FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions about hearing loss, hearing aids, and our practice. Please call us if your question is not addressed below.

What’s the best hearing aid?

The one that fits your ears, hearing profile, budget, and preferences.  We carry 8 brands that are each good in different ways. 

We always encourage people to explore their options using our unique Hearing Aid Test Drive.

How do I choose the right hearing aid?

Work with a hearing care provider that you trust and try more than one hearing aid brand.

Are Costco hearing aids any good?

The hearing aids themselves are fine. The business and service model doesn’t suit everyone’s needs. Because hearing better with hearing aids is a process somewhat like rehabilitation, many people need a hearing care provider that can take the time necessary to help you become successful. We’ve found that many of our clients need more patience and attention to detail than a warehouse style clinic can offer.

What’s the process for getting hearing aids?  How do I get started?

The first thing is a hearing test.   If your hearing test reveals medical concerns we will refer you to your physician before considering a hearing aid trial.

If there are no medical concerns but there is hearing loss,  our hearing aid test drive helps you evaluate your own readiness and figure out the best product for your ears and budget...all before you spend a cent.

How much do your hearing aids cost?

Our hearing aids range from $2800 - $7200 depending on the performance level and sound quality. Many people are quite successful somewhere in the middle.

What’s included in a hearing aid purchase?

- Full hearing evaluation
- Careful hearing aid selection using our Test Drive Process
- Custom fitting and rehabilitation to hearing more sound.  This includes several technical procedures and visits.  
- Lifetime (of the devices) maintenance and tuneups
- 3-4 year repair warranty
- 2-3 loss and damage warranty
- Processing warranty repairs if needed
- Loaner devices if your devices are out for warranty service
- Batteries (if not rechargeable) during the warranty period
- Wax filters during warranty period
- Wireless bluetooth accessories (depending on the performance level chosen)
- Easy access to our professional advice whenever you need it

Is there any financial assistance available for hearing aids?

Sometimes.  

Workman’s Compensation, Veteran’s Affairs, NIHB, Ministry of Social Assistance, and some extended benefits. 

We always help people explore any possible funding.

How long do hearing aids last?

Generally about 5-6 years. Some people wear them out sooner and others make them last much longer. We work hard to help you get all the life possible out of them.

What happens if I lose my hearing aids?

Most hearing aids come with a 2-3 year loss warranty which will replace them one time with a deductible. We always recommend that you check with your home insurance for coverage as well.

Do hearing aids have a warranty?

Most hearing aids have at least a 3 year warranty and longer is available.  This is quite remarkable considering most electronics are only one year.  Hearing aid manufacturers are very easy to work with if warranty work is needed.  

Help!  My hearing aid quit working.  Now what?

No problem. We are a full service clinic for most hearing aid brands.  Simply drop in during business hours and we will tell you what’s needed to get you up and running. Many times it’s a quick fix. Sometimes we need to book an office appointment to diagnose what the problem is. We will also work to help you learn how to troubleshoot the devices yourself as much as possible.

Do I need one or two hearing aids?

This depends on the hearing loss. We usually say the only time to get one hearing aid is if only one ear needs help or only one ear can be helped. Otherwise, the brain is designed to get stereo hearing so that we can tell where sounds are coming from and choose what we want to listen to when there are multiple sounds and noises around.

How does a hearing aid actually work?

In short, hearing aids are like a fancy public address system. They have a microphone to capture the sound, an amplifier and computer to make only the sounds that you need louder audible, and a speaker to let you hear your custom tuned sound. Of course, there is a lot of sophistication that happens in this process to make the sound as helpful and natural as possible for your individual ears.

Can you fit someone else’s hearing aids to my ears?

Yes, sometimes. Depending on the style and if it meets your needs we can refit them. We have a process for evaluating how appropriate they are for you.

Do you sell used hearing aids?

We do usually have some used hearing aids on hand. While this might be a way to save some money, keep in mind that service fees still apply. The overall cost may not end up being as cheap an option as you might expect. Furthermore you still end up with a device with no warranty. We can help you evaluate the pros and cons of this option if necessary.

