Why doesn’t Audiology Consultants do free hearing tests?

This is a very fair question. If you’re considering spending the money for hearing aids, why can’t the hearing test be thrown in at no charge? Some clinics do provide this service at no cost. However, things are not always what they seem; the price of the hearing test is likely bundled into the cost of the hearing aids you purchase or into another service you will purchase later on down the road.

Not all hearing tests are created equal. Hearing screening tests are a type of “quick and dirty” test. Hearing screens give only basic information about your hearing. A full hearing evaluation is a medical, diagnostic test and is much more thorough.  A hearing evaluation not only reveals how well you can hear those little beeps, it also gives us some insight into the overall health of your ears and how well you can understand speech. It even provides some information about your hearing loss: is there a possibility it is caused by an ear infection or is it a permanent hearing loss? Diagnostic hearing evaluations are given to patients who suspect they have a hearing loss and expect to need hearing aids, but they are also performed on children to rule out a hearing loss, people with balance problems, and even employees who have hearing requirements for their jobs.

The diagnostic hearing evaluations are performed by an Audiologist. An audiologist is someone who went to graduate school and earned an advanced degree specializing in hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists learn more than just how to adjust the volume of your hearing aids. They can make tiny adjustments to hearing aid programming that can have big impacts on how well you can hear. They can counsel you on things that you can do to maximize the benefit of your hearing aids.

In addition to their specialized knowledge, many Audiologists, including all the Audiologists at Audiology Consultants, are board-certified. Board certification means that the Audiologist is up-to-date with the latest technology and research. In addition to being required to continue their education throughout their careers, board certified Audiologists are held to an ethical standard.

Audiology Consultants is happy to submit the cost of your hearing evaluation to your insurance on your behalf.