• If you have hearing problems, our clinical audiologists will start with a diagnostic hearing test to rule out medical causes. All of our audiologists are Doctors of Audiology.

• If our audiologist doesn’t find a medical reason for your hearing problem, the diagnostic test tells us how impaired your hearing is, how much a hearing aid can help and what might be the best hearing aid for you. It also establishes a baseline as we track your hearing over time. If there is a medical cause, we will refer you to a physician for treatment.

• The diagnostic test is covered by most insurances and Medicare. (Our insurance contracts prevent us from doing this test at no cost.) Patients are sometimes confused because they can get a “free” test somewhere else. Be aware that those tests are not diagnostic and are not done by a clinical audiologist.

• If someone who is not a Doctor of Audiology tells you, “We do all the tests an audiologist does,” that is untrue. Only audiologists are licensed to do diagnostic tests, and it’s important to know that physicians concerned about a patient’s hearing always ask for the diagnostic test.

After our diagnostic test, we do a hearing aid evaluation at no charge. We recommend treatment and demonstrate hearing devices we think will work best for you. Or we counsel you on a hearing condition that’s not quite at hearing aid level.

Screening test: Do you have a hearing problem?

• If you’re unsure whether you have a hearing problem, we will give you a hearing screening first. This is a basic test that yields one key piece of information: Do you have a hearing problem?

• We offer a complimentary consultation that includes a free screening and a discussion about hearing aids and our services. Please keep in mind that you should never purchase hearing aids based on a screening alone.

Call (207) 883-6466 or e-mail info@martylayneassociates.com.
We’re always happy to answer questions or welcome you to our practice.