FAQs
What is an audiologist? An audiologist is a professional with a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited university with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment and non-medical treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists are the most qualified individuals to perform hearing tests, refer patients for medical treatment and provide hearing rehabilitation services.
How do I know if I need a hearing aid? Early signs of hearing loss include having difficulty in background noise, asking people to repeat and turning the TV or radio up louder than before. A hearing test is the first step to determine if you have hearing loss and if it can be medically treated. The audiologist will discuss your particular listening situations and difficulties, personal preferences in hearing aid styles, and budget to determine the best hearing aids for you.
Do I need 2 hearing aids? Typically if there is hearing loss in both ears, people do best with two hearing aids. Binaural amplification generally improves hearing in noise and localization. But since everyone's hearing and situation is different you can discuss this with the audiologist to determine what is best for you.
What determines what style of hearing aid I should wear? There are four primary styles of hearing aids: Behind-the-ear (BTE), In-the-ear (ITE) In-the-canal (ITC) and Completely-in-the-canal (CIC). Your hearing loss is the most important factor in what style you need but other factors include: the shape of your ear, dexterity, listening situations and personal preferences.
Does insurance cover hearing aids? Some insurances will cover the hearing test, some cover a portion of the hearing aids and some do not cover anything at all. It is always a good idea to call your insurance company to see what your benefits are. Medicare does not cover anything toward hearing aids. Medicare will cover a diagnostic hearing test but not routine testing or for purposes of getting hearing aids.
What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is the term for "ringing in the ears" or any kind of perception of sound in the head or ears. Over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. According to the American Tinnitus Association about 12 million people have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention. And about 2 million patients are so seriously debilitated that they cannot function on a "normal" day-to-day basis.
Can tinnitus be cured? Tinnitus really can't be cured but it can be managed. The first step is to have a hearing test by an audiologist. Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss although not always. The audiologist will be able to counsel regarding management strategies or if a medical referral is recommended.
Where can I find more information on tinnitus? Dr. Pastell is now offering tinnitus assessment and management including tinnitus retraining therapy. Call Prairieland Audiology for more information or to set up an appointment.