Frequently Asked Questions about Hearing Aids

A quick self-evaluation

People who come to your house complain or make jokes about how loud the TV is. You often find yourself asking people to repeat themselves. Or you rely on someone close to you to repeat what others say. You may even get nervous when that person isn't around to help. You often have trouble understanding the person at the other end of the phone. Answering the phone may be frustrating. You find yourself participating less in conversations, even with family and friends. You strain to study people's faces as they're talking so you can fill in the gaps by reading their expressions or lips. You get irritated with people when you can't understand what they're saying. You may even feel depressed.

If you see yourself or someone you love in one or more of the examples above, it may be time to admit there is an issue and have a hearing test done to truly see what the concerns are. Hearing loss, like your thumbprint, is individualized and unique. There are several tests that can be done to test your hearing. Those tests serve as the foundation for the hearing aid recommendation you will receive from your Costco audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner.** Most hearing loss is the result of noise exposure or the natural process of aging. It can also be caused by illness, genetics or medications, like chemotherapy. Most hearing loss can also be effectively addressed with hearing aids. It is well worth getting your hearing tested at least once a year to make sure you are getting the help you need sooner rather than later.

It is hard for most people to make the decision to finally try hearing aids. The best thing you can do if you suspect that someone close to you has a hearing loss is to educate yourself, and then share what you learn with them. We can help to provide valuable insight into advances in hearing aids. You can help support your loved one by being informed.

Most hearing aid dispensing facilities encourage family members to be present for testing and fitting of hearing aids. That way, the hearing impaired person has more resources to help if they need more assistance on tasks, like inserting and removing their hearing aids. Showing your support to your loved one by encouraging the regular use of the new hearing aids will help them get the most from their new hearing aids.

Costco makes getting your hearing checked as easy as possible. It starts with a complimentary hearing test.*

If hearing aids are recommended, you can choose from the latest in technology at the value you expect from Costco.

A hearing test is no more disruptive, difficult or embarrassing than getting your eyes checked. The test takes about an hour and is done in a private sound booth.

Costco's non-commissioned audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner will let you know whether hearing aids might be able to help you. We will work with you to find the most appropriate solution for your lifestyle. Our staff will help you through the entire process, from testing and fitting to follow-up visits.

There is no one best kind of hearing aid. Your hearing aid dispenser can explain the different types of hearing aids to you, and will select the type of hearing aids most closely matched to your hearing loss, the anatomy of your ear and your lifestyle. All of these things must be considered in order to make the right recommendation for you.

Costco works with several major hearing aid suppliers and offers a variety of styles. Our staff will work closely with you to select the best hearing aid for your needs.

There are several different styles of hearing aids, from tiny completely in-the-canal models to behind-the-ear hearing aids. Each style has specific performance characteristics that will be taken into consideration when you receive a recommendation. The tiniest hearing aids are not the right choice for everyone, nor does everyone need the most powerful kind of hearing aid. If you have questions about which style is right for you, Costco’s hearing aid staff can explain the pros and cons of each individual style.

The most important thing you can do to choose the right hearing aids is to work with someone you trust, who will work with you to make sure you are getting the most from your hearing aids.

Hearing aids are designed to improve your performance in most listening situations. Even a normal hearing person will struggle if the noise in the room is louder than the conversation, as they would at a loud party. Hearing aids are not a replacement for normal hearing, but there have been significant advances in recent years to make hearing aids work well in most situations.

Some hearing aids have features like special noise reduction circuitry, or multiple listening programs that can be adjusted to suit certain environments. If you have a very active lifestyle, you should be discussing that with your audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner so they can take that into account when making recommendations for you.

The length of time it takes to adapt to hearing aids really depends on how quickly you address your hearing loss. The longer you wait to try hearing aids, the longer it will take your brain to make sense of the new sounds that are heard. It is important to wear your hearing aids regularly so that you can adapt more quickly and more completely.