Do you take trade-ins?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately you will not get nearly as much as you paid for them as a large portion of your initial cost went towards service fees. You might get as much as 20% of what you originally paid towards a new purchase.

Can you come to my home?

Absolutely. We are fully equipped to do hearing testing, fitting, and follow up care in your home if mobility is difficult for you.

What if I buy hearing aids and don’t like them?

Our hearing aids always come with a 90 day return policy. However, most of our clients never need to use this as our unique Test Drive Process makes sure that you are ready to purchase and helps you choose the right ones...all before you spend a cent.

What’s so special about your Hearing Aid Test Drive?

You may have noticed that there are lots of clinics that offer trials and return periods to protect you from buyers remorse.   

Our Test Drive is different in two big ways.

1) We help you determine if now is the right time to get hearing aids.

2) Then we help you explore the best option for you by trying at least two different models/brands.  

This process gives you peace of mind about moving forward with hearing aids all before you commit to spending a cent. 
 
Here’s how it works:  

1. Make an appointment for an initial hearing evaluation.
2. Take home a state-of-the-art hearing aid the same day.We allow you to try different types and price levels with no commitment or deposit required.
3. Take your time evaluating which hearing aid suits you best.

I have brand new top of the line hearing aids.  Why don’t I hear better?

This can be very frustrating for some people. 

The reason that this can happen is possibly due to:

1) Poor fit
2) The wrong hearing aids for your lifestyle
3) An incomplete understanding of the abilities/limitations for your unique hearing profile.

We love doing a hearing aid fit assessment to help you understand what is wrong and how it can be fixed.

How can I ensure success with hearing aids?

While hearing aids are a necessary part of treating hearing loss, they are not the only thing. 

3 key parts to success are essential. 

You.  

You need to understand what hearing aids can and can’t do for your your specific needs.You need to put in the effort to using, maintaining, and adapting to your hearing aids.You need to realize that good communication practices are still very important.  Hearing aids don’t fix bad communication.You need to advocate for your hearing needs.  Most people aren’t very considerate of people that struggle with hearing loss.  

The hearing care professional

You need someone that you trust.  The professional is responsible for a good fit, helping you adapt to hearing better, and keeping the devices working their best for several years.

The hearing aids themselves. 

Having the wrong hearing aids can be a recipe for a waste of money. 

Do you have products and solutions besides hearing aids?

Yes. We have:

- Custom ear plugs
- Custom headphones
- Wireless headphones
- Hearing aid accessories (filters, tubes, driers, batteries, etc)
 

Do you have rechargeable hearing aids?

Yes we do. They are both very convenient and good for the environment. Like many electronics nowadays, they simply go on the charger every night.

What about the German invisible hearing aids that I see advertised on the internet?

We do carry these amazing little devices and more like them. However, they do have limitations for who they fit. They are not as strong as bigger hearing aids, and oddly enough, need a minimum size ear canal. We can help you understand if these are right for you.

Why are hearing aids so expensive?

2 reasons:

1) It’s not just the hearing aids.  Somewhat like a prosthetic device, the work of a professional is needed to fit them properly, rehabilitate you to better hearing over time, and maintain the devices working in the warm moist environment of your ears.  This usually accounts for about half of the cost.

2) The research and development to create and support them is born by a small percentage of the population.  This is in contrast to something like smartphones and computers that nearly everyone purchases.

Do you offer payment plans?

Absolutely. The provider that we work with specializes in medical device financing. They have very flexible terms.

How much do your hearing aids cost?

Our hearing aids range from $2800 - $7200 depending on the performance level and sound quality. Many people are quite successful somewhere in the middle.

What’s included in a hearing aid purchase?

