Phrases and vocabulary for the hearing test, choosing and fitting a hearing aid, insurance subsidies, and conversations with the ENT doctor or hearing aid specialist.
For the health insurer to pay a subsidy, you need a prescription from an ENT doctor first. Only then do you go to the hearing aid specialist for selection and fitting.
The statutory health insurer pays a fixed amount towards hearing aids. If you want a better model, you pay the difference yourself. Ask the specialist about the insurer-covered device for comparison.
Hearing aid specialists often offer a trial period of several weeks. Use it to test the device in various everyday situations before committing.
You notice your hearing has worsened and go to the ENT doctor.
My hearing has been worse in my left ear for a few months. Can I have a hearing test done?
Will I need a prescription for a hearing aid after that?
You want to choose a hearing aid and ask about insurance coverage.
Which model does my health insurer cover, and how much does a better device cost on top?
Is there a trial period so I can try the device first?
The hearing aid does not fit well yet or the volume is wrong.
The hearing aid is not quite right yet. Could you please adjust it again?
It sounds too shrill in loud environments. Can that be adjusted?
First you need a prescription from an ENT doctor. Then you go to a hearing aid specialist and choose a device. The health insurer pays the fixed amount directly to the specialist; you pay only the difference.
Say: The hearing aid does not fit properly, or is too loud or too quiet. Could you please adjust it? This is a completely normal request that specialists know well.
The ENT doctor is a medical specialist who diagnoses hearing problems and issues the prescription. The hearing aid specialist is a trained craftsperson who fits and adjusts the device, but is not a doctor.