Hear Ye, Hear Ye....

It's been a long time since I had my hearing tested. In fact, I think my last test was when I was in school, when they used to give us physicals there. Back then they took you into a small room in the nurses office, and placed headphones over your ears, and when you heard sounds in the headset, you were supposed to raise your hand.

I took my mother for a hearing test today. Things sure have changed. No longer do the use a headset and place you in a little booth. She sat in a chair beside the doctor. He placed foam things into her ears, similar to those foam ear plugs. Inside were devices through which sounds would come, one ear at a time, from an attached computer panel which the guy was adjusting. He explained each step to Mom and watched for her reactions, and then he placed the facts on a chart he had in front of him
After that, we were moved to another room where he placed a hearing aid in her ear. He spent a good deal of time adjusting volume, clarity, bass decibels, sharpness, pitch, in order to get the proper formula for her hearing.  Following that, she was taken to a third room where the doctor made a mold for a new hearing aid which would be geared to her own particular needs. Since the hearing in her right ear is almost completely gone, and she does have significant hearing loss in the left ear, this could be a tricky undertaking.

It was an extensive examination and it took about an hour and a half from start to finish, not counting the discussion of the three types of aid that she had the option of purchasing. Those things aren't cheap, but what is the value of hearing well? I say it's worth every penny spent in order to get the best auditory use possible.

In the end, we came away with the highest and best unit, because it would do her the most good, and has more adjustment opportunity. Since Mom had a barely used aid for her right ear, which has never helped her hearing, she asked if she could donate it, or something. The doctor decided that he would take it as a trade in, giving her a good amount off the cost of the new one. In addition, there is a 30 day trial period. She will use the new device, and return in one week for adjustment, should she feel there is anything not right with the hearing. Then she will use it for yet another week, possibly two, and then return to give her opinions of its efficiency.  At the end of thirty days, she will have the option of keeping it or returning it for a 100% refund. 

How can you beat a deal like that?  It's a win/win situation! Let's hope that the end result allows Mom to hear at the best of her ability. That is the goal...and will be the best prize of all!