3 FAQs for Your Audiologist

If you’ve scheduled an appointment or a fitting with an audiologist in the near future, then you’re probably wondering what type of questions you should be asking them. Whether it’s questions about your hearing or how to take care of your hearing aids, we’ve prepared a couple of useful questions that you should definitely consider asking your audiologist.

1. What type of hearing aid do you recommend?

If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, then it’s important to start thinking about the hearing aids that you’ll be wearing (unless you are strongly against using them). A trained audiologist will be able to recommend you a variety of different hearing aids depending on your lifestyle choices and your preferences.

For example, there are some hearing aids that are much better for people who want to be discreet about wearing then. These hearing aids are virtually invisible from several meters away and can still greatly help your hearing situation. There are also hearing aids they are bulkier but offer better battery life and are more sturdy which is great for people that think they won’t be able to take good care of their hearing aids.

2. What are the costs I should expect to pay for hearing aids?

Not only is the cost of the hearing aid itself a concern, but maintenance costs should also be considered. From replacing the batteries to buying equipment or tools to maintain your hearing aids, it’s not cheap to own a pair and there’s a good chance you’ll end up purchasing a second pair to use for emergencies. Hearing aids also don’t last forever, so you’ll likely have to replace them in the future or at least swap out the battery for a new one.

Make sure you set a budget and speak with your audiologist regarding your limitations. They should be able to recommend you a hearing aid that is within your specifications but also your budget. It’s important that you ask these questions because the last thing you want to do is end up taking out a loan just to pay for your hearing.

3. How do I take care of my hearing aids?

Even if you have insurance, it’s best to learn how to take better care of your hearing aids. By maintaining them, cleaning them and giving them a nice hard case to store them in, you’re effectively extending their lifetime and they will be less prone to breaking.

Hearing aids are long-term investments, so make sure they’re both comfortable and convenient enough to use on a regular basis. Some people find that larger hearing aids are easier to clean which is why many audiologists recommend bigger models. However, if you’re certain about purchasing a smaller or discrete model, then keep in mind that they do take a bit more work to maintain due to their smaller size. They have more fragile parts and can easily be lost compared to their larger counterparts.