Why Get a Hearing Test So lets say you have already seen your Audiologist (and were shocked at the prices of hearing aids) or have been thinking about getting a hearing test. This email will help you understand what an Audiogram is--and how we program hearing aids with it.
An audiogram is chart/graph that is created by using a device called an Audiometer. Read this How to Read a Hearing Test page for more information. Audiograms are a standard way of representing a person's hearing loss. Most audiograms cover the limited range 100Hz to 8000Hz (8 kHz) which is most important for clear understanding of speech, and they plot the threshold of hearing relative to a standardized curve that represents 'normal' hearing. The audiometer is calibrated to produce sounds at pitches associated with human speech. The audiometer tracks the volume level at which you detect each pitch or tone across the frequency range where human speech takes place.
Why Get an Audiogram?
First Reason: To help you find the best hearing aid fit you will need an audiogram that shows you what type of hearing loss you have--which could be normal, mild, moderate or severe.

Each of our hearing aids have a "suggested" fitting range, which means they are designed for specific hearing losses. We compare your audiogram (or you can do this yourself) next to our hearing aid suggested fitting ranges charts.
Second Reason: If you order without knowing what type of hearing you have you will most likely be dissatisfied with our hearing aids and return them.
What Is My "SUGGESTED FIT"?
First lets go back to what an Audiogram is: Audiograms are a standard way of representing a person's hearing loss. Now, to help you find the best hearing aid fit you will need an audiogram that shows you what type of hearing loss you have--which could be normal, mild, moderate or severe.

Each hearing aid has a "suggested" fitting range, which means they are designed for specific hearing losses. At this point in the fitting process, all the Hearing Aid Specialists does is compare your audiogram next to the hearing aid suggested fitting ranges charts created by the Hearing Aid manufacturer.
Your audiogram will tell you what type of hearing loss you have normal, mild, moderate, severe or profound. Regretfully, in most cases, the worse your hearing is, the more likely you are going to spend more money on a hearing aid.
After that, you choose a style. Here is a page with Pros and Cons of each style:
http://centuryhearingaids.com/hearing-aid-styles-pros-cons
DO I NEED A DOCTORS EXAM/ PRESCRIPTION?
While we encourage a proper relationship between you and a medical professional, you do not need a medical exam to purchase a hearing aid. The FDA grants you the right to waive a medical exam.The next paragraph is the statement that the FDA requires that you agree to before purchasing hearing aids online.
Waiver to Medical Evaluation Requirements: This is to inform you that the Food and Drug Administration has determined that it is in your best health interest to obtain a medical evaluation by a licensed physician, who specializes in diseases of the ear; then to be tested by an audiologist, or hearing aid dispenser utilizing established procedures and instrumentation in the fitting of hearing instruments. Note: Ordering a hearing instrument from this Website constitutes your acknowledgment and acceptance of this Waiver to Medical Evaluation Requirements.