Worth Audiology

At Worth Audiology, PLLC, although we accept most insurances for audiologic evaluations, it will depend on your insurance plan, deductible, and eligibility as to if your test and hearing aids will be covered. A few examples of the insurance plans we accept are: Medicare, Medicaid (SoonerCare), Blue Cross, United Healthcare and UMR.  We also accept Medicare supplements like Mutual of Omaha, Physician's Mutual, and TriCare For Life. It is always encouraged that you check with your insurance to confirm coverage and in/out-of-network providers before making an appointment.

Not always. Depending on who your insurance is, they may require a referral for billing purposes.  Insurances that require a referral to be scheduled with Worth Audiology, PLLC are Global Health and Indian Health services like Cherokee Nation or Osage Nation.

Hearings aids can range in price depending on the technology level required for the patient's hearing loss and lifestyle. Some insurances will have either a benefit to pay towards hearing aids, or give you a discount on your purchase.

Yes! Almost all newer model hearing aids can connect to your cellphone and be controlled via Bluetooth connection.  You can change your settings, volume, and other customizable options all through the convenience of your phone.  Brands like ReSound, Unitron, and Widex have their own app that can be downloaded easily to your smart phone from the Google Play (for Android devices) or the Apple App Store (for iPhones).

Hearing loss affects approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) age 18 and older. Exposure to loud noises, infections, and traumatic injuries/accidents can cause hearing loss and tinnitus. It can also be hereditary or just be a part of the aging process, so it is important to know your family's history and to monitor hearing routinely. Hearing loss has no specific targeted age; it can happen at birth, suddenly, or progressively with age.

Acoustic signals are delivered through air and bone conduction to determine hearing thresholds thus characterizing the pattern of the hearing loss at various frequencies. A complete audiologic evaluation includes an evaluation of speech and word recognition, acoustic reflexes, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions.

The most common types of hearing loss are:

• Sensorineural hearing loss: Occurs when the inner ear (cochlea) or hearing nerve is damaged and does not work properly. Sounds are not only softer but also difficult to understand, especially in noisy settings. This is most common with history of noise exposure, genetics, or normal aging.
• Conductive hearing loss: A conductive loss happens when there is damage to the outer-ear or when the middle ear blocks sound vibrations from reaching your cochlea.
• Mixed hearing loss: A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This means there may be damage to both the inner, outer, or middle ear.

Typically, once every year is an appropriate amount of time to have a repeat hearing test. When you have a family history of hearing loss, it is important to monitor closely to make sure there are no significant changes or drops in your hearing, which could potentially indicate something else may be causing the hearing loss that will require further testing.

Untreated hearing loss can negatively impact one's personal and social life. Hearing loss can worsen over time and become permanent. It can also lead to social isolation.