Frequently Asked Questions

A hearing instrument specialist (HIS) is a professional trained to conduct basic hearing tests in order to determine candidacy for hearing aids. They also fit hearing aids and assistive listening devices as well as provide counseling on those devices.

Services include hearing aid fitting, hearing tests and evaluation, hearing aid repair, hearing aid counseling and selection, and assistive listening devices.

Warning signs include hearing mumbling when people speak, frequently asking for repetition, needing help understanding meetings, playing TV or radio louder than others, missing environmental sounds, and avoiding noisy restaurants.

Hearing loss can be due to several factors such as the aging process, exposure to loud noise, medications, infections, head or ear trauma, congenital (birth) or genetic factors, diseases, as well as a number of other causes.

A hearing instrument specialist conducts a formal evaluation, reviews symptoms, and plots results on an audiogram showing hearing test results across various pitches and frequencies.

Hearing loss is measured in decibels (dB) and categorized as: Normal (0-25 dB), Mild (26-40 dB), Moderate (41-70 dB), Severe (71-90 dB), and Profound (greater than 91 dB).

There are three types: Sensorineural (inner ear or nerve damage, the most common type), Conductive (external or middle ear problems), and Mixed (a combination of both).

Signs include failed newborn screening, speech delays, frequent ear infections, not responding to loud sounds, difficulty following directions, and school hearing concerns.

Selection depends on your hearing loss type and degree, power needs, manual dexterity, budget, cosmetic preferences, anatomical factors, and lifestyle requirements. Options include in-the-ear and behind-the-ear styles. Our specialists will help you choose the right one.

ALDs are designed to increase the loudness of a desired sound, such as a radio, television, or a public speaker, without increasing the background noise. Examples include alarm clocks, TV systems, and phone amplifiers.