Your Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC) audiologist can place an order for your hearing aids. Before you can order a hearing aid, you must have your hearing tested. Once this testing is done, you should talk with your audiologist to decide which hearing aids are best for you, your hearing loss, and your lifestyle. Next, the audiologist will take an impression of your ear. During this process, she will put a putty-like material in your ear for about five to ten minutes. This material will harden to the shape of your ear so the hearing aid company can make your custom hearing aid.

If you are paying for your hearing aids, your hearing aids will be ready in about two to three weeks. If your insurance is paying for your hearing aids, your wait time to receive the aid can be anywhere from three weeks to three months (ask your audiologist for the wait time for your specific insurance). You will then return to CHSC so your audiologist can fit the hearing aids to your hearing loss and show you how to properly care for and use your new hearing aids.

All hearing aids come with a minimum 30-day "right to return" period. During this trial period, you will meet with your audiologist to ensure a proper fit of the hearing aids, to answer any questions you may have and to ensure that the hearing aids are appropriate for your hearing loss. At the end of the period, you may return the hearing aid for a refund. After the right to return period, you are no longer able to return the hearing aid.

Hearing aids come with a warranty that may cover repair and a onetime loss. Warranties differ based on type of hearing aid and insurance benefit. Ask your audiologist for more details.

Does insurance pay for hearing aids? Click here to learn more.