Having trouble hearing?
We offer hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings at our Birmingham office on Gadsden Highway.
Serving Birmingham since 1998. We have a 4.7 Google rating with 200+ reviews.
Does this sound like you?
- You often ask people to repeat themselves.
- It’s hard to follow a conversation in a busy restaurant.
- Others say the TV is too loud.
- People seem to mumble.
- Phone calls are hard to hear.
- You experience ringing in your ears (tinnitus).
Sometimes a family member notices first. If any of this sounds familiar, an evaluation with one of our doctors is a good next step.
Learn more about hearing loss.
What to expect at your visit
1. Ear exam
First, one of our physicians will look inside your ears. It takes a minute and doesn’t hurt. What we see helps us understand your hearing test results.
2. Hearing evaluation
A hearing evaluation checks how well you hear tones and speech. You listen through headphones and let us know each time you hear a sound. Your evaluation takes about 15 minutes and is performed by one of our trained audiologists.
3. Go over your results
We explain your results in plain terms and talk through next steps. Hearing aids are one option. If hearing aids aren’t enough for your hearing loss, we can talk about implants. If your results point to an ear problem that needs medical care, one of our ENT physicians can see you here.
4. Fitting and adjustment
If you choose hearing aids, we fit them and adjust the settings for your hearing and the places you spend your day.
Find out how well you’re hearing
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Who you’ll see
D. Trent Lowery, MD
- Board-certified in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat)
- Medical degree: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine
- Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
- Performs Inspire® procedures
Matthew M. Fort, MD
- Board-certified in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat)
- Medical degree: University of Mississippi Medical Center
- Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
- Cochlear and bone conduction implants
- Performs Inspire® procedures
Choosing hearing aids
Hearing aids come in different styles. Some sit behind the ear. Others fit in the ear canal. The right style depends on your hearing, the shape of your ear, and how you plan to use them.
What hearing aids cost
Price depends on the style and features you choose. Hearing aids start at $799, and they require a fitting, which costs $250. We go over pricing with you before you decide.
Paying over time
We accept CareCredit, a health care credit card you can use to pay for hearing aids over time. You apply through CareCredit, and they set the terms and approve the application.
Using FSA or HSA money
Hearing aids count as a qualified medical expense under IRS rules. That means you can pay for them with money from a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA). Batteries and repairs count too. Check with your plan administrator for how to submit the expense.
FSA money often has to be used by the end of your plan year, so check your deadline.
Check your insurance coverage before you visit
Hearing care coverage varies by plan. Some plans include a hearing aid benefit, and some don’t. Call the member services number on your insurance card to ask whether hearing evaluations are covered, whether they require a referral, and to learn more about your hearing aid benefit.
Visit our insurance page to learn more about plans we accept.
If hearing aids aren’t enough
Some hearing loss is too severe for hearing aids to help much. If you wear hearing aids and still struggle to follow conversations, it’s worth asking about implants.
Cochlear implants and bone conduction implants work differently from hearing aids. A hearing aid makes sound louder. An implant carries sound past the part of the ear that isn’t working.
Dr. Fort sees patients about cochlear implants and bone conduction implants.
How we find out whether an implant is an option
- Hearing test. We start with the same hearing evaluation described above.
- Hearing in noise test. If your first results suggest an implant might help, the next step is a test of how well you understand speech with background noise. A quiet room doesn’t tell us much about a restaurant or a family dinner. This test does.
- Imaging. We take pictures of the inner ear using the CT scanner in our office, so you don’t need a separate trip somewhere else.
- Counseling. Your doctor talks through what an implant does, what the surgery involves, and the work that comes after it, so you can decide.
Not everyone who goes through this turns out to be a candidate. Testing is how you find out.
Learn more about cochlear implants or call (205) 838-3755 to make an appointment.
Common questions
How long is your waiting list?
Same-day hearing evaluations are often available. Call (205) 838-3755 to make an appointment.
How long does a hearing evaluation take?
A hearing evaluation takes about 15 minutes.
Can you help with hearing aids I bought somewhere else?
We can help with hearing aids you purchased somewhere else, depending on the brand.
Should I try over-the-counter hearing aids first?
Over-the-counter hearing aids are made for adults 18 and older who think they have mild to moderate hearing loss. They are not made for children or for adults with more serious hearing loss.
The hard part is knowing which group you’re in. Most people aren’t good at judging their own hearing. A hearing test tells you how much hearing you’ve lost and what kind. It also shows whether something else is affecting your hearing, like earwax buildup or fluid behind the eardrum.
Some situations are worth a visit before you buy anything: sudden hearing loss, hearing loss in only one ear, ear pain, drainage, or dizziness.
Get your hearing tested first. If an over-the-counter device is a reasonable option for you, you’ll know. If it isn’t, you’ll have saved yourself the money and the months of wondering why it didn’t help.
Request a hearing evaluation
Fill out the form and our office will call you within one business day to schedule.
Prefer to call? (205) 838-3755, Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm
1809 Gadsden Highway
Birmingham, AL 35235