Hearing Aid Services

At Integrated ENT, we offer the following Hearing Aid Services for the convenience of our patients.

When you meet with one of our audiologists, they will conduct specific testing to determine whether or not you would benefit from a hearing aid. If you would, they will review all hearing aid options available with you, and help you select a device that best meets your specific hearing and listening needs.

At Integrated ENT, our audiologists ensure your hearing aids fit properly and are programmed appropriately for your hearing loss. We stand apart from other clinics when fitting hearing aids because we ensure accurate programming using a verification tool called “Visible Speech Mapping.” This technology enables us to measure the amplified speech sound occurring in your ear objectively. Simply hooking up hearing aids to a computer does not ensure accurate setting of the hearing aids, which unfortunately is often the case at other hearing aid offices. Without utilizing Visible Speech Mapping technology, hearing aid programming is guess work.

After you have ordered your hearing aids and they have arrived in the office, we will contact you to schedule a fitting. At the time of fitting, your audiologist will digitally program your hearing aids and customize them to match your prescription to meet your hearing needs.

The primary objective of your hearing aid fitting is to ensure that appropriate aided acoustic information (e.g., desired output across frequencies at different input levels) is being delivered to the tympanic membrane of the wearer in order to maximize the potential benefit of the application. The use of a probe-microphone or real-ear measurement (REM) system is the only way to confirm the appropriateness of hearing aid gain and resulting output across frequencies for a range of input levels at the tympanic membrane.

Additionally, audiologists today are equipped with new technologies and methods to make the hearing evaluation process and hearing aid programming process more effective.

During your visit, your audiologist will also explain to you how to use your hearing aids, how to put them in your ears, how to remove them, how to change the batteries, and how to care for and clean them.

For this visit, it is a good idea to bring a family member or close friend so that they can help remember all the information that is given and act as a support system for you.

When you put the hearing aids in for the first time, you may experience a variety of emotions about the sounds you hear. This is normal and to be expected. The goal of the hearing aid is to make everyday sounds audible and comfortable, but the sound you hear should be clear and pleasant. If there are things that you feel should be adjusted right away, small changes can be made to the hearing aids at your first fitting to ensure that the hearing aids are giving you enough sound where you need it.

During your appointment, you may also be given a short survey or a list of questions to answer. Be honest about what you hear so that your audiologist can work with you to create the best possible listening experience for you with your new hearing aids. Your hearing aid fitting is only a starting place. After you wear the hearing aids in more situations and adapt to all the new sounds you are hearing, you may find that additional adjustments are needed. These changes can be made over a period of time at future appointments.

Attitude is one important key to success with hearing aids. Hearing aid studies have shown that people who have a positive attitude do better with hearing aids. If you and your family approach your hearing aid fitting with a positive outlook, you will have a better listening experience more quickly. Keep in mind that it may take some time to get used to the sounds you were missing, and by working closely with your audiologist, you will get the most out of your new hearing aids.

Our Doctors of Audiology will guide you through all steps of the Auditory Rehabilitation Process, helping you to adapt to your hearing aids. 

We understand the importance of including education, counseling, a gradual adaptation period, and learning effective communication strategies to the hearing aid fitting. Without including auditory rehabilitation in the hearing aid fitting process, patients do not maximize the benefits that today’s hearing aids provide.

Hearing aids are a big investment and our Doctors of Audiology understand that fact. Our hearing aid follow-up care plan includes a 75 day trial period with a full refund, an extended 3 year repair and loss/damage coverage, 200 free batteries, and no charge office visits with our Doctors of Audiology for the life of your hearing aids. We will remind you to come into the office every 6 months for a cleaning and check of your hearing aids to ensure peak performance.

Please contact our office to schedule a follow-up appointment if you ever have issues with the operation of your hearing aids or need adjustments.

Hearing aids need to be cleaned on a regular basis because of ear wax and debris buildup within the hearing aid(s) over time. If you are unable to clean your hearing aids yourself, please schedule an appointment to bring them in for a professional cleaning. 

Check out this guide on Cleaning and Care of your hearing aids from Phonak.

Hearing aids have small working parts, so hearing aid repairs are common. You may try to turn the hearing aid on in the morning and find that there is no sound, or the battery door may come unhinged. These things do happen, even when the hearing aids are properly cared for.

We can fix most hearing aids made by most manufacturers, including but not limited to Oticon, Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Widex, ReSound, and Sonic. Our services cover basic repairs, including ear wax and debris removal within the hearing aids. Excess ear wax and debris can cause damage to internal parts. With proper cleaning and care, these basic repairs can be avoided.

For hearing aids that are more than several years old, they sometimes need special attention, as the miniature electronic parts wear out over time. To ensure your hearing aids are always working properly and efficiently for you, you should get them serviced every few years.

If you have older hearing aids that are out-of-warranty, we will assess whether or not they are worth your investment to have them repaired. If you bought them from an online store or from Costco, they may not be worth the cost of the repair.

If we are unable to fix your hearing aids in-house, we will need to send them out to the hearing aid manufacturer for repair. They have skilled technicians to address more complex repairs that cover exposure to water, physical damage from being dropped or stepped on, or exposure to high levels of humidity or prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

If you are a current patient and have hearing aids that were not fitted in our office, we would be happy to try to repair your hearing aids. We are able to service most major manufacturers of hearing aids and can tell you in the office if yours is a brand we service. Hearing aids come with a warranty when purchased new. If your warranty has expired, it is still possible to repair most hearing aids with a small fee. Depending on the hearing aid manufacturer, this repair may come with a new year-long warranty. Your audiologist will provide you with details when you bring your hearing aid to the office.

If you ever have questions about your warranty, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For most new hearing aids the warranty coverage for repairs is for 3 years, but some are for 2 years. The actual time period usually depends on the manufacturer.

Hearing aid batteries are included (200 free batteries) with all hearing aid purchases.

If you have any questions about the Hearing Aid Services we provide, please call Integrated ENT at (303) 706-1616 to schedule an appointment. You may also request an appointment online.