Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, available since 2022, are intended for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss who do not require a medical evaluation. Prescription hearing aids are fit by a licensed hearing care professional following a comprehensive evaluation, are programmed to your individual hearing loss, and verified with real-ear measurement. Hearing care professionals should also provide long-term support for the patient and their devices. Following all of these steps provides a patient with maximum possible benefit. For moderate to severe hearing losses, prescription devices and professional care are strongly recommended.

Prescription hearing aids restore loss of audibility and process sound to compensate for hearing loss, but they do not restore the natural hearing of a healthy ear. Most patients experience significant improvement in speech understanding, meaningful benefit, and improved quality of life.

The brain requires time to re-learn how to process sounds it hasn't heard in years. Most patients notice meaningful improvement within the first few weeks of consistent wear, with continued adaptation over 2-4 months.

Yes. Most modern hearing aids support Bluetooth connectivity to iPhones and Android phones. This allows you to stream calls, music, and navigation audio directly to your hearing aids, and control volume and programs via a companion app.

Most quality hearing aids have a lifespan of 5–7 years with proper care. Custom in-the-ear devices may need to be remade sooner if the ear canal changes shape. Regular cleaning, professional maintenance, and keeping devices dry will maximize longevity. If your hearing changes, we can typically reprogram your hearing aids to update your hearing loss prescription.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound—commonly described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or roaring—in one or both ears in the absence of an external sound source. It affects an estimated 15–20% of people and is particularly common among those with hearing loss, though it can occur with normal hearing as well. Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease itself, and can result from noise exposure, age-related hearing changes, ear infections, certain medications, or other underlying conditions. While there is currently no universal cure, effective management strategies exist—including sound therapy, counseling, cognitive behavioral approaches, and hearing aids—that can significantly reduce its impact on daily life. If you experience tinnitus, an audiological evaluation is an important first step.

Yes. By amplifying your environment, hearing aids can significantly reduce the perceived loudness of tinnitus. Many hearing aids also include built-in tinnitus management features—such as sound therapy generators that play soft broadband noise or nature sounds—that can provide further relief from your tinnitus. Your audiologist can discuss tinnitus management as part of your overall hearing healthcare plan.

Yes, in many cases we can. We provide cleaning, routine maintenance, minor repairs, and—for the majority of major manufacturer brands—reprogramming and real-ear verification for hearing aids purchased elsewhere. If your devices need manufacturer-level repair, we can facilitate that process on your behalf. Contact us to confirm compatibility with your specific model before your visit.

Traditional hearing testing is performed in a sound-treated booth designed to eliminate background noise and ensure accurate results. However, advances in audiology practice have made high-quality testing outside of a booth entirely feasible when proper protocols are followed. Gold Audiology uses insert earphones, which provide significant attenuation of ambient sound by sealing directly in the ear canal, effectively replicating the acoustic conditions of a booth environment. Testing is scheduled at times and in spaces that minimize background noise, and results are evaluated with awareness of the testing environment. For the vast majority of patients—particularly those being assessed for hearing aid candidacy and fitting—booth-free testing with insert earphones produces clinically reliable, actionable audiograms.