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Important Notice for Prospective Users
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 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 (without prior consultation by an ear specialist) is not
in your best health interest and its use is strongly discouraged.
Children with hearing loss
This product is not for use by anyone under 18 years of age. 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. Hearing
loss may cause problems in language development, educational growth, 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.
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 a hearing aid. 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 the hearing aid is purchased.
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 a 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.
