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Follow up service for the life of the hearing aid is included in the purchase price of all hearing instruments purchased through Appalachian Audiology!

We dispense and repair all premium hearing aid brands including Phonak, Siemens, Oticon, Widex, and Resound.

Learn more about hearing aid service and repair available from Appalachian Audiology.
“Hear everything and judge for yourself.”
- George Eliiot

How to Buy the Right Hearing Aid For You

How do you know what hearing instrument to purchase? Who can you trust to direct you towards the specific device that will compensate for your particular type of hearing loss? Here's a few tips:

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Know the difference between hearing aid dealers and clinical audiologists

  • Hearing aid dealers specialize in the measurement and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person.
    Hearing aid dealers are limited to testing hearing solely for the purposes of fitting hearing aids. Unlike audiologists, they may not engage in, nor are they trained to complete diagnostic hearing or balance examinations nor participate in the assessment of patients with tinnitus.

  • A clinical audiologist has completed a minimum of 350 patient care hours obtained in an accredited college or university program, and spent one year as an extern with a clinical audiologist. A clinical audiologist is skilled in the planning, directing, supervising, and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals who have been diagnosed or are suspected of having disorders of hearing. This includes assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientation. It also includes the fabricating of ear molds, providing auditory training, and administering tests of vestibular function and tinnitus. Audiologists are uniquely qualified and trained to identify a wide variety of pathology and underlying medical conditions of the hearing and balance systems and to refer these cases for appropriate medical or surgical treatment.

    • Know the 3 levels of Hearing Aid Technology

  • Level One hearing aids are the least expensive hearing instruments. They have two to six channels and fixed directional microphones.
  • Level Two hearing aids are slightly more expensive than Level One hearing aids. They have eight to twelve channels and adaptive directional microphones.
  • Level Three hearing aids are more expensive than Level Two hearing aids. They have eighteen to twenty channels and multi-channel, adaptive directional microphones.

    • Work with a clinical audiologist to determine specific hearing aid features that will compensate for your particular type of hearing loss

    Some features include:
  • Hands-free connection to phones
  • You teach the hearing aids how to listen
  • No-whistle technology
  • Hold the phone in one ear...hear the caller in both ears
  • Tinnitus treatment program built into the hearing aid
  • Rechargeable batteries that last for up to 500 days
  • Automatic adjustment to up to 7 different acoustic environments

    • For any hearing instrument purchased through Appalachian Audiology, we offer a variety of optional services including:

  • No-charge follow up hearing aid services for the life of the aids
  • Battery Club membership: 60 batteries!
  • No-charge dessicant storage container to eliminate moisture
  • LACE- Adult listening therapy DVD provided to Level 3

    • More questions? Click here for answers to the questions we're asked most frequently.