If the hearing aid is the style that fits behind-the-ear and is appropriate for your type and degree of hearing loss, the answer is yes. We would need to assess your hearing and determine if you can wear the old hearing aid. You would need to buy an earmold and pay a nonrefundable fitting fee. Any hearing aid with instrumentation that fits entirely in the ear is a custom-made piece which cannot be modified to fit another user.

Recently many major hearing aid manufacturers have placed words of caution on their websites, warning consumers to not purchase hearing aids online or from internet retailers. Instead, purchase from a qualified and trained hearing aid professional to ensure the best possible outcome with your hearing aids.

A successful fitting of hearing aids is dependent on many factors beyond simply buying the right hearing aids for you and your hearing loss.

1. Our hearing professionals, Ann Marie Pickart, H.I.S, B.S. and Diana Krupp, H.I.S, will evaluate your hearing loss through simple, painless testing. This is a critical aspect of any hearing aid purchase: what is the extent of the hearing loss and in what frequencies is the loss most severe.

Unfortunately, when you buy hearing aids on-line, there’s no professional there between you, the buyer, and your purchase. So, the chances are pretty good that you’ll buy the wrong hearing aids for your needs and lifestyle – and complain about it every day.

2. A good hearing device is one that can be tuned by a professional. Digital hearing aids are more sophisticated than over-the-counter amplifiers and the cheap hearing aids you see in magazines. Quality digital hearing aids are programmed differently at each frequency based on the amount of hearing loss to provide adequate amounts of amplification for each frequency independently.

An Internet retailer may send hearing aids programmed based on a hearing loss (although many don’t even do that); however, that does not guarantee the hearing aid settings will be appropriate.

Programming hearing aids strictly on hearing loss does not equal a successful fitting. A successful fitting of hearing aids is when they are programmed to the wearer’s preference, experience level with wearing hearing aids, required listening environments and real-ear verification tests verify the fitting is accurate.

3. Properly fit hearing aids equal healthy hearing. When hearing aids are purchased over the Internet, safety can become a concern. How do you know how the hearing aids are programmed when they arrive in the mail? You don’t. You will only know once you have turned them on and listen. And what happens when they are turned on full blast? There may be a risk of damaging your hearing.

4. After-purchase care. Our specialists are there to answer questions, make fine-tuning adjustments and monitor your hearing over the years. Expect to establish a long-term friendship with a good hearing aid professional. You’ll be seeing each other regularly.

5. Trial periods, returns, upgrades and guarantees. Your local hearing aid professional wants to provide the best listening experience to suit the extent of your hearing loss, your preferences for style and, of course, quality of sound.

We offer a 45-day trial period on newly purchased hearing aids, exclusive of a fitting and preparation fee and are we are with you one-on-one throughout the trial period to ensure the hearing aids are the right fit for you.

Pickart Hearing Service also offers an upgrade opportunity – within six months of purchase if you decide you would like to change to a higher level of technology from your original purchase you will only pay the difference in price.

With an internet retailer you just don’t get that kind of follow-up service or guarantee.

6. The money is forgotten but the benefits are there every day. Yep, you can save a couple of hundred bucks buying on-line, but many manufacturers of hearing aids encourage you to work directly one-on-one with a trained professional in order to obtain the best listening experience possible.

Hearing aids are more than mere amplifiers. They are complex digital electronic devices that are not only allowing people with hearing loss to hear, they are giving back quality of life and happiness too many. This type of investment is worth purchasing face-to-face from a trained and qualified hearing professional.

To schedule your FREE Hearing Evaluation at any of our four locations please give us a call at 877-203-7128.

“Helping the Community Hear Better One Person at a Time”

Wearing hearing aids often requires an adjustment period.

Adjusting to wearing a hearing aid for the first time can be difficult.  The adjustment time is different for everyone.  Some wearers get accustomed to them in a few days. It may take several months for others.   In order to have realistic expectations and reduce frustration, be aware that an adjustment period is normal.

Most hearing healthcare professionals agree that it is important to wear your hearing aids as much as possible.  The more you wear them, the faster your brain will acclimate to the new sounds you are hearing.  A new hearing aid wearer must allow time for the brain to readjust to these new signals it is receiving from the reintroduction of sound.

Typically, certain things may sound strange at first. Your own voice may sound different and loud, others voices may sound slightly tinny, and you may hear things like the refrigerator running or a computer hum for the first time in a long time. Once your brain has time to sort through this new information, these sounds will not be so strange and foreign to you.

It is important to be open with your hearing healthcare professional about what you like and do not like about your new hearing aids.  The more specific you can be, the greater the chance that the professional can adjust the hearing aids accordingly.  Hearing aid professionals often suggest that the new wearer keep a running list of any and all observations the wearer has during the first couple of weeks of hearing aid usage.

In addition to talking with your hearing healthcare professional, it may help to talk with friends and family members that also have hearing aids.  However, keep in mind that every hearing aid wearer’s experience can be different. There are a lot of factors that go into how well a person will do with hearing aids such as amount, type and configuration of hearing loss; how well they can understand speech; the type of hearing aid they are fit with; as well as patient motivation and family support.

If you or a loved one have questions about hearing loss please give our office a call to schedule your FREE Hearing Evaluation and consultation at 877-203-7128

Not all hearing aid sizes and styles are made to suit everyone’s needs. Different hearing aids work better for different people. If you are thinking about investing in a hearing aid, there are a few things to consider when looking for the most appropriate device for your condition.

