Your Appointment
Preparing for Your Consultation
You’ve made an important decision to have your hearing assessed. Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems, as well as one of the most ignored. The great news is that there are many things that can be done to manage and improve hearing difficulties. Research shows that when hearing improves, people also enjoy vast improvements in their social, emotional, psychological, and physical well being.
Patient Information and Insurance
- To minimize wait time, please take a moment to fill out our new patient paperwork. This will allow you to avoid filling out paperwork in the office. You may also download and print off the paperwork here.
- Please allow us to verify your insurance coverage and any benefits you may have, you are welcomed to fax us with your information.
- If you have MEDICARE, your primary care physician or any other physician may decide to send a referral on your behalf requesting a hearing test and can fax the referral to our office at 828-417-3467. Without a referral, Medicare will not cover a hearing test and it will be the patient’s responsibility to pay for the cost of the hearing test. If you need an ear, nose, and throat physician, here is a link to the physician who shares the building with us, Dr. Barry Pate, Jr., M.D. Otolaryngologist. https://www.wncent.com/
Consider Your Hearing
It is likely that you have noticed a difference in your hearing. Take the time leading up to your appointment to consider some specifics. Do you find yourself struggling to hear in a crowd? Do you have trouble hearing the TV? Are there things you would like to hear better? Have you found yourself straining to understand conversations? Make notes and bring them in so that you can discuss your hearing difficulties with the doctor.
Bring a Friend or Family Member
Bringing a family member or friend is very helpful during your appointment. They can help to provide their observations, note important details, and help with instruction. There is a lot of information given during your appointment and it’s always nice to have two pairs of ears and support from those close to you.
In Order to Verify Your Insurance Coverage and Benefits We Will Need
- The patient’s full name and date of birth.
- If using a parent, guardian, or spouse’s insurance, we will also need the full name and date of birth of the policyholder.
- The Member ID Number. If you are having trouble locating your Member ID number, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.
- If you have more than one insurance plan, we will need all the above information for both plans.
- You may fax us with this information, or call the office at 828-483-4050.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Exactly what takes place during your appointment often depends on the practice you visit, as well as your unique requirements. At WNC Audiology, the process will generally consist of these steps:
Information Gathering
You will be asked to complete some forms. You will be asked about your hearing and general health history so we may understand any medical issues that could be affecting your hearing. A communication assessment may be used to determine when and where you are experiencing difficulty hearing.
Ear Inspection
Your outer ear, ear canal, and eardrum will be examined. This will not be invasive or uncomfortable.
Hearing Test
Your hearing will be tested in a soundproof booth. You will be asked to indicate when you can hear various levels of sounds or tones in each ear, as well as repeat words to determine your ability to understand speech. Other tests may be given depending on your specific needs or conditions to determine the proper diagnosis.
Review Results
The Audiologist will review the test results with you and identify if you have a hearing loss. If you do, she will discuss treatment options with you, and help you discover which of these options are best for you. Based on your results, options may range from providing communication strategies, prescribing hearing aids, recommending other assistive devices, or referring you to another medical specialist if warranted.
If Hearing Aids Can Help
- Which hearing loss treatment plan is best for your hearing needs
- Which style best suits your lifestyle and preference
- Which features and performance levels you require based on your listening difficulties
- Which hearing loss treatment plan fits your budget
- The benefits of wearing two hearing aids
- Whether you need additional services, technology or accessories
New Patient Paperwork
For your convenience, please fill out our new patient forms online. This will cut down on wait time and give the doctors more in-depth information about your hearing loss and expectations.
To download each form, just click the links below.
Today’s Hearing Aids are Different
Aesthetically, hearing aids are now amazingly small and more discreet than ever before.
Digital technology has allowed hearing aids to make huge advances, including sophisticated automatic adjustment as your listening environment changes, and seamless integration with other technologies such as telephones and smartphones. There are also new rechargeable options which mean replacing batteries less often, and in some cases, not at all.
95% of people with hearing loss can benefit from using hearing aids. It’s a fact that when hearing improves, quality of life improves.
We’re Here to Help
The staff at WNC Audiology are all trained and ready to help – before, during and after your appointment. We are all dedicated to your success in achieving better hearing and we are so happy you chose to visit our site. To save time, remember to Download the forms above.