Marty Layne Associates Scarborough, ME - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I have a full audiological evaluation?
What happens at a hearing test?
How long does a hearing test last?
Could my hearing loss be caused by wax build up?
Why do I need to bring someone to my hearing test?
Do you offer free hearing tests?
How do I choose a hearing aid?
How many hearing aid brands do you carry?
Can I buy just one hearing aid?
Will a hearing aid let me hear well in all situations?
Can I wear a nearly invisible hearing aid?
What will my adjustment to hearing aids be like?
How will I care for a hearing aid?
Do I need to wear hearing aids if I’m home alone?
Do all hearing aids take batteries?
How much do hearing aids cost?
What if I can’t afford a hearing aid?
Why are some hearing aids advertised at fifty percent off?
Why shouldn’t I buy a hearing aid for a few hundred dollars?

Why should I have a full audiological evaluation?

A full audiologic evaluation will tell us the degree of your hearing loss, the type of your hearing loss, and how clear your remaining hearing allows speech to be. This information helps us determine appropriate follow up for you. There are hearing losses that can be treated medically and hearing losses for which surgery is recommended. It is important that we rule out these options for you prior to considering any amplification. A basic test done for the purpose of selling hearing aids will not give us this information. This information must be provided by a licensed audiologist, often a doctor of Audiology.

What happens at a hearing test?

At your hearing test we will talk about the issues you are having with your hearing. We will also review a history of your hearing which includes any noisy jobs you may have had and any family history of hearing loss. You will then be put through a series of hearing tests which will give us a full picture of how you are hearing and what recommendations might be made. After this test you will be counseled as to the results and as to the way this loss is affecting your life. Recommendations for remediation will be done and you will enter into a discussion with the audiologist as to what strategy might be most acceptable for you.

How long does a hearing test last?

The hearing test itself will last between thirty and forty minutes. Discussion of test results and discussion of remediation will last another thirty minutes. Should you purchase hearing instruments, an appointment for the fitting of hearing instruments will last for an hour. You may have one to two further half-hour appointments for adjustments.

Could my hearing loss be caused by wax build up?

Excessive wax accumulation can cause a drop in hearing. In most cases, however, a hearing impairment is not due to excessive wax buildup alone.

Why do I need to bring someone to my hearing test?

We believe that hearing loss is a family issue. The information we will give you about your hearing test and about our recommendations for remediation will be detailed. It helps to have someone along to understand this as well and to understand their role in helping you adjust to hearing instruments. We also use that person’s voice as a test for how well your hearing instruments sound.

Do you offer free hearing tests?

We offer free hearing screening, a test which will tell us whether there may be a hearing issue. We cannot offer a full diagnostic test at no charge because this violates both insurance and Medicare laws. Speak to us about obtaining a no-charge hearing screening and consultation

How do I choose a hearing aid?

You will work closely with your audiologist to understand your hearing problem. Your audiologist will discuss with you your amplification needs, learn of your lifestyle and your financial considerations and suggest a hearing aid which will perform best for you given these parameters. It is not advisable to choose a hearing aid because your friend or relative does well with these hearing aids. Each hearing loss is individual and your suggested solution should be individualized as well.

How many hearing aid brands do you carry?

As independent audiologists we have access to many different brands of hearing aids. We choose to carry four main brands. We have chosen these brands because of their technologic advancement, their reputation as a company, and their willingness to work with both us and our patients.

Can I buy just one hearing aid?

This answer will depend on the results of your audiologic evaluation. Generally speaking, you will perform much better (especially in noise) with two instruments. Using one hearing aid alone will increase volume but will be detrimental when trying to hear in noise or when trying to determine where the sound is coming from. Think about wearing one hearing aid as the equivalent of buying a fine stereo system and then only getting one speaker. Sometimes financial considerations cause patients to purchase just one instrument. When this is the case, it is recommended that a second instrument be added as soon as possible.

