Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Q. How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
A. Straining to hear a conversation, difficulty understanding a conversation when two or more people are talking, asking people to repeat themselves, trouble hearing over the phone, turning the TV up loud, or having difficulty understanding women and children are all signs of a hearing problem. As your ability to communicate diminishes, you can become frustrated withdrawing from social activities that make you feel uncomfortable about your hearing problem. If you are experiencing any of the above, it’s possible that you have a hearing loss and should have your hearing tested.

Q. How is a hearing loss identified?
A. A hearing care professional can perform an audiogram and a speech or word understanding test to determine if a hearing loss is present. The audiogram is a graphical representation that identifies the specific frequencies and intensity levels that a person can hear with each ear. A simple speech or word understanding test will help the dispenser determine how clearly a person can understand speech. These tests will give you and the dispenser the necessary information to determine the best solution for your hearing care.

Q. How do I select the right hearing aid?
A. After determining the degree of hearing loss, your hearing care professional should be able to help you choose a hearing instrument that both compensates for your hearing impairment as well as fitting within your budget. When making your selection, think of your purchase as an investment in yourself and your health. The fact is that the best hearing instrument can't be determined by the consumer. We spend many hours a year in continuing education to upgrade our knowledge of products and the skills necessary to dispense them. Please don't expect that you can make that decision all by yourself.

Q. How do I find a reputable hearing aid office to help me with my hearing problem?
A. Audiphone Company has been a Cleveland landmark since 1930. We have been in the same Rocky River location for over 25 years. Choose Audiphone Co., and you will be take care of with the same family owned philosophy that has worked for over 70  years. Hearing instrument dispensing is our specialty. Your satisfaction with our products and services defines our priority.

Q. Why do hearing impaired people put off getting help for so long?
A. Hearing loss usually happens a little bit at a time over a long period. If hearing loss happened suddenly, people would immediately seek help. Gradual hearing deterioration means, unfortunately, that people put off getting help until they are very frustrated or have withdrawn from social situations. By that time, I must succeed in aiding a hearing loss in spite of aggravation. The point is: get help early.

Q. I only have a slight hearing loss, do I need hearing aids?
A. Unfortunately, most people delay getting help for their hearing problems as long as four to seven years. In that time, a lot of enjoyment could be missed.

Q. What are some mistakes I can avoid when purchasing hearing instruments?
A. In my opinion, here are the two biggest mistakes the hearing impaired consumer makes.

1. Delay. This topic could be the most significant factor in your satisfaction. The importance of aiding your communication problem in the early stage can not be under appreciated. There are so many reasons why this is important I can't cover them all here. Call for consultation and we can be more informative on this subject.

2. Shopping for price. The price you pay is not a factor in determining your satisfaction. Price issue is just another tactic in delay. The skill of your dispenser is by far a more important factor. When you buy a painting, you are not buying a canvas and paint, you are buying the skill of the artist. Instead, shop for a professional you trust. Then, you will be paying for value.

Q. What do hearing aids cost?
A. Hearing instruments are custom fit for your unique hearing loss and lifestyle. We can not know an exact cost until the extent and nature of your hearing impairment is known. This is why we recommend a test and consultation. We need to know what you specifically need help with. Then we can apply a solution for those needs and provide an exact quote on what the cost will be. The price range goes from $500 to $3500. A consultation is free. Please call for an appointment.

Q. How does a family owned and operated hearing aid center help me hear better?
A. Hearing aid dispensing and taking excellent care of our customers has been a dinner table topic in our family for three generations. The quality service we provide is experience and knowledge passed down from father to son. Hearing instrument dispensing is a skill. Audiphone is unique in having that skill taught by a master to his son. I invite you in for a no cost, no hassle consultation. Let's talk about your goal to hear better. Then I'm sure you will decide to become part of the Audiphone family that has served thousands of greater Clevelanders for over 70 years.

Q. So many things today are computerized - are the digital hearing instruments really that much better?
A. Yes, they sure are. Hearing instruments that can accomplish your goals will provide you value. Digital is the future happening right now, but only if you take advantage of it.

Q. I'm thinking about trying hearing aids; are there instruments that can be fit right in your office?
A. Yes, there are. Once we have completed your audiogram, we can program digitl instruments right here in the office so you can listen to the improvement in sound quality. There are some types of instruments that you can come in, be fit, and go home with them that day.

Q. I need to hear and understand speech better in quiet and noisy places. Is there help for this type of problem?
A. Digital signal processing involves capabilities conventional analog instruments simply can not achieve. To maximize speech discrimination, we recommend a couple important factors. First, if applicable, always use both ears. Second, we recommend directional microphone system and speech recognition technologies.

Q. Is the cost of digital instruments going to come down?
A. Yes and no. The cost of the high end, technologically advanced state of the art digital instruments will remain a significant investment. One of the defining characteristics of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is the ability to do multiple tasks at the same time. State of the art digitals employ an array of features that run simultaneously. Multiple, independent channel processing, digital feedback suppression, digital voice processing, digital noise reduction, multiple programs and dual microphone technology are all examples of capabilities digital instruments can employ all at once. To cost less, remove all those features. A few manufacturers have recently introduced basic digitals. The Audiphone staff has carefully evaluated the merits of this product and we are comfortable recommending a lower cost digital. Basic digitals offer the benefits of clear, distortion free DSP, but are not loaded with more expensive features. While the majority of our patients will benefit from those high end features, many can upgrade from an analog aid to a basic digital device for a lot less than once thought.

Q. How can I keep my hearing aid working properly?
A. Keep your hearing aid as dry and clean as possible. When taking your hearing aid out at night, wipe with a clean cloth to remove excess moisture, dirt, and oil.  Use your hearing aid brush to remove excess debris. When you are not wearing your hearing instrument, open the battery door to provide extra ventilation. Most importantly, remove your aids before showering or taking a quick dip in the pool.  To monitor the integrity of the hearing aid, it is recommended that you visit your hearing care professional every 3 to 6 months.

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