The document provides a list of questions for patients to ask their hearing specialist before purchasing hearing aids. It covers four major topics: hearing loss, styles and features of hearing aids, financing options, and operation and care of hearing aids. Some example questions are what type of hearing loss the patient has, which styles best fit their needs, total costs and insurance coverage, how to operate and clean the hearing aids, and follow up care. Being prepared with these questions will help patients get hearing aids tailored to their individual situation.

1. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
HEARING SPECIALIST BEFORE
YOU BUY HEARING AIDS

2. COMPILING YOUR LIST OF QUESTIONS
 Creating a list of questions to go over with your hearing specialist
is the single most important thing you can do before your hearing
test.
 You’ll want to bring a list of questions to go over so that you get
the hearing solution that is best for you.
 Your list of questions should cover four major topics:
1. Hearing loss
2. Hearing aid styles and features
3. Hearing aid financing
4. Hearing aid operation and care

3. HERE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
YOU’LL WANT TO INCLUDE

4. QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING LOSS
 What type of hearing loss do I have?
 Do I have unilateral or bilateral hearing loss?
 Can I have a copy of my audiogram?
 Will my hearing loss get worse over time if left untreated?
 Will hearing aids improve my hearing?
 How much of my hearing will hearing aids restore?
 What are my other options besides hearing aids?

5. QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING AID
STYLES AND FEATURES
 How many different types of hearing aid styles do you offer?
 Which hearing aid style is best for my needs and lifestyle?
 Which digital features would be important to me, and which
could I do without?
 What are telecoils and directional microphones and do I need
them?
 Do I need Bluetooth compatible hearing aids?
 Do my hearing aids need to be professionally programmed?
 Do I need one or two hearing aids, and why?

6. QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING AID
FINANCING
 What is the total cost of the hearing aids, including professional services?
 Do you offer any financing plans?
 Will my insurance help pay for hearing aids?
 How much will my hearing aids cost me annually?
 Do the hearing aids have warranty coverage?
 How much do hearing aid repairs cost after the warranty has expired?
 Are repairs done at the office or somewhere else?
 If my hearing aids have to be sent out for repairs, are loaner hearing aids
available?
 Is there a trial period and how long is it?
 Is there a restocking fee if I return my hearing aids after the trial period?

7. QUESTIONS ABOUT HEARING AID
OPERATION AND CARE
 How do I operate my hearing aids?
 How do I use hearing aids with telephones and other devices?
 Can you show me how to use all of the buttons, features, and settings for my hearing aids?
 What are environmental presets, and how do I access them?
 Do I need a remote control, or can I use my smartphone to control the hearing aids?
 What batteries do I need, how long will they last, and how do I replace them?
 How should I clean and store my hearing aids?
 Do I need to come back for follow-up visits?
 How long will my hearing aids last?
 Do I need to update the hearing aid software?
 Do I qualify for future hearing aid upgrades?

8. YOU’RE READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR
HEARING TEST!
McDonald Audiology & Hearing Health Care
Three Michigan locations
Grand Rapids, Kentwood, and Greenville
616-773-2362
www.mcdonaldhearingservices.com