Why Choose Us?

Five Benefits to Choosing Alabama Hearing

1. Functional Hearing Assessment

At Alabama Hearing Associates, we believe that hearing loss is a healthcare issue more than a commodity purchasing issue. Overwhelming research links untreated hearing loss to cognitive decline, falls risk, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. A thorough evaluation of real-world, functional hearing ability is the critical first step.

Our Connect 365 Functional Hearing Assessment was developed for those who want a full and detailed assessment of communication, from ears to brain. People who want to ensure that there are no sacrifices or short cuts when it comes to medical care for themselves and their families can call us to schedule a Functional Hearing Assessment.

MC drove all the way from Chattanooga, TN for a Functional Hearing Assessment. Read what he has to say about his experience.

2. Cognitive Screening for Comprehensive Ear-Brain Assessment

Certain cognitive skills, including memory and processing speed, play a big role in our ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise. A key component in our Functional Hearing Assessment is the FDA-approved Cognivue.

Cognivue is not an IQ test or a list of questions. It is a simple automated assessment that takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Recent research indicates that treating hearing loss can slow down or potentially even reverse certain aspects of cognitive decline. Cognivue helps us to develop a hearing treatment plan that meets the needs of your ears and your brain.

3. 28 Years of Experience

The number one complaint of people who think they have a hearing loss is difficulty understanding speech in noise. Unfortunately, the basic “beep-beep” hearing test tells us nothing about real-world hearing ability. Another key part of our Functional Hearing Assessment is speech-in-noise testing, which measures how well you can understand speech in a real-world environment and how much listening effort is required.

This information helps us recommend the best treatment options for you, including hearing aid selection/programming, wireless accessories, and auditory rehab.

4. Best Practises

In 2006, the American Academy of Audiology published “Guidelines for the Audiologic Management of Adult Hearing Impairment.” These guidelines were intended to provide a set of standards or “Best Practices” for the assessment and treatment of hearing loss in adults. The goal for performing best practices is to increase the likelihood of patient satisfaction and benefit from hearing aids.

At Alabama Hearing Associates, we follow Best Practices from assessment to ongoing maintenance. In fact, we are the only clinic in Alabama to be certified members of Dr. Cliff’s Best Practice Pro Network!

A key best practice is real ear measurement, where we place a microphone in the ear with the hearing aid and take measurements at soft, medium, and loud volumes to make sure the hearing aid is meeting prescribed targets. It’s really the only way we can prove that hearing aids are providing adequate audibility for conversations. If you haven’t had real ear measurement, your hearing aids might not be helping as much as you’d like!

5. Giving Back in Our Community and Beyond

In January 2020, Alabama Hearing Associates joined Entheos Audiology Cooperative, a group of audiologists around the country who provide high-quality hearing healthcare to those in need, both locally and globally.

For several years, we have partnered with CASA of Madison County to provide hearing aids to low-income elderly patients, but with the help of Entheos and its non-profit fundraising arm, Hearing the Call, we are now able to extend our reach to all income-eligible adults in the Huntsville, AL area.

Hearing the Call – Rocket City is the only non-profit project in North Alabama bridging the gap between quality hearing healthcare and those in need. Every hearing aid purchased from Alabama Hearing Associates generates funds to extend a helping hand in our community and beyond!

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I have an unusual hearing loss and have been to almost every audiologist in this area and have never received as much information and as much help for my hearing loss as Alabama Hearing Associates. They are extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and careful to program the hearing aids so that so that you get the best hearing experience possible. I can’t recommend them more highly. Thank you Doctor Susan and Doctor Sarah!!!

– Elaine Johnson

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Meet The Team

YOUR JOURNEY TO
BETTER HEARING

Step 8 - Product Optimization
Step 7 - Real World Adjustments
Step 10 - Continued Care and Coverage
Step 6 - Personalized Orientation
Step 9 - Performance Validation
Step 1 - Schedule Appointment
Step 5 - Fitting and Real Ear Measurement
Step 4 - Electroacoustic analysis
Step 3 - Device Selection
Step 2 - Functional Hearing Assessment
Real World Adjustments

Your hearing loss didn't occur overnight, so it will take some time to adjust to the hearing aids. Your patience and persistence will be well worth it.

AHA Continued Care & Coverage Plan

$395 Per Year

Hearing Aids are not a quick fix, and better hearing is truly a journey.

Our "Continued Care & Coverage Plan" allows you to have the continued support of a hearing expert throughout the year.

Includes:

  • Dedicated team of hearing care experts at your service
  • Comprehensive Annual Visit including hearing assessment, hearing device adjustment, and 19-Point preventative maintenance evaluation
  • 100% moisture removal by Redux and cleaning
  • Two tele-audiology appointments
  • Bi-annual hearing aid software update and reprogramming
  • Hearing aid supplies (stock receivers, batteries, domes, and filters)
  • Access to our "speed of light" repair specialists within 2 business days
  • $100 discount on any out-of-warranty factory repairs
Assessing Outcomes

To ensure the most success with your hearing devices, we measure the benefits of amplification at the end of your adjustment period—some of the surveys and tests included in the “Connect 365” Functional Hearing Assessment will be repeated to evaluate progress, quality of life, and patient satisfaction with the hearing aids. 

