do I know if I should seek help with a hearing loss?
The most frequent sign indicating a possible hearing problem is difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments. Voices often sound muffled or mumbled. For many patients, family or friends are the first to notice the difficulty, with complaints that the television is louder than normal or that a conversation was missed.
If you or your loved ones have any concerns about your hearing, the audiologist can help you determine whether you are in need of treatment for your hearing loss.
We also have an online hearing test that can help you evaluate whether it is time for an evaluation. Take the test here.
Do you offer batteries?
Yes, we offer a full line of battery sizes at discounted prices. We also offer a battery club in which members are mailed batteries monthly. Ask us for details!