42 | Regulatory Information
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 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�
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 nominal 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 is not in your best health interest and its use is
strongly discouraged�
A hearing aid will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve a
hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions� Use of a hearing aid is
only part of hearing habilitation and may need to be supplemented by auditory
training and instruction in lip reading� In most cases infrequent use of a hearing
aid does not permit a user to attain full benefit from it� Special care should be
exercised in selecting and fitting a hearing aid whose maximum sound pressure
level exceeds 132 decibels because there may be risk in impairing the remaining
hearing of the hearing aid user�
Some hearing aid users have reported a buzzing sound in their hearing aid when
they are using mobile phones, indicating that the mobile phone and hearing aid
may not be compatible� According to the ANSI C63�19 standard (ANSI C63�19-
2007 American National Standard Methods of Measurement of Compatibility
Between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids), the compatibility
of a particular hearing aid and mobile phone can be predicted by adding the
rating for the hearing aid immunity to the rating for the mobile phone emissions�
For example, the sum of a hearing aid rating of 2 (M2/T2) and a telephone rating
of 3 (M3/T3) would result in a combined rating that equals at least 5 would
provide “normal use”; a combined rating of 6 or greater would indicate “excellent
performance”� See the Quick Start Guide included with your hearing aid for the
exact M/T rating of your hearing aid�
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 for evaluation and rehabilitation 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�
