1. What causes hearing loss?
2. How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
3. What does a hearing consultation involve?
4. How long does it take to be fitted with my hearing aids?
5. How long will my hearing aids last?
6. How long does the hearing consultation take?
7. Is a hearing test painful?
8. Why am I asked to have a friend or relative present?
9. How much do hearing aids cost?
10. Will I need one hearing aid or two?
11. Can I get hearing aids from the NHS?
12. Why is private hearing care better than the NHS?
13. What Areas in the UK does AJC Hearing cover?
14. Is there any charge for a hearing test?
15. Why does AJC Hearing offer such a wide range of hearing aids?
16. What is the process if I decide to order hearing aids?
17. What type of aftercare service is provided?
18. What if I I'm not happy with my choice of hearing aids?
19. How do I know if I'm getting the best deal available?
20. Is my hearing aid guaranteed?
21. Are there any running costs for a hearing aid?
22. How often should I get my hearing checked?

1. What causes hearing loss?
   There are two main types of hearing loss; sensorineural and conductive. Sensorineural hearing losses are noticeable for reduction in clarity and are can have many causes. The most common are noise (either through work, leisure pursuits or loud music) or natural, as part of the normal ageing process. The most common form of treatment for sensorineural hearing loss is the use of hearing aids.
   
   Conductive hearing loss result from problems in the outer or middle ear mechanism such as perforations, ear infections or problems with the ossicular chain (the three bones in the middle ear). This type of hearing loss is noticeable for a reduction in volume and can sometimes be corrected without the need for hearing aids. It is also possible to have a mixed loss, which is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive.
   
   During your hearing consultation, the hearing aid audiologist will establish the type of hearing loss you have and may refer you to your GP for medical investigation, subject to their findings.
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2. How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
   If you have answered yes to any of the following questions you should arrange a hearing test immediately.
   
   Do you frequently have to ask people to repeat what they have just said?
   
   Do you find that you require the television or radio at a higher volume than your family and friends find comfortable?
   
   Do you find people mumble or talk too quickly?
   
   Do you find deep male voices easier to understand than the softer, sometimes higher pitch of women or children?
   
   Do you find that you sometimes misunderstand conversation?
   
   Do you have difficulty following conversation in a restaurant or in a group of people?
   
   Do you find background noise affects how well you follow conversation?
   
   Do you have difficulty in hearing the doorbell or telephone ring?
   
   Do you have difficulty locating where a sound is coming from?
   
   Do you find it difficult following conversation on the telephone?
   
   Do you have difficulty hearing speech at a distance, such as in church, at a meeting or theatre?
   
   Do you begin to feel tired during long conversations?
   
   Do you notice yourself having to concentrate more in order to follow a conversation?
   
   Have any of your family or friends suggested you have a hearing impairment?
   
   Have you ever been exposed to loud noise during work or leisure activities?
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3. What does a hearing consultation involve?
   A free hearing consultation with AJC Hearing is the ideal opportunity to find out whether or not you have a hearing impairment and if you do, what can be done to help.
   
   Our fully qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist will conduct a free consultation, which will include the following,
   
   Otoscopy, checking your ears for wax or any other visible problems that would need medical attention from a doctor or ear, nose and throat specialist.
   
   Hearing Questionnaire, investigating the causes of your hearing loss and whether or not medical advice from a GP is a more appropriate action.
   
   Full Audiometrical Test, measuring your hearing thresholds (both air and bone conduction) and evaluating whether you actually need hearing aids.
   
   Our fully qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist will then explain the results of your test and if you do have a hearing loss, they will do a full demonstration so you can listen and decide for yourself whether digital hearing aids give you the improvement you seek.
   
   If they do, we have a wide selection of hearing aids at price to suit most budgets.
   
   Having a friend or relative present during the demonstration will help you to assess how well you are hearing.
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4. How long does it take to be fitted with my hearing aids?
   Hearing aids can normally be fitted within 2 weeks.
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5. How long will my hearing aids last?
   Hearing aids last typically anywhere between 3 and 7 years, sometimes longer. Modern hearing aids today tend to be digital, which means your hearing aid audiologist can adjust them on a computer as your hearing changes. Every hearing aid does however have a maximum output where it can not be turned up any louder. When your hearing loss exceeds this level it's time to be consider replacing them.
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6. How long does the hearing consultation take?
   The Consultation usually takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
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7. Is a hearing test painful?
   No
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8. Why am I asked to have a friend or relative present?
   If you do prove to have a hearing loss and we let you try on some demonstration instruments, having a familiar voice present will help you evaluate whether they are giving you the necessary improvement.
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9. How much do hearing aids cost?
   At AJC Hearing our cheapest hearing aid starts at £395 per hearing aid and go up as high as £1995 each for the most technologically advanced instruments. As you would expect however, there are lots of different models in between to choose from.
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10. Will I need one hearing aid or two?
    Until we test you, it's difficult to say. You may not need any hearing aids at all.
    
