Services

Northwestern Medicine audiologists have the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and are members of the American Academy of Audiology. Our audiologists are affiliated with the Department of Otolaryngology through the clinical facility at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation. We work with otolaryngologists to provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with hearing disorders.

Services and products available through our facility include:

• Comprehensive hearing evaluations
• Hearing instruments
• Electrophysiologic evaluation (otoacoustic emissions, electrocochleography and auditory brainstem response testing)
• Cochlear implants
• Custom earplugs
• Assistive listening devices

In addition to hearing loss, audiology services includes evaluations and treatments for patients suffering from dizziness and balance disorders as well as tinnitus (hearing noises when no external sound is present).

Treatment

Northwestern Medicine Audiology offers a complete program for those individuals who can benefit from hearing device use. The components of the program include:

• Detailed hearing test
• Evaluation of benefits from hearing device use
• Evaluation of performance with amplification

We offer a variety of hearing device(s) to suit individual needs, should our evaluation determine that one is recommended.

Hearing aids

There is a 30-day adjustment period for prospective hearing aid users. After the adjustment period, we work with the user to evaluate the hearing device performance during this adjustment time. With the guidance of the audiologist, the individual may keep, exchange, or return the device(s) for a refund of the device(s) cost minus a $200 per instrument user fee.

Northwestern Medicine dispenses all of the major hearing aid manufacturers. We give the consumer a wide choice of options.

There are no “private labels” or “re-branding” at our facility. This allows the patient an equal comparison of features and pricing for each manufacturer.

Northwestern Medicine also dispenses noise ear plugs, musician ear plugs, custom ear pieces for iPods^® and swim plugs.