The type of hearing aid you should invest in depends on the nature and sensitivity of your hearing loss. Our Hearing Instrument Specialists, Ann Marie Pickart, B.S., H.I.S. and Diana Krupp, H.I.S., will recommend different hearing aid devices for people with a mild degree of hearing loss than for those with severe hearing loss. You should also consider what kind of sound quality you are looking for.

Determining what kinds of hearing aid features are useful and/or practical for you and your lifestyle is also important. Individuals who spend lots of time outdoors or in crowded areas will have different needs than individuals who spend most of their time in quiet areas, and will therefore require different features for their hearing aids. Hearing aid features available will range from automatic volume control to the size and visibility of each device and accessories such as TV streamers, phone clips and mini mics.

Together, you and your specialist can determine which type of hearing aid is best for your needs. You can then be properly fitted for a customized hearing device. Our practice also offers a six month upgrade option so you can be sure your hearing aid is compatible with your lifestyle. Contact Pickart Hearing Service to schedule your FREE hearing evaluation and consultation at 877-203-7128.

Hearing aids are a critical first step in treating hearing loss. Being properly fitted with hearing aids can make a major difference in an individual’s ability to understand speech. Consequently, hearing aids can make a major impact on quality of life.
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More than 80 percent of all hearing loss is sensorineural. This type of hearing loss is generally not amenable to medical or surgical treatment. Fortunately, it can be helped most of the time by being fitted with hearing aids.
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Hearing aids are effective. The new circuitry designs of today can effectively compensate for hearing loss experienced by people of all ages with a wide variety of hearing loss, from mild to profound.
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Hearing loss is a health issue, and not necessarily a natural process of aging as perceived by some people. If not treated, it can impact on the general and psychological health of the individual through higher stress and anxiety levels resulting in more medical visits and hospital stays. Studies show that people with hearing loss are at risk of experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and chemical dependency which can impact their performance at work and their lifestyles at home.
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Hearing loss affects a large percentage of the population. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (2006), 37 million adults in the United States had trouble hearing.
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There is a stigma attached to hearing loss which, for some people who are hard of hearing, may result in an attempt to hide or deny their hearing loss. This is particularly true of employees who fear being seen as less competent if they admit to hearing loss in the workplace. Many people do not want to “make an issue” of their hearing loss, and, therefore, do not request insurance coverage of hearing aids.

It is never easy to confront a problem with someone you love, particularly if the person is older than you, or is not used to taking your advice, like a parent. Here are some helpful hints for managing this kind of problem:

• Begin a dialogue and encourage your loved one to talk about the problem. You can start the conversation by saying, “I’ve noticed that when we talk in person, or over the telephone, you don’t always understand what I say, or you ask me to repeat myself.”
• Bring some relevant literature with you, like this quiz on hearing loss. Ask your loved one to go over the quiz with you, or leave it for them to do alone later. They may be shy to confront the problem with you, and may need some time to adjust to the idea that other people have noticed they have trouble hearing.

. If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions, you could have a hearing problem and should have your hearing checked by one of our hearing instrument specialists.

• Do I have a problem hearing on the telephone?
• Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
• Do I have trouble hearing the other person speaking when there is noise in the background?
• Is it hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once?
• Do many people I talk to seem to mumble or not speak clearly?
• Do I misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
• Do I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
• Do people complain that I turn the TV volume up too high?
• Do I hear a ringing, roaring, or hissing sound a lot?
• Do some sounds seem too loud or too soft?

• Encourage your loved one to talk to their doctor, of if you accompany them to their medical appointments, ask the doctor directly about hearing loss.
• Remember to be patient. People are often embarrassed or discouraged by hearing loss. They don’t want to have to wear a big, clunky device on their ear. They don’t want other people to know they may be suffering from hearing loss. Let them know that recent advances have improved hearing technologies, and that they may be able to pick a hearing aid in a size or style that will remain inconspicuous

Hearing aid batteries can be tempting and easy to swallow for small children and infants. Always store and dispose of batteries where children can not get at them.

Occasionally, batteries have been mistaken for pills, always verify your medication before swallowing.

Always store hearing aid batteries in a dry place at room temperature. Do not store them in the refrigerator, nor store them under excessive heat.

Metal objects such as coins or keys can short out a battery.

A zinc air battery uses air outside the battery as a source of power. The tab is on the battery to seal the air hole and ensure freshness until you are ready to use the battery. To activate the battery, simply remove the tab, wait one minute to allow air to enter and activiate the ingredients, and insert the battery into your hearing aid. Replacing the tab when the battery is not in use will not extend the battery.

Also, check to see if all the glue from the tab comes off with the tab, if glue is covering the air hole the battery will not work. If glue sticks to the battery you can easily remove it with a erasure.

If the battery gets wet it will erode rapidly. Take the battery out of your hearing aid and dispose of it. Remove any excess mosture from the hearing aid and then insert a clean dry battery.

Hearing Aid batteries come in 5 common sizes. The most common hearing aid battery sizes are 10, 13, 312, 675 and 5. To identify the size, most manufactures use an industry standard color code on their zinc air tabs and packaging. Manufactures often place letters before or after the battery size to disignate their order number. For instance, 13A or R13ZA are both size 13 batteries.

Hearing aid batteries are dangerous if swallowed. If a battery should be accidentally swallowed, see a doctor immediately or call the National Button Battery Hotline @ 202-625-3333.

Recycling of your used hearing aid batteries helps to protect the environment and conserves resources. For information on how you can properly dispose of or recycle your used hearing aid batteries, call your local recycling hot line.

Battery Sale now in progress.  See the coupon on our specials page or watch for the printed copy in the Clipper Coupon magazine in the Fond du Lac Action Advertiser Wed. Jan. 18th!!