    What is certain however is that where there is a hearing loss in both ears, a binaural fitting (two hearing aids) is medically proven to produce greater results than wearing a hearing aid in one ear only.
    
    Binaural hearing particularly improves speech perception in more challenging environments and is also proven to increase the users ability to localise where a sound is coming from.
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11. Can I get hearing aids from the NHS?
    You can get help with your hearing through the NHS but it can sometimes be a long and arduous task, at the end of which you may be given a hearing aid you might not even like the look of. The NHS does the best job they can in difficult circumstances. Their limited budgets mean the patients generally all get the same hearing aid (a digital behind the ear model) and sometimes are only given one hearing aid, when really they need two. The aftercare with the NHS is sometimes unsatisfactory with regular visits back and forth to the hospital whenever there is a problem.
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12. Why is private hearing care better than the NHS?
    Firstly there is no waiting list. You are normally fitted with your hearing instruments in a matter of weeks. Secondly with private hearing aids you can choose from a range of small, discreet styles, which means, if you are sensitive about your appearance, nobody else needs to know you're wearing them.
    
    Technology wise, private hearing aids are often far more advanced than that of the NHS. With technology constantly evolving and the NHS having limited budgets, it's difficult for them to match the quality of hearing aids that are available privately. The other important aspect is aftercare. At AJC Hearing we offer free ongoing aftercare in the clients own home. This means if you have a problem it can be dealt with speedily and with minimum inconvenience. It also means that we don't rush you, as unlike the NHS, we are not tied to a hectic workload.
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13. What Areas in the UK does AJC Hearing cover?
    AJC Hearing just covers the Northwest of England.
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14. Is there any charge for a hearing test?
    The hearing test is totally free of charge and without any obligation to buy.
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15. Why does AJC Hearing offer such a wide range of hearing aids?
    At AJC Hearing, we are not tied to using one manufacturer and this means we can offer the client a choice of the most suitable hearing instruments from all the major hearing aid brands with no limitations. It also means that if they have worn a particular brand of hearing instruments before and want to purchase the same make again, then we can supply them with the latest technology from that manufacturer.
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16. What is the process if I decide to order hearing aids?
    If you decided to order hearing aids, an impression of your ears may need to be taken and sent away to a manufacturer (depending on the type of instruments required). A deposit of normally 20% of the price of the hearing aids will also be required and a fitting appointment arranged for you.
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17. What type of aftercare service is provided?
    A follow up visit will be arranged within the first two weeks so that the hearing aids can be fine-tuned to ensure optimum performance levels. Further appointments may also be required and thereafter a free annual check is also highly recommended.
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18. What if I I'm not happy with my choice of hearing aids?
    If you are not satisfied with your hearing system we will happily exchange for a different model or alternatively give you a complete refund.
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19. How do I know if I'm getting the best deal available?
    At AJC Hearing our goal is to offer the best range of hearing aids at the best price. In the unlikely event that you are offered an identical hearing aid at less than you paid, we will not only refund the difference but we will also give you a years free supply of hearing aid batteries.
    
    *This offer is valid for 4 weeks from the date of purchase and based on a written offer/ advertisement from a hearing care professional within a 50 km radius.
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20. Is my hearing aid guaranteed?
    All hearing aids have a manufacturers guarantee of either 12 or 24 months. Many of them can be extended at the time of purchase to a 5 year warranty. It is also recommended that you place your hearing instruments on your home insurance policy to cover them against loss or accidental damage.
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21. Are there any running costs for a hearing aid?
    All hearing aids require batteries to operate. Some nowadays are rechargeable though most are not.
    A single battery can last anywhere between 5 days and 2 weeks depending on the hearing aid and can be purchased at £1.99 for a pack of 6.
    
    Some hearing aids (predominantly RITE models) will from time to time need new receivers.
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22. How often should I get my hearing checked?
    If you are having problems with your hearing and you do not yet wear hearing aids it is advisable to get them checked by a fully qualified hearing aid audiologist. They will then advise you accordingly whether or not you need hearing aids (or may possibly refer you to your GP for medical advice).
    
    For those who wear hearing aids already, it is advisable to have a test either annually or whenever you feel that the hearing aids are not performing to their optimum level. At this stage they may require reprogramming.
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• 1 Garnett Street
• Stockport
• Cheshire
• SK1 3AR
• (by appointment only)