Starkey RIC 312, Operation Manual

Page: 31 / 40

31
FDA Information
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 instruments 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
consultation with a physician. The exercise of such a waiver is not in your
best health interest and its use is strongly discouraged.
A hearing aid will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or
improve a hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions. Use
of a hearing aid is only part of hearing habilitation and may need to be
supplemented by auditory training and instruction in lip reading. In most
cases infrequent use of a hearing aid does not permit a user to attain full
benefit from it.
CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS.
In addition to seeing a physician for a medical evaluation, a child
with a hearing loss should be directed to an audiologist for evaluation
and rehabilitation since hearing loss may cause problems in language
development and the educational and social growth of a child.
An audiologist is qualified by training and experience to assist in the
evaluation and rehabilitation of a child with a hearing loss.