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Important Notices
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, 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.
Important notice for prospective hearing
instrument wearers
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 hearing instruments. Licensed physicians
who specialize in diseases of the ear are often referred to as
Otolaryngologists, Otologists, or Otorhinolaryngologists.
The purpose of a medical evaluation is to assure that all medically
treatable conditions that may affect hearing are identified and
treated before hearing instruments are purchased.
Following the medical evaluation, the physician will give you
a written statement that your hearing loss has been medically
evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for hearing
instruments.
The physician will refer you to a Hearing Care Professional, as
appropriate, for a hearing instrument evaluation.
The Hearing Care Professional will conduct a hearing instrument
evaluation to assess your ability to hear with and without hearing
instruments. The hearing instrument evaluation will enable the
Hearing Care Professional to select and fit hearing instruments for
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 Care
Professionals now offer programs that permit you to wear a
hearing instrument for a period of time for a nominal fee after
which you may decide if you want to purchase the hearing
instrument.
Only those fully informed adults who have either obtained
medical evaluation from a licensed physician or signed a waiver
statement declining the medical evaluation for religious or
personal beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician may
purchase hearing instruments. The exercise of such a waiver is not
in your best health interest and its use is strongly discouraged.
Warning to Hearing Care Professionals
An Hearing Care Professional should advise a prospective hearing
instrument user to consult promptly with a licensed physician
(preferably an ear specialist) before dispensing a hearing
instrument if the Hearing Care Professional determines through
inquiry, actual observation, or review of any other available
information concerning the prospective user that the prospective
user has any of the following conditions:
• Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.
• Acute or chronic dizziness.
• History of active drainage from the ear within the previous 90 days.
• History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss within the
previous 90 days.
• Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within the
previous 90 days.