Wireless Connections

Most hearing aids automatically come with wireless streaming from smartphones and it has been a lifesaver for those that are working remotely and spending hours on teleconferences. As for other wireless accessories, the two most popular solutions are a small microphone used in less-than-ideal listening environments and a TV streamer that streams the TV’s sound directly into your ears—which can be a lifesaver when watching British TV shows or during football season. If your audiologist believes they would be beneficial for you, they will discuss your options and demonstrate the device in the office.

Orientation, Counseling, and Follow-up

Dr. Cliff (the creator of the Best Practice Pro Network) said it best:

“Having a detailed orientation can dramatically improve how much success you have with hearing treatment.  Counseling & Follow-up care can also ensure that you have success for years to come.  Regular visits to a hearing care provider who spends the time to discuss treatment related information and who will maintain your devices is extremely important.”

During the orientation, your provider will give you the tools you need to be a successful hearing aid user. Everyone has different learning styles and we want to make sure whatever works best for you is what’s used. After the 75 day adjustment period, routine checkups are necessary to maintain the hearing aids and to ensure optimal hearing healthcare. 

What Is Real-Ear Measurement?

Real-ear measurement (REM) is how an audiologist knows that hearing aids are working the way they should in each patient’s ears.

Ears are as unique as a fingerprint. Because of this, every ear will collect sounds differently.

Even if I had two patients with the exact same hearing loss and hearing aids, there’s almost no chance the hearing aids would be programmed the same way.

How do I know my new hearing aids are working properly?

Without verifying that the hearing aid is working correctly from the start, all of the other steps in the hearing aid fitting process are useless. The most sensitive quality control measure is something called Electroacoustic Analysis. We complete EAA on every new set of hearing aids, before delivery of repaired devices, and on an annual basis.

Prescription Hearing Technology with a Methodical Plan

Our community understands better than most what can be achieved when you combine technology with human intelligence and persistence. It is much the same with hearing technology.

The latest prescription hearing aid technology is incredibly powerful, offering stellar sound quality and performance. Wireless connections allow phone calls, music and television to stream directly to your hearing aids for exceptional clarity.

But hearing aids do not fit and program themselves! For best outcomes, you also need the human touch and expertise provided by our Doctors of Audiology.

A Comprehensive12-Step Functional Hearing Assessment

If you struggle to understand conversations in social situations, restaurants, or other noisy environments, you do not need to schedule a basic hearing test. You certainly don’t need to schedule a “free” hearing screening or online hearing test.

You need to schedule a “Connect 365” Functional Hearing Assessment at Alabama Hearing Associates!

Schedule Appointment

ALL INCLUSIVE PLAN

$7,280

Comprehensive 5-Year treatment plan with premium prescription hearing aid technology

If you want premium “out of this world” technology and the highest level of service and expert support, our All-Inclusive treatment plan is the right investment for you.

The All-Inclusive treatment plan offers long-term value for your on-the-go lifestyle, providing everything you need to connect with family and friends for years to come.

Includes:

• Stellar  prescription hearing devices from top manufacturer (rechargeable option available)

• Wireless accessory included at no charge

• Comprehensive Annual Visit including hearing assessment, hearing device adjustment, and 19-Point preventative maintenance valutaion

• Bi-annual hearing aid software update and reprogramming

• Same day diagnosis and in-office repair during weekdays for devices dropped off before 3:00 p.m.

• 5-Year full-service repair warranty

• Unlimited remote hearing aid adjustments

• 100% moisture removal by Redux and cleaning

• Hearing aid supplies (stock receivers, batteries, domes and filters)

• $1000 contribution towards purchase of upgraded technology within 48 months

• 3-Year replacement warranty for loss or damage (no deductible)

• Dedicated team of hearing care experts at your service

• Unlimited teleaudiology appointments

• Access to our “speed of light” repair specialists

Basic Hearing Test

A basic hearing test begins with an air conduction test. You will be seated in a soundproof booth and single-use, foam earphones will be inserted into your ear canals. The Audiologist will ask you to push a button or raise your hand when you barely hear a series of beeps (tones) presented at various frequencies (pitches) to obtain your air conduction thresholds.

To determine whether your hearing loss is a conductive (mechanical) loss, sensorineural (permanent) loss or combination of the two, we perform a bone conduction test.  

For this test, a head band is place on the bone behind one of the ears to obtain your bone conduction thresholds. This process provides a different form of sound transmission using vibration, which bypasses the eardrum and the middle ear bones and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. When you hear the beeps/tones, you will push a button or raise your hand.

If bone conduction thresholds are better than air conduction thresholds (through the foam inserts), you have a conductive hearing loss. This suggests a problem with the mechanical structures (moving parts) of the ears.

Conductive hearing loss is often a medically treatable condition for which we will provide you with a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) physician. However, if bone and air conduction thresholds match, it indicates a sensorineural hearing loss (permanent), and the treatment will likely involve hearing aids.