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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 hearing 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 hearing 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
amplification, 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 statement declining the medical
evaluation for religious or personal beliefs that preclude