Services

We offer a great selection of hearing aid brands and types. Click here to learn more.

1. Otoscopy – The Audiologist will look into your ear canal with a light source, known as an otoscope, to ensure the canal is clear of any wax or build-up (drainage, skin, etc) that may be blocking the canal and ear drum (“tympanic membrane”).
2. Tympanometry – This test allows the Audiologist to evaluate the mobility of the eardrum, as well as the health status of the middle ear.
3. Tonal Audiometry – This test is used to establish the hearing sensitivity in each ear at frequencies between 250-8000 Hz, requiring you to simply push a response button or raise your hands when you hear the tone. It is done through headphones (air conduction), as well as through a bone conduction vibrator (bone conduction).
4. Speech Audiometry –This test establishes the discrimination, or clarity, of your auditory system. You will be asked to repeat a set of words presented through headphones by the Audiologist.
5. Results –Results from the hearing evaluation are available immediately. The Audiologist will discuss the results, and associated recommendations, in-detail with you. If hearing aids are recommended, they will be discussed as well.
6. Realistic Expectation – It is important that patients and their families understand the benefits, and the limitations, of hearing aids. The Audiologist will discuss with you how hearing aids work with respect to your hearing loss and communication needs specifically.
7. Hearing Aid Evaluation – During this appointment, the different options of hearing aids will be discussed specific to your hearing loss and needs. If possible, the Audiologist will demonstrate devices in the office, allowing you to hear through them for the appointment. If you choose to proceed with ordering hearing aids, a non-refundable deposit of $150 per ear will be taken at the time of ordering. Your hearing aid dispense will then be scheduled, which is when the balance of the total cost will be due.

At Total Hearing Solutions, we understand that getting hearing aids is a big, and sometimes unfamiliar, decision. At your hearing aid dispense, we will take the time needed to ensure you are comfortable with your hearing aids.

A typical dispense goes as follows:

1. The Audiologist will initially place the devices in/on your ears, ensuring the fit is secure and comfortable. Additionally, fine tuning adjustments will be made at this time by the Audiologist.
2. Once the proper fit is achieved, either the Audiologist or the Audiology Assistant will discuss the care and maintenance involved with your specific devices. This includes insertion and removal of the devices, changing the batteries (or charging them), cleaning of devices, etc.
3. Any necessary paperwork will be completed with the Audiologist, and discussed in-detail with you. The remainder of the total cost will also be taken at this time.
4. The hearing aid dispense appointment starts the 30-day satisfaction period. During that time, you will likely return for two visits with your Audiologist for necessary adjustments. Should you decide to return the devices within the 30-day satisfaction period, you may do so with the devices in good and working condition. Upon return of those devices, you would be refunded the total amount paid, less the $150 per ear non-refundable deposit.

We want to make sure your experience with your new hearing aids is a very positive one. For that reason we have Post-Fitting Checks to ensure you’re not only satisfied, but to confirm your hearing aids are working as optimally as they can.

• We’ll schedule a post-fitting check about two weeks after you receive your hearing aids.
• You’ll receive an opportunity to discuss your experiences with the hearing aids, how they sound and how you are doing with them.
• We will most likely increase the gain of the hearing aids at this visit, and can make any fine-tune adjustments you may need.
• If you have any questions about cleaning and care of your hearing aids, we’ll help you with this.

We are committed to uncompromising care for our patients so we offer the most comprehensive healthy hearing program in Central Indiana with every hearing aid purchase.

• Free batteries for the life of your hearing aids. Batteries are provided in conjunction with a 6-month clean and check, as well as a 12-month hearing evaluation.
• Quarterly cleanings and checks
• Yearly audiometric screenings and reprogramming of hearing devices
• A three-year repair warranty

*This care package is not applicable to the Basic Level hearing aid device purchases.

Custom Fitted Hearing Protection and Earmolds

The shape of your outer ear and ear canal are unique to you. Earmolds are typically used for one of two reasons:

• To keep things out (noise and water are the two big issues).
• To keep things in (amplified sound from a hearing aid).

To obtain the maximum benefit from an earmold you need the best fit possible and that is exactly why we offer custom made earmolds.

• Custom Earmolds

  • iPod earbuds
  • Hunting
  • Musician’s earplugs
  • Swim Molds (for swimming or showering)
  • Noise protection
  • Hunter’s earplugs for shooting

• Educational seminars are available - contact us for more info

Aural rehabilitation or “aural rehab” is the process of identifying and diagnosing a hearing loss and then providing different types of therapies to patients who are hearing impaired. We use aural rehab in our practice as an important component in the overall care of our patients. We don’t just see our patients as a set of ears disconnected from the overall person. We know that there is much more to you than your hearing loss. The goal of all aural rehab therapies is to assist anyone with a hearing loss to overcome or learn to compensate for any problems caused by a hearing loss. Trust your hearing care to a practice that views you as an individual who happens to be hearing impaired and not just a set of ears.