- Full hearing evaluation
- Careful hearing aid selection using our Test Drive Process
- Custom fitting and rehabilitation to hearing more sound.  This includes several technical procedures and visits.  
- Lifetime (of the devices) maintenance and tuneups
- 3-4 year repair warranty
- 2-3 loss and damage warranty
- Processing warranty repairs if needed
- Loaner devices if your devices are out for warranty service
- Batteries (if not rechargeable) during the warranty period
- Wax filters during warranty period
- Wireless bluetooth accessories (depending on the performance level chosen)
- Easy access to our professional advice whenever you need it

Do you sell used hearing aids?

We do usually have some used hearing aids on hand. While this might be a way to save some money, keep in mind that service fees still apply. The overall cost may not end up being as cheap an option as you might expect. Furthermore you still end up with a device with no warranty. We can help you evaluate the pros and cons of this option if necessary.

Do you take trade-ins?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately you will not get nearly as much as you paid for them as a large portion of your initial cost went towards service fees. You might get as much as 20% of what you originally paid towards a new purchase.

What causes hearing loss?

Many things can cause hearing loss. Various diseases, medications, injuries, aging, and loud noise exposure. The last two are the most frequent.

Can my hearing loss be cured?

Sometimes. There are many types of hearing loss. Some can be treated medically/cured and others are permanent and need hearing aids. It all starts with a hearing assessment to see what type of hearing loss you have. If there’s any chance that your physician can treat it, we will refer you to him/her first.

How does the ear work and what are the different parts?

In short, the outer ear captures sound and funnels it towards the middle ear (eardrum area) where it is amplified for the inner ear. The intricate inner ear (cochlea) is where we detect the sound with our ear nerve. The nerve further processes the sound and sends the signal to our brain where we choose what to do or think about the sound. Of course this is the highly simplistic version. We love talking about it in more detail if you are curious.

Will my hearing loss get worse if I don't’ do anything about it?

It depends on the type.

Medically treatable hearing loss may get worse (i.e. ear infections, plug of wax, growths,  etc.) Age and noise related hearing loss not as much.  However, the sound deprivation from this type makes your brain struggle more and can have an impact on mental health over time.

Is there anything a Doctor can do to fix my hearing?

Sometimes. Whenever we do a hearing evaluation we are carefully watching for nearly a dozen different things that your physician might be able to help you with. 

Is ear candling safe and effective?

No.  While many people feel it has been a positive experience, there is no good evidence that it effectively removes earwax, and there is risk of burning your eardrum and ear canal.  

Do you remove earwax?

Yes we do. We are the only hearing clinic in Nanaimo that offers this service. We have multiple methods to make sure that we can remove earwax gently and safely!

Can Tinnitus (ringing or unwanted sounds in the ear) be cured?

Sometimes. There are many possible causes of tinnitus. Some of them are an easy fix. However, many times there is no cure per se. This is where we have solutions to help you manage the unwanted sounds so that they don’t bother you.

Why are there so many hearing clinics these days?

Two primary drivers increase the market demand. 

1) Hearing aids work better and have less stigma than they used to.  

2)The large Baby Boomer generation is entering their golden years and needing hearing services. 

How do I choose a hearing clinic?

Be aware of the different types; big box, chain, and independent.  

Choose a provider that you feel you can trust.  Half of what you pay for with hearing aids is the service to help the hearing aids work well for you. 

What’s the difference between an audiologist and a hearing instrument practitioner?

A lot and a little. 

Audiologists have more education that prepares them for servicing children, working with balance disorders, diagnosing some rare hearing conditions, and working in hearing research.  

However, for the purpose of general hearing testing, fitting hearing aids, and servicing hearing aids, both audiologists and hearing instrument practitioners have the exact same certification with the College of Speech & Hearing Health Professionals of BC.  

When it comes to most hearing aid fittings, aside from the legal requirement of being registered with the above College, the most important thing for hearing aid success is working with a professional that you trust regardless of their background. 

Can you come to my home?

Absolutely. We are fully equipped to do hearing testing, fitting, and follow up care in your home if mobility is difficult for you.

Do you have products and solutions besides hearing aids?

Yes. We have:

- Custom ear plugs
- Custom headphones
- Wireless headphones
- Hearing aid accessories (filters, tubes, driers, batteries, etc)
 

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