Hearing Loss (Audiology)

Are you asking people to repeat themselves? Complaining that people mumble? Having trouble hearing in a crowded space? It might be time for a comprehensive hearing evaluation. Meeting with a hearing specialist called an audiologist can help you discover the type of hearing loss you have and how severe it is. Knowing this can help your healthcare provider create a treatment plan just for you.

Here’s what to expect when you meet with your audiologist:

Hearing test

To measure your hearing loss, your audiologist will do an audiogram. This hearing test does a few things. It lets your provider know the softest sounds you can hear. It also tells them how well you hear high-pitched sounds (like a whistle) and low-pitched ones (like a rumble of thunder). Your provider will check how hearing across these pitches affects how you communicate. The results will help them to choose the best treatment for you — and decide if you should have a hearing needs assessment.

Hearing needs assessment

Your audiologist will share what they discovered about your listening and communication needs. You’ll learn about the different kinds of hearing devices and the latest innovations — and what you can realistically expect from using a hearing device. Together, you, your family (if appropriate) and your audiologist will decide what’s best for you, while also considering any physical, financial or lifestyle limitations.

Meet Our Hearing Loss Team

Your audiologist is one provider on your team of hearing loss specialists. During hearing loss treatment, you may also see:

• ENT specialists (otolaryngologists).
• Nurse practitioners (NPs).
• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
• Social workers.

Our team works together to make sure your care is as personalized as possible — and covers all your needs.

After your hearing test and hearing needs assessment, your provider will recommend the right hearing device or treatment for you. If your hearing loss is mild, they might suggest:

• Listening devices: These devices connect directly to things like your TV, cell phone, doorbell or smoke alarm to amplify the sound.
• Medications: If an infection caused your hearing loss, antibiotics may help. Corticosteroids can ease inflammation of cochlear hair cells after exposure to loud noise.
• Hearing rehabilitation: This therapy helps you adjust to hearing loss and wearing hearing aids. Your therapist can also teach you how to use visual cues and read lips to make communicating easier.
• Ear tubes: Ear tubes placed in your ear drum during this surgery (tympanostomy) can treat repeated middle ear infections, which can cause hearing loss.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are a popular and common treatment for mild to more severe hearing loss. You wear these devices on or inside your ear. They help make sounds louder and easier to hear. You’ll take several steps toward getting a hearing aid, including getting fitted for one.

You can buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. But, like “readers” for people with moderate vision loss, OTC hearing aids are an entry-level solution. We encourage you to see an audiologist for the best results.

Using devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants can positively affect your health. Recent research found using these devices can decrease long-term cognitive decline.

Implants

Sometimes, hearing aids or other devices and treatments aren’t enough to improve your hearing. So, your provider may recommend surgery to place an implant (permanent hearing device) inside your ear. There are two main types of implants:

• Cochlear implant: This device has two parts. We’ll place an implant in your inner ear (cochlea). You’ll also wear an external piece (sound processor) on or near your ear. The external piece sends incoming sounds to the implant. The implant stimulates your hearing nerve to send the sounds to your brain.
• Bone-anchored implant: Your surgeon will place this device in the bone behind your ear. The implant attaches to a sound processor that sends sound vibrations directly to your inner ear. It bypasses (goes around) your eardrum by using bone conduction.

Ongoing Care

Managing hearing loss is a journey. But it’s one where you can feel confident knowing we’ll help you every step of the way. We’re here to answer questions, adjust your hearing device and teach you how to care for it.

If you live in Ohio, all hearing devices have a 30-day right-to-return policy. So, you have time to see if your devices work well for you. You’ll have at least one follow-up visit with your audiologist during this time.

We also encourage you to schedule annual visits with our team. These appointments allow us to check your hearing status and see if your devices work properly. We’ll even show you how to fix any minor issues that might come up with them. You can feel confident knowing that your care team will continue to be there for you every step of the way.

Financial Assistance

We understand that improving your hearing is an investment. Medical insurance companies may provide coverage for your hearing devices. Please check with your insurance company to see if they provide coverage and if Cleveland Clinic is a provider for your plan.

Many insurance companies now work with a third-party administrator and require you to get hearing devices from an office associated with that administrator. You’re always welcome to use our services by opting out of using your insurance benefit if you want.

If you can’t afford hearing aids, here are some options that might help:

State

If you’re enrolled in an Ohio Medicaid program, you may be covered for costs related to hearing tests and cochlear implants, but not hearing aids. Each Medicaid program has its own rules. You’ll want to check if your program is registered with your insurance carrier as an authorized service provider. The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission/Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation may also be able to help.

Federal

Contact your local Veterans Administration hospital or office for more information.

Corporate

Your health insurance provider, union or employer may provide financial assistance. You can also use a flexible spending account to buy hearing aids pre-tax. The Americans with Disabilities Act may also help you get financial assistance if you need a hearing aid for your job.

Charities

Many social service organizations — such as Hear Now, local Kiwanis Club, Lions Club International, Rotary Club, Sertoma Club and Quota International — offer financial help for hearing testing and devices. Contact their local chapters for more information.

Taking the Next Step

You don’t have to live with hearing loss. Hearing is an important part of your overall health. And it’s often one of the easiest conditions to improve. If you’re having trouble hearing clearly or communicating with the people in your life, it’s time to get help. Cleveland Clinic specialists expertly diagnose and treat all types of hearing loss. And they can refer you to another provider if an underlying health issue is causing you to lose your hearing.