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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 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 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. 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.
Audibel
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
www.audibel.com
