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Important notice for prospective hearing aid users
Good health practice requires that a person with a hearing
loss have a medical evaluation by a licensed physician
(preferably a physician who specializes in diseases of the
ear) before purchasing a hearing aid.
Licensed physicians who specialize in diseases of the ear
are oen referred to as otolaryngologists, otologists or
otorhinolaryngologists. The purpose of medical evaluation
is to assure that all medically treatable conditions that may
aect hearing are identied and treated before the hearing
aid is purchased. Following the medical evaluation, the
physician will give you a written statement that states that
your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that
you may be considered a candidate for a hearing aid. The
physician will refer you to an audiologist or a hearing aid
dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing aid evaluation.
The audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will conduct a
hearing aid evaluation to assess your ability to hear with
and without a hearing aid. The hearing aid evaluation
will enable the audiologist or dispenser to select and
t a hearing aid to your individual needs. If you have
reservations about your ability to adapt to amplication,
you should inquire about the availability of a trial-rental or
purchase-option program. Many hearing aid dispensers
now oer programs that permit you to wear a hearing aid
for a period of time for a nominal fee aer which you may
decide if you want to purchase the hearing aid. Federal
law restricts the sale of hearing aids to those individuals
who have obtained a medical evaluation from a licensed
physician. Federal law permits a fully informed adult to sign
a waiver statement declining the medical evaluation for
religious or personal beliefs that preclude consultation with
a physician. The exercise of such a waiver is not in your best
health interest and its use is strongly discouraged.
Children with hearing loss
In addition to seeing a physician for a medical evaluation,
a child with a hearing loss should be directed to an
audiologist for evaluation and rehabilitation since hearing
loss may cause problems in language development
and the educational and social growth of a child. An
audiologist is qualied by training and experience to
assist in the evaluation and rehabilitation of a child with a
hearing loss.
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