Will a hearing aid let me hear well in all situations?

No one hears well in all situations. If background noise is louder than the voice you are trying to hear, the voice will be inaudible even to someone with normal hearing! Once our hearing system is damaged, there is no way to return it to totally normal hearing. A hearing aid should improve most of the situations you encounter. The better technology you choose the more true this will be.

Can I wear a nearly invisible hearing aid?

While cosmetics is always a consideration, often the degree of hearing loss prohibits us from fitting an extremely small instrument. Powerful instruments need larger speakers and microphones. In addition, use of small hearing instruments costs more in the long run due to shorter battery life and more frequent repairs. Newer technologies are even more discreet than the very tiny aids. Talk to us!

What will my adjustment to hearing aids be like?

Adjustment to hearing aids will depend on your amount of hearing impairment and the clarity remaining in the hearing system. Your audiologists will counsel you on both these issues and give you realistic expectations. It is helpful if you bring to the appointment specific incidences where you are not hearing well and wish to hear better.

How will I care for a hearing aid?

Your hearing instrument fitting will include how to take care of your hearing aids. Hearing aids can be damaged by water, so it is not advisable to wear them swimming, in the shower, or in a high-humidity environment such as a paper mill. Wax and debris that may clog the sound tube of the hearing aid or the microphone needs to be removed periodically. Your audiologist will help educate you on this process, and we will provide a thorough cleaning of your hearing aids every few months as part of our service to you.

Do I need to wear hearing aids if I’m home alone?

Many people feel that they only need to wear hearing aids when they will be talking to other people or participating in group activities. This is not true. Our brain adjusts to better hearing gradually and as it does so it becomes better and better at recognizing sound quickly and clearly. This can only happen if the hearing aid is worn from morning until night. More on brain rehabilitation will be covered at your hearing aid fit. You do not wear hearing aids when you are sleeping.

Do all hearing aids take batteries?

Yes. All hearing aids, including digital hearing aids, require a battery to power them. Batteries, depending on size, last anywhere from five days to fourteen days. They are not like watch batteries which only have to move a second hand - they are powering an active instrument all the time. Marty Layne Audiology has a policy of selling highly discounted batteries to our hearing aid users. We are beginning to see rechargeable hearing aids appear in the marketplace.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Hearing aids are prescription devices that are set specifically to the patient’s hearing loss. You may see price ranges from less than $100 up to $10,000. An inexpensive device will likely not help you prescriptively. Our hearing aids range between $1,500 and $3,700 per hearing aid.

What if I can’t afford a hearing aid?

Not being able to afford a hearing aid should not stop you from obtaining a full audiologic evaluation (usually covered by Medicare or insurance). Your audiologist will discuss hearing aid prices with you and your options in purchasing one or two. The audiologist will further discuss financing options with you. There are many financing options available at excellent interest rates and payback arrangements. Even if you choose not to purchase hearing aids at this time a hearing evaluation is invaluable so the progression of your hearing impairment can be tracked.

Why are some hearing aids advertised at fifty percent off?

Some companies use “big sales” or giveaways to patients to encourage the purchase of hearing aids. When a hearing aid is advertised for fifty percent off, one must wonder why the hearing aids are so highly priced at any other time! Sadly, some companies boost their prices before offering sales. Be wary of someone just interested in selling you a hearing aid. You should have a complete hearing evaluation and full counseling prior to purchasing anything. Remember, at Marty Layne Associates, our hearing aids are fairly priced all the time!

Why shouldn’t I buy a hearing aid for a few hundred dollars?

Digital hearing instruments are a lot like computers. The more technologically advanced they are the better they will perform in every situation. Low cost hearing instruments are very basic and their performance falls markedly when used in any situation other than quiet. Our lives, even if we live alone, are seldom quiet.

You may find that the pleasure of a “sale” price is quickly replaced by the heartbreak of a very poor quality instrument.