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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.
Cell phone
Some hearing aid users have reported a buzzing sound in their
hearing aids when they are using cell phones, indicating that the
cell phone and hearing aid may not be compatible. According to
the ANSI C63.19 standard (ANSI C63.19-2011 American National
Standard Methods of Measurement of Compatibility Between
Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids), the
compatibility of a particular hearing aid and cell phone can be
predicted by adding the rating for the hearing aid immunity to
the rating for the cell phone emissions. For example, the sum of
the hearing aid rating of 2 (M2) and a telephone rating of 3 (M3)
would result in a combined rating of 5. Any combined rating that
equals at least 5 would provide “normal use”; a combined rating
of 6 or greater would indicate “excellent performance.”
The immunity of this hearing aid is at least M2/T2. The
equipment performance measurements, categories and system
classications are based upon the best information available but
cannot guarantee that all users will be satised.
Note: The performance of the individual hearing aids may
vary with individual cell phones. Therefore, please try this
hearing aid with your cell phone or, if you are purchasing
a new phone, please be sure to try it with your hearing aid
prior to purchase. For additional guidance, please ask your
hearing healthcare professional for the booklet entitled
“Hearing aid compatibility with digital wireless cell phones.”
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