Frequently Asked Questions

There are many reasons why we lose our hearing, the two most common causes of hearing loss being age and exposure to loud noise. Age — unfortunately this is a common symptom of getting older, but rest assured this is perfectly normal and very common. Exposure to loud noise — long periods of loud noise exposure can damage your hearing, even listening to an MP3 player at a loud volume can damage your hearing. This is why it is so important to protect your hearing wherever possible.

In most circumstances, it is very difficult to offer solutions, without fully understanding the cause. Therefore, we recommend a full hearing assessment* is completed, to test the extent of the problem and advise suitable solutions that will offer the greatest help to the individual. Sensorineural hearing loss generally does not have a cure, but conductive hearing loss may be reversed. 

Sensorineural loss — the most common type of hearing loss, occurs when “hair cells” in the inner ear are damaged. Nerves are unable to transfer the sound vibrations to the brain, resulting in hearing loss. Aging, noise exposure, disease, birth defects and nerve damage are all associated with this form of hearing loss. Sensorineural loss can be improved by using hearing aids. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a common symptom of getting older, but please rest assured this is perfectly normal. If you are concerned about the condition of your hearing and would like this examined, please book a complimentary, no obligation hearing assessment* at your nearest HearingLife branch.

Hearing loss can happen at any age. We are sorry to learn of your hearing problems. We would strongly recommend that you arrange to have your hearing assessed so that your hearing difficulties can be fully investigated. Our professionals can then discuss further options with you.

To take out the guesswork, you need to have a hearing assessment* from a trustworthy hearing care professional. We can talk to you about what this entails when you call (866) 657-6952.

While hearing loss occurs in most people as they age, other factors can also play a role. This may include being exposed to loud noises, certain medications, infections, head or ear trauma, a family history of hearing loss and a number of other causes.

There are many common indications for people experiencing hearing loss. These include straining to understand muffled voices, finding it harder to hear in restaurants, malls or other noisy environments, ringing in your ears, you need to watch people's faces more intently when they speak with you and you are more withdrawn from social situations because of difficulty hearing. 

Most hearing aids can make it easier to understand speech, amplify sounds and improve communication – and quality of life. All hearing aids have three parts – a speaker, receiver and amplifier. In addition, today’s hearing aids have minicomputers that offer connections to technical features. Hearing aids cannot cure ear disorders.

In most cases, yes. We work very closely with manufacturers to repair hearing aids if it is something we cannot handle in-house. Depending on the age of the device, the issue and solution, there may be a charge. For more information, please contact us. To help prevent future issues, we advise you clean your devices regularly.

While they cannot completely eliminate unwanted sound, modern digital hearing aids filter sound to minimize background noise. Tailoring an aid to your needs is part of the assessment/fitting process.

A clicking sound may indicate that your hearing aids need to be repaired by the manufacturer. However, this sound is different from the low battery indicator, which is usually a beeping tone. If you hear such a noise, please try changing your batteries. If that doesn't help, please contact HearingLife so that we can help you repair your hearing aid. 

Digital hearing aids have microphones that “hear” sound waves and convert them into digital signals. Minute computer chips process those signals within the hearing aids and amplify the sounds accordingly. While features vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, some options include digital microphones, noise reduction, feedback management features and Bluetooth® capabilities so you can establish a wireless connection to compatible devices, such as smartphones, certain land-line telephones and televisions.

Depending on which hearing aids you need, your hearing care provider may take impressions of your ears to get their exact shape. The process, which is easy and painless, involves inserting a soft plastic mold into your ear canal. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is done in our office. From this mold, the manufacturer will create an exact replica of your outer ear canal, which will house your hearing aid. This is also used for personalized hearing protection.

Although you need to check with your individual plan (we can help you), as with glasses, only some insurance plans cover hearing aids. We are happy to assist you in filing reimbursement forms or answering other hearing-related insurance questions. We have several insurance partners and payment options. Traditional Medicare currently does not cover the cost of hearing aids. A few choice plans include hearing-related coverage – please contact us and we will help you get information on your particular plan. We offer other ways to keep hearing care affordable for most budgets, including financing.

Tinnitus is a buzzing, ringing or other phantom sound without a known source. Several things can cause tinnitus, including exposure to abnormally loud noises, ear infections, foreign objects in the ear and allergies or other issues that create fluid or wax buildup. Genetic hearing loss may cause tinnitus, and some seniors experience tinnitus as they age. People may experience tinnitus due to a side effect of medications, including antibiotics, cancer drugs, antidepressants and over-the-counter medications like aspirin. However, the most common cause is noise-induced hearing loss.

Prevention for continued hearing loss is possible, once the extent of hearing loss has been determined. At HearingLife, we offer free hearing assessments* that will allow us to determine the best course of action to treat and further prevent hearing loss.

Audiology is the science of hearing. An audiologist is a person who has a master’s or doctoral degree in audiology. In 47 states, audiologists must be licensed or registered by their state to practice audiology.

There is no need to remove your hearing aid kit for air travel. You are able to travel while wearing your hearing aids; however, you may still experience popping in your ears from the changes in air pressure.