Typically not. Hearing aids are not comfortable to sleep in. If you are concerned that the severity of your hearing loss would prevent you from being alerted to the telephone, door bell or fire alarms, there are a wide variety of assistive devices that you can use at night time while your hearing aids are out.

No. However, we do offer information from CareCredit. For the services to be covered, the patient must first be approved for the loan to cover the services.

Medicare does not pay for hearing aids under any circumstances. Some private health insurances cover a portion of the hearing aid cost but it can be difficult to determine exactly how much of the cost that they will cover. When you schedule a hearing aid evaluation appointment, your insurance company will be contacted to determine an estimated coverage. 

Typically not. Only rarely do some health insurances cover swim plugs. It is most likely going to be an out-of-pocket expense, even if your physician recommends it.

All new hearing aids come with at least one year of warranty coverage, which typically includes repairs, loss and damage.

You may have a metal canister containing the drying crystals, and this system can be placed on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for approximately 30 minutes. Once the blue color is restored to the crystals, the kit is reactivated. Make sure it is cooled before placing it back in the plastic container.

If you are using a dry brick system, check for a change in color on the brick package. The old brick will need to be discarded and replaced with a new one. The brick typically needs to be replaced every several months.

If you have a plastic container of crystals, you can place this in the microwave, screen side up, for 20 seconds on high. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before handling. Repeat until your beads turn amber or gold in color. Then your kit is reactivated.

Every two years or sooner if you notice a change in your hearing sensitivity.

On average there are four to five visits associated with the initial fitting of hearing aids. This includes a hearing evaluation, a hearing aid evaluation, a fitting and instruction, a two-week follow-up appointment and a 30-day trial end appointment.

Approximately every five years. Hearing aid technology changes significantly about every five years. Replacing your hearing aids after five years would afford you the opportunity to take advantage of the most sophisticated technology.

We offer a 30-day trial period during which you can return the hearing aid for any reason. If you decide you do not like the hearing instrument(s), all of your money will be refunded, minus the initial deposit.

You may send your hearing aid directly to HEAR Now:

The first thing to check is the battery. If the battery is good, inspect the sound bore (where the sound exits the shell of an in-the-ear hearing aid or the earmold). With slim tubes, remove the slim tube from the hearing aid and run the thin filament cleaning tool through the silastic tubing. For devices that have a wax filter, try removing and replacing the filter. If you are unsuccessful, you may contact our office for an appointment or to drop off the hearing aid to be checked.

Moisture and earwax. You can protect your hearing aids from component failure due to moisture by keeping them dry, and not leaving them in the bathroom while bathing. If you will be perspiring heavily during physical activity, you may choose to leave the hearing aids out. If you have a dry-aid kit, place the aids in the kit overnight.

Wax can clog the opening where sound is delivered to the ear, either in the earmold or the sound bore of the hearing aid itself. Inspect the hearing aid on a daily basis to be sure the sound bore is open. There are small brushes, loops and thin filament tools that can be used to remove the wax.

You will need to call the office and schedule an appointment for an earmold impression. If the hearing aid is covered under warranty, there is a replacement fee as stated on the contract that is due at the time of the earmold impression. Many manufacturers require a notarized statement regarding the hearing aid's loss or damage. You will need to bring this statement with you to the earmold appointment.

Get the hearing aids out of the moisture as quickly as possible. Remove the battery and place them in your dry-aid kit (follow the kit instructions). If you do not have a dry-aid kit, open the battery compartment and dry the aid with a blow dryer on low heat. Schedule an appointment to have the hearing aid assessed in our office.

A hearing aid evaluation is a one-hour appointment scheduled with an audiologist to determine the appropriate style and technology of hearing aid to accommodate your communication needs and lifestyle. Should you decide to go through an evaluation with amplification, the hearing aid can be ordered during this visit and a deposit toward the cost of the hearing aid is collected that day.

The cost of hearing aids often varies per person, depending on insurance and product type. To learn more about pricing, we prefer that patients schedule an appointment with Ohio State Audiology to receive a personalized recommendation based on need and budget. To schedule an appointment, please call 614-366-3687.   

Hearing aid batteries can be purchased at our office by the package or in bulk. In addition, any store that has a pharmaceutical counter typically will sell batteries.