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Following the medical evaluation, the physician will give you a written statement
that states that your hearing loss has been medically evaluated and that you may
be considered a candidate for a hearing aid. The physician will refer you to an
audiologist or hearing aid dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing aid evaluation.
The audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will conduct a hearing aid evaluation
to assess your ability to hear with and without a hearing aid. The hearing aid
evaluation will enable the audiologist or dispenser to select and fit a hearing aid
to your individual needs.
If you have reservations about your ability to adapt to amplification, you should
inquire about the availability of a trial-rental or purchase-option program.
Many hearing aid dispensers now offer programs that permit you to wear a
hearing aid for a period of time for a nominal fee after which you may decide if
you want to purchase the hearing aid.
Federal law restricts the sale of hearing aids to those individuals who have
obtained a medical evaluation from a licensed physician. Federal law permits a
fully informed adult to sign a waiver statement declining the medical evaluation
for religious or personal beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician.
The exercise of such a waiver is not in your best health interest and its use is
strongly discouraged.
A hearing aid will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve a
hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions. In most cases infrequent
use of a hearing aid does not permit a user to attain full benefit from it.
CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS. In addition to seeing a physician for
a medical evaluation, a child with a hearing loss should be directed to an
audiologist for evaluation and rehabilitation since hearing loss may cause
problems in language development and the educational and social growth of
a child. An audiologist is qualified by training and experience to assist in the
evaluation and rehabilitation of a child with a hearing loss.
Starkey World Headquarters
6700 Washington Avenue South
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Starkey European Headquarters
Wm. F. Austin House, Bramhall Technology Park
Pepper Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5BX
United Kingdom
www.starkey.com