The many different types of aural rehabilitation therapies:

• Hearing aid orientation: The process of providing education and therapies to persons (individual or group) and their families about the use and expectations of wearing hearing aids to improve communication.
• Listening strategies: The process of teaching someone who has a hearing loss different strategies when listening with or without amplification to improve their ability to communicate.
• Speechreading: The process of using or teaching the understanding communication using visual cues observed from the speaker’s mouth, facial expressions, and hand movements.
• Auditory Training: The process of teaching an individual with a hearing loss the ability to recognize speech sounds, patterns, words, phrases, or sentences via audition.
• Unisensory: Therapy philosophy that centers on extreme development of a single sense for improving communication.

Steps included in an aural rehabilitation program for an adult:

• Assessment and impact of hearing loss
• Assessment for the use of hearing aids and or assistive listening devices
• Assessment of listening strategies and speech reading skills
• Developing a treatment program including the family
• Delivery of the treatment program
• Outcome measures

Treatment strategies for adults center on:

• Hearing aids and or assistive listening device evaluation and orientation
• Providing therapy to increase listening strategies and speech reading
• Counseling to ease the adjustment to hearing aids and or assistive listening devices and the possible psychological, emotional, and occupational impacts of hearing loss

Noise, or unwanted sound, is a pervasive occupational health problem. Exposure to high levels of noise can cause hearing loss. The extent of damage depends primarily on the intensity of the noise and the duration of the exposure.

Noise-induced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from short-term exposure to noise, with normal hearing returning after period of rest. Generally, prolonged exposure to high noise levels over a period of time can gradually cause permanent damage.

Regardless of their age, there are safe, effective and accurate measures to establish hearing sensitivity in children of all ages.Regardless of their age, there are safe, effective and accurate measures to establish hearing sensitivity in children of all ages.

Newborns and Infants: In the US, an average of 3 out of every 1000 babies are born with hearing loss. This is why your newborn’s hearing is now screened before you are discharged from the hospital. These measures are noninvasive, and require no response from the infant. If your newborn does not pass the hospital screening, they are referred for a complete hearing evaluation, typically at a local hospital’s Audiology Department. For newborns diagnosed with true hearing loss, intervention within the first three months of diagnosis is ideal.

Toddlers (Ages 6 months to 2 years): The typical method used to evaluate the hearing of this age group is called “Visual Reinforcement Audiometry” (VRA). During VRA, the Audiologist presents sounds via headphones or a speaker, while training the child to react by looking at toys and lights.

Children Ages 3 years to 4 years: The typical method used to evaluate this age group is called “Conditioned Play Audiometry” (CPA). During CPA, the Audiologist plays sounds, while playing a “game” with the child as a response to the sounds they hear (typically placing blocks in a bucket or a puzzle, etc). CPA is a reliable and typically well-tolerated method for evaluating a child’s hearing sensitivity.

Children 5 years and up: Typically by the age of 5 years, children are able to be evaluated in the same manner as adults.

What is It?

Bluetooth technology is a wireless communications system intended to replace the cables connecting many different types of devices, from mobile phones and headsets to heart monitors and medical equipment. As a global standard, Bluetooth technology is in billions of products worldwide, including virtually every mobile phone, laptop, tablet, new car, and more than 40 million medical devices. In 2005 the first hearing aids capable of utilizing Bluetooth technology in hearing aids were introduced. Not long after manufacturers added Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids that were able to connect to televisions, MP 3 players, cell phones, and computers. Bluetooth technology is the most recent advance in hearing aids. It is a way to send digital information wirelessly over short distances. Bluetooth technology works to allow two hearing aids to wirelessly communicate with each other and also allows user to connect to devices in their home and car, like a DVD player, computer, GPS, and cell phone. There are pros and cons to having this type of technology in a hearing aid.

Pros of Bluetooth

Signal Stability – Bluetooth device uses multiple channels to convey the sound and is therefore less likely to lose that signal due to interference with one of the channels. Higher Sound Quality – Feedback and whistling and other problems associated with some hearing aids is diminished with the use of Bluetooth and the sound quality, in general, is improved as well. Binaural Hearing – Bluetooth technology allows hearing aids to speak with each other. This allows the hearing aids to maintain the quality of speech and discern and localize sounds relevant to the listener’s position. A conventional phone can only be held to one ear at a time. Bluetooth technology allows the user to hear their cell phone in both ears.Hands Free – With a switch of a button you can talk hands free without the need to hold the phone to your ear.Simultaneous Connection– Bluetooth technology can accommodate multiple devices, so that a person can be directly connected to their computer or cell or MP3 or DVD depending on which device they wish to hear. Wireless – Bluetooth eliminates the need for wires and lines of other connectivity devices and has applications for people with unilateral hearing loss who wear BiCROS hearing aids.

Cons of Bluetooth

Decreased Battery Life– Bluetooth technology when enabled will drain the battery more quickly then will occur with typical use. Extra Equipment– Bluetooth hearing aids don’t simply connect with all of the devices in your home and car, it requires that you use a streamer and a transmitter. Pairing Devices– Using Bluetooth technology requires a one time set up with each new device you add to your system. This pairing of technology is necessary so that the devices can communicate with each other, but only requires set up on the first use. Regardless of your lifestyle, employment status or age, bluetooth hearing aids can be a huge benefit for most people with a hearing loss.