Scheduling with Us
Your hearing journey starts when you call to schedule your consult appointment. We will ask you some general questions about your referral source, your insurance and your most convenient appointment availability. Once you have your appointment, we will mail you a “Welcome to Hillcrest” packet. Please take a few minutes to complete questionnaires and bring them with you to your first appointment. If more convenient for you, you can access and print these same questionnaires under “Patient Forms” on this website.
Please anticipate an appointment confirmation call the day before your appointment.
Your Hearing Consultation
We structure this 1 hour consult appointment to be sure we learn of your hearing needs and concerns. During this first appointment your clinician will also make treatment recommendations. There is no charge or obligation for this professional consultation.
- Your clinician will take time to get to know you and to begin to learn how your hearing loss is affecting your life.
- We will review pre-appointment paperwork with you. These forms are very helpful to determine your motivation for treatment and what type of amplification will best meet your needs.
- We will present our product recommendation to help you hear better. We will also outline what you can expect from wearing hearing aids.
- We hope by the end of your consult you are confident that Hillcrest is the best place for you to pursue your hearing health needs. If so, we will order hearing aids and schedule your fitting appointment.
Your First Hearing Aid Fit Appointment
Your first fitting appointment is a special day!
Approximately 2 weeks after your consult, you will have an hour-long appointment so your clinician can program your new hearing aids to meet your specific needs. It’s important that you have realistic expectations about hearing with your new devices. It may take time and some “hearing rehab” to realize maximum benefit. Your clinician will counsel you and give you helpful hints toward success. We will also schedule you for a ½ hour progress check in 2 weeks.
Over the next 2 weeks you will have opportunities to use your new hearing aids in a variety of settings. With daily wear of your hearing aids, you should be noticing better hearing. And, we’d like to see you for another progress check. It’s been a month since your first fit and you are now at the end of a routine, 30-day adjustment period.
Your hearing aids come with peace of mind too. It’s important that you keep 6 month clean and check appointments with us to maintain your hearing aids and maximize your benefits of wearing them. We pride ourselves in our commitment to helping you hear better. These progress appointments are at no charge to you.
Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids have improved greatly with the advent of digital technology. If you’re picturing big and bulky devices with questionable sound quality, you’ll be pleased to learn today’s instruments are smaller, more comfortable and provide sound that is more natural. There is a wide variety of styles available and we work to find the best solutions for your unique needs.
Cosmetic and physical comfort will support confidence with your devices and will enhance wearability.
Here are the types available:
Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
A RIC hearing aid consists of a tiny housing containing all electronics except the receiver, which is positioned behind the ear. A thin tube connects the housing to the receiver, which is worn in the ear.
It’s a small and discreet unit but powerful enough for treating mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
A BTE device is curved to match the contour of the ear and rests directly behind the ear. The housing, which contains all the electronics, is encased in plastic and connects to the ear canal with a thin, clear tube or ear mold.
Though more visible than other styles, the BTE is simple to use and is powerful enough for all types of hearing loss.
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
This hearing aid is placed in the ear canal and is the smallest available. It takes advantage of the ear’s natural ability to collect sound, and its discreet size makes the device virtually invisible to others.
Use may be more difficult for those with poor manual dexterity. This is a good choice for mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Canal (ITC)
This style is also designed to fit in the ear canal, resting securely in the lower portion. It’s a little larger, making it easier to insert and remove.
Best for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
This hearing aid is designed to fill the outer portion of the ear and is larger than those worn in the ear canals. It is less discreet, but the size allows for more features and makes the unit easier to use.
Best for patients with severe to profound hearing loss.
Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC)
An invisible style hearing aid custom designed to fit comfortably deeper in your ear canal. The IIC is designed to be removed daily. It will accommodate mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Hearing Aid Technology
Hearing aid technology continues to rapidly advance. Digitalized and computerized devices are much smaller and more sophisticated than years past. Depending on the technology level in the hearing aid, devices reduce background noise, offer directionality, have little feedback/“whistling”, and connect to your cellphone.
Current devices are better at providing clear sound than ever before. While the choices may seem overwhelming, working closely with your hearing professional at Hillcrest can help you determine which technology and features are perfect for your needs.
Choosing a Hearing Aid
Once you know or suspect that you have a hearing loss, it’s critical that you find a professional hearing practice that you trust.
With this trust, you will be better able to learn about your hearing loss and will be more confident with your hearing aid decisions.
Each recommendation that we make is unique to your hearing loss, lifestyle and financial consideration. We will counsel and inform you about reasonable expectations and ways to maximize hearing aid use success.
The hearing aid is but one critical part of improved hearing. Success is also determined by your commitment to consistently wear your hearing aids and by the expertise and service of our practice.
Call Hillcrest Hearing & Balance Center at (937) 222-0022 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
