FAQs

We do not accept any insurance and operate completely on a private pay basis. In cases where you do have an actual monetary benefit (for example: $3,000 every 3 years towards hearing aids) which allows you to go “out of network” we can provide you with whatever documentation required for you to get reimbursed directly by your insurance company.

The devices we fit in our office and the professional services and resources we provide which deliver the best possible results you can expect with hearing aids, is an expensive endeavor – there is no way around it. We are committed to providing all the right business and professional practices which result in your best possible hearing.

When you buy hearing aids from us, you are investing in a quality product from a manufacturer that will support it for years to come and most importantly, all of what our office has to offer.

If what you are looking for is hearing aids at the lowest cost, we will not be the right place for you. However, if you want hearing aids that will be supported in the best possible ways by a professional who does all the right things to get you the best hearing you can expect, then we welcome you to get in touch with us.

We offer a 60 day trial period

We fit all types of hearing aids from the most popular RIC (Receiver in the Canal) type, to the smallest completely in the ear hearing aid available. We also carry the Lyric hearing device which is an extended wear hearing aid that stays in your ear for month’s at a time. Learn more about Lyric here.

As a totally independent hearing aid center, we are able to offer any manufacturers hearing aids we feel will work the best for you. We routinely work with the following companies:

Widex

Signia

GN Resound

Phonak

Oticon

Starkey

Unitron

So true, it can be very confusing! Choosing what type of hearing aid is not a decision to be made by anyone other than a licensed hearing healthcare provider. Your specific hearing loss, hearing history, environment, dexterity, budget, goals, etc… must all be taken into account. Find a hearing healthcare provider with experience whom you are comfortable with and trust and they will be able to recommend what is best for you.

If you bring us hearing aids not purchased through our office, we are (many times) still able to offer our services, but we need to charge for those services since we were not paid for them originally. Because there are varying degrees of services that you might need, based on a number of factors, it is impossible to give you an accurate cost of what we would charge to adjust them to your needs without seeing you in our office. We generally do not do one-time appointments to adjust hearing aids because it is a process which involves multiple iterations. This is how we ensure that we are providing you with the best results.

Some things to take into consideration are:

1. Are the hearing aids you are bringing to us appropriate for your hearing loss?
2. Have these hearing aids been fit for your hearing loss before and you are looking for an adjustment to them, or have you never been fit with these hearing aids before?
3. Do they have the correct receiver size (for your hearing loss) and are they the correct size? If not, you may need to buy the correct sizes to enable a proper fitting.
4. Do you need custom earmolds?
5. Are these hearing aids “private labeled” such as Nu Ear, Beltone, Miracle Ear, Audigy, etc…? If so, we can help you determine if they are working properly, and perhaps provide basic cleaning services – but we cannot adjust them.

Any new patient looking for help with their current hearing aids will be scheduled for a 2 hour initial consultation (see our services page for detail) where we can learn about you, your hearing loss, the hearing aids you currently have, and go over the options.

Hearing healthcare professionals are trained to:

• Look for any physical contraindications which would require a medical referral such as middle ear issues, possibility of an acoustic neuroma (tumor), low discrimination scores which can indicate further issues,
• Take a case history to help in identifying information helpful in fitting hearing instruments succesfully
• Test hearing properly with calibrated equipment
• Most importantly to fit a proper hearing aid and be able to provide the necessary follow up and adjustments – the key to success with hearing instruments!
• Verify proper fitting by Real Ear Measurement – the only way to ensure that the hearing instruments are delivering the proper sound to your ears.

However, we all have personal choice and we want everyone to know that YES you can purchase hearing aids online but NO you should not expect the same results AND you should be aware of the risks.

All new patients to our office will be scheduled for a 2 hour initial  evaluation and consultation. There is a $200 appointment fee and it is applicable towards new hearing aids if required. Learn more about this appointment on our services page

There are many causes of hearing loss, including:

• Exposure to loud noises
• Aging
• Ototoxic medications
• Frequent ear infections
• Head trauma

A recent study published in the American Journal of Medicine has added obesity to the list of potential causes of hearing loss. The research, provided by Brigham and Women’s’ Hospital, indicates that women with a higher body mass index (BMI) and larger waist circumference have a higher risk of sustaining hearing loss. Conversely, increased physical activity lowers the risk of hearing loss in women.

The study, which spanned over 20 years, from 1989 through 2009, and included over 68,000 participants, concluded that women with a higher BMI, larger waist circumference and lower level of physical activity had up to a 27% increase in risk of hearing loss over their peers with a healthier weight and a more active lifestyle.

Fortunately, this is one risk factor that you can eliminate. The same study indicates that walking just four hours a week can reduce your risk of sustaining hearing loss by up to 15%.

While researchers admitted they aren’t sure how the two conditions are related, they do have theories and strongly suggest that if you’re overweight, or have a waist over 34 inches, you should get your hearing checked.

Many people are unaware of the links between hearing loss and other major health issues, including:

• Cardiovascular disease– Recent research in the field of audiology shows that almost 80% of those with cardiovascular disease suffer from hearing loss.
  • Trauma to blood vessels in the inner ear and inadequate blood supply may result in hearing loss.
  • A stroke, or vascular trauma in the brain, can affect the nervous system, as well as motor and thought processes. Hearing loss may occur on the side of the brain affected by the stroke.
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease– Hearing loss can lead to social isolation which may accelerate the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Studies show that hearing aids help decrease Alzheimer’s-related problems.
  • Research from Johns Hopkins indicates that patients with hearing loss are five times more likely to suffer from dementia than their peers with no impairment.
• Diabetes – Because high blood glucose levels cause the tiny blood vessels in the inner ear to break, disrupting sound reception there is a connection between hearing loss and diabetes. In fact, up to 30% of adults with diabetes will experience some degree of hearing loss.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – There is a higher prevalence of hearing loss among older adults with kidney disease.
• Thyroid Disease – Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) may lead to Sensorineural or Conductive hearing loss, which may increase with the severity of hypothyroidism.

At Ahrens, we know that education is the first step to better hearing. We offer extensive testing services and comprehensive treatment options, including, but not limited to hearing aids.

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) can be used on their own, or in conjunction with hearing aids to enhance sound in a variety of listening situations. Some of the ALDs we offer:

• Loop Systems
• Telephone signalers, amplified phones and captioned phones
• Doorbell signalers
• Professional devices, such as hearing aid compatible stethoscopes
• Television listening systems
• Safety products – Smoke and carbon dioxide detectors

We also carry custom hearing protection products and Bluetooth accessories.

We offer up to 12 month no interest payment plans through Care Credit. Also available are longer payment plans up to 48 months.

Yes. You have the option to park on the street outside our office or on the side street. There is no fee to park anywhere on any street surrounding our office.

As a service to our customers, we perform as many repairs as possible in-office. Occasionally, however, a device requires additional service and needs to be sent to the manufacturer.

The answer depends on how your hearing loss developed initially. Generally, hearing does diminish with age.

The answer depends on how well you take care of your hearing aids at home, your body chemistry, how much you perspire, how much cerumen (ear wax) you produce, and other factors. As a general rule though, we recommend bi-annual checks and cleanings.

A hearing aid can last many years if it’s taken care of properly. The frequency with which people replace their hearing devices often depends on advancements in technology. If a new hearing device that would help you hear even better came on the market five years from now, wouldn’t you want to upgrade?

Since we’ll cover a lot of information during your appointment, having a friend or loved one with you can be helpful.