How to choose a hearing clinic
Most people choose a hearing clinic the way they choose a restaurant: it is close by and the star rating looks good. That works for dinner. Hearing care is different, because you are likely to be with the same clinic for years. Hearing aids need adjusting, cleaning and repairing, and your hearing will be re-tested over time.
Here is what separates one clinic from another, and how to find out before you commit.
Know who you will see
Hearing clinics are staffed by audiologists, hearing aid specialists, or both. Their training is different, and so is what they are licensed to do. Neither is automatically the better choice for an adult who needs hearing aids, but you should know which one you are booking with. Our guide to audiologists and hearing aid specialists explains the difference.
Expect a thorough hearing test
A proper hearing test takes time and happens in a quiet, sound-treated room. It should include more than listening for beeps, and it should end with someone explaining your results in plain words. If a clinic offers only a quick screening before recommending hearing aids, ask what else they would normally test. See what happens at a hearing test so you know what to expect.
Ask how hearing aids are fitted
Two clinics can sell the same hearing aid and give you very different results, because the fitting matters as much as the device. Ask whether the clinic uses real-ear measurement. This is a check where a thin probe microphone sits in your ear canal and measures the sound the hearing aid is delivering, so the provider can confirm it matches your hearing loss. It is widely regarded as best practice, and not every clinic does it.
Get clear on price and what it includes
Hearing aid prices are hard to compare because clinics package them differently. Some include years of follow-up visits in the price. Others charge less up front and bill for each visit. Ask for a written quote that lists the devices, the visits, the warranty and the trial period. Our list of questions to ask before you buy hearing aids covers this in detail.
Find out what happens after the fitting
New hearing aids almost always need adjusting, and it takes weeks for your brain to get used to them. A good clinic books follow-up visits before you leave the fitting appointment. Ask how many are included, how quickly you can be seen if something goes wrong, and whether repairs are handled on site.
Check the practical things
- Is the clinic close enough that you will go back for follow-up visits?
- Does it work with your insurance or hearing benefit?
- Are its hours workable for you?
- How long is the wait for a first appointment?
Read ratings with care
Star ratings are a reasonable starting point, but most are a single score for the whole experience, and many are written before the patient knows how well their hearing aids work. Our guide on what a star rating can’t tell you explains how to read them.
Hearsay shows ratings for six separate parts of care, from booking to the provider, and every rating comes from a verified patient of that clinic. You can read how Hearsay ratings work.