FAQ

If you answer ‘yes’ to one or more of the below statements, we would encourage you to book in for a hearing test with our audiology team. Similarly, you may think your hearing levels are normal, but it wise to remember that you may not recognise a deficit right away. Hearing loss often tends to occur gradually over time. By being proactive, you can help diagnose symptoms early before a deterioration progresses.

• When watching the TV or listening to the radio, you must turn up the volume
• When you are in a group or crowded restaurant, you struggle to follow the conversation
• Family members and friends constantly repeat themselves during conversation or frequently  mention your inability to hear
• You avoid social activities because you are embarrassed
• You find a man’s voice easier to understand in comparison to a woman
• You often find it difficult to hear the phone or doorbell ring

Every child of primary school age should be tested, regardless of whether they have a suspected hearing loss or not. At Audiology Medical Services, we are committed to breaking down the barriers of paediatric diagnostic audiology in Ireland. No child should endure lengthy waiting lists in a bid to assess their hearing level. With the roll- out of child-friendly sound booths and state-of- the-art technology at a number of our clinics, we aim to make paediatric hearing examinations more accessible than ever.

If your child presents one or more of the following symptoms, he/she may have difficulty hearing:

• You have to raise your voice to catch the child’s attention
• Frequent ear infections
• Failure to startle at loud noises
• Delayed speech development
• He/she does not always respond when called
• Displaying inattentive or withdrawn behaviour at school
• Repeatedly asks for things to be repeated
• Consistently turns one ear towards the source of noise

Excessive wax accumulation can cause a drop in hearing. In most cases, however, a hearing impairment is not due to wax alone. Upon examination, we will be able to determine the level of wax in each ear and advise another treatment option, such as micro-suction or irrigation.

At Audiology Medical Services, we believe that everyone over the age of 55 should have a hearing test as part of their overall wellbeing. In support of this belief, we extend a free examination to over 55’s in all of our clinics.

We believe that hearing loss is a family issue. Your hearing test results and our recommendations based on these will be very detailed. This can be overwhelming for the patient, so we always advise to bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. Their support during your adjustment period is vital to the successful management and use of your new device. They will take note of information you may overlook during your consultation and we often use that person’s voice as a test for how effective your hearing aid is working.

The three main classifications of hearing loss are sensorineural, conductive and mixed hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the cochlea (inner ear), while conductive hearing loss is caused by damage to the middle ear. A mixed loss refers to a combination of the former.

When we refer to your degree of hearing loss, we are speaking about its severity. We measure your hearing loss by degrees according to the below scale:

• Normal range to no loss: 10 to 20 dB
• Slight or minimal loss: 20 to 30 dB
• Mild loss: 26 to 40dB
• Moderate loss: 40 to 60 dB
• Moderate to severe loss: 51 to 70 dB
• Severe loss: 71 to 90 dB
• Profound loss: 91+ dB

As an independent practice with no ties to any specific brand, we stock a range of hearing instruments to suit your individual needs. These range from Lyric to Phonak and more. We have selected brands which we feel are technologically advanced, have good reputations, and are backed by companies willing to work closely with our patients.

This answer will depend on the results of your hearing evaluation. Generally speaking, your hearing performs much better with two instruments (especially in noise). Using one hearing aid alone will increase volume, but it will be detrimental when trying to hear in a noisy environment. The ear without a device will in turn be more strained which could ultimately deteriorate its health further.

Due to financial reasons, some patients may only be able to purchase just one instrument. When this is the case, we recommend that a second hearing aid be added as soon as possible.

In short, the answer is no. Most cases of hearing loss are caused by damaged or missing hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear), and these cannot be replaced. But thanks to huge advances in technology, this means modern hearing aids are a proven solution to greatly improving your ability to hear and your overall quality of life.

Just like your eyes, teeth and body, your hearing should be considered an investment. Low-cost hearing aids are very basic and their performance falls markedly when used outside the remit of quieter environments. A bargain may seem more lucrative and friendly to your bank account now, but the effectiveness of the device and its impact on your hearing may cause problems further down the line. At Audiology Medical Services, we will work with you to choose the right hearing aid whilst taking your budget into consideration.

Some people may find their hearing aids don’t work, but this is usually down to the device not fitting correctly or the user feeling uncomfortable wearing them. A slight adjustment to your device settings could see a vast improvement in the quality of your hearing.

It usually takes approximately seven days, and no longer than two weeks. However, you will need a second consultation for fitting and verification.

Depending on your level of hearing loss, you will need to allow yourself a significant timeframe to adjust following the fitting of your device. You will more than likely experience sounds you may not have heard for years, and these will seem unusually loud to begin with. This is perfectly normal, and everything will settle once you become acclimatised to wearing your hearing aid.

At Audiology Medical Services, our ongoing rehabilitation programme is of equal importance to the examination and fitting stage of your journey. We pride ourselves on being one of the top hearing care specialists in the country for best practice patient care. With this in mind; reliability and consistent support will be offered throughout your transition.

To ensure you enjoy the full benefits of your new device, it is important that you set realistic expectations from the outset. Your audiologist will establish goals, set exercises and schedule counselling appointments for these first nine months. During this adjustment period, we recommend you keep a diary of specific problems andsituations that may arise. During your follow-up consultation, we can easily fine tune or change the settings of your hearing aid to match your needs.

During your fitting, we will offer advice on how to care for your specific brand. For example, some devices are not waterproof and can be damaged while swimming or in the shower. Your audiologist will educate you on how to clean your hearing aids, removing particles such as wax and debris that may clog the microphone.

At Audiology Medical Services, we will provide a thorough cleaning of your hearing aids every few months as part of our service to you. We also accept responsibility for any repairs, ensuring they are back to you in working order as soon as possible.

A grant towards the cost of your hearing aid is available under the Treatment Benefit Scheme. The maximum grant is €500 per hearing aid (€1000 for a pair). This means all our hearing aids €1,000 and under are fully covered by your PRSI contributions and essentially completely free if you qualify for the grant! If the cost of your hearing aids is over €1000, you only need to pay the balance.

There are now more people than ever eligible for a hearing aid grant. Those who are employed, self-employed, or retired are all eligible providing they or their dependent spouse or partner have the required amount of PRSI contributions. Medical Card holders are also likely to have the required PRSI contributions, which means you too could be entitled to a free pair of hearing aids.

A hearing aid repair grant up to a maximum of €100 is available and of course we also offer Free hearing tests.

Complete the eligibilty form by clicking the 'Check Eligibilty' button below and we will let you know if you are eligible for the Hearing Aid Grant. Alternatively, you can freephone us on 1800 501 501 and we can check your eligibility today.

More information on the Treatment Benefit Scheme can be found at www.welfare.ie For those with private health insurance cover, tax relief can be claimed for expenses at the highest rate you pay.

Audiology Medical Services is an approved supplier of the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

Terms and Conditions Apply

This grant is subject to eligibility and is funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It can only be claimed once every four years.

It is important that you are happy with your hearing aids. You can try out our hearing aids for 60 days. If, within this period, you find yourself less than completely satisfied with the enhancement they provide to your hearing, you may return them for a refund. Please note an administration fee of €250.00 applies to all refunds.