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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PROSPECTIVE HEARING AID
USERS
Good health practice requires that a person with a hearing loss
have a medical evaluation by a licensed physician (preferably a
physician who specializes in diseases of the ear) before purchasing
a hearing aid. Licensed physicians who specialize in diseases of
the ear are often referred to as otolaryngologists, otologists, or
otorhinolaryngologists. The purpose of medical evaluation is to
assure that all medically treatable conditions that may affect hear-
ing are identified and treated before the hearing aid is purchased.
Following the medical evaluation, the physician will give you
a written statement that states that your hearing loss has been
medically evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate
for a hearing aid. The physician will refer you to an audiologist or a
hearing aid dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing aid evaluation.
The audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will conduct a hearing aid
evaluation to assess your ability to hear with and without a hear-
ing aid. The hearing aid evaluation will enable the audiologist or
dispenser to select and fit a hearing aid to your individual needs.
If you have reservations about your ability to adapt to amplifica-
tion, you should inquire about the availability of a trial-rental or
purchase-option program. Many hearing aid dispensers now offer
programs that permit you to wear a hearing aid for a period of
time for a nominal fee after which you may decide if you want to
purchase the hearing aid.
Federal law restricts the sale of hearing aids to those individuals
who have obtained a medical evaluation from a licensed physician.
Federal law permits a fully informed adult to sign a waiver state-
ment declining the medical evaluation for religious or personal
beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician. The exercise
of such a waiver is not in your best health interest and its use is
strongly discouraged.