Remote Hearing Care

Whether you are unable to leave your home or simply cannot reach our physical office, our practice is now offering telehealth services for hearing loss and hearing aids. You may already be familiar with telehealth as primary care physicians have been utilizing this form of medicine for more than a decade, but audiologists are now offering this convenience as well.

How does hearing health telemedicine work?

Similar to the telemedicine offered by physicians, this service enables our audiologist to assist you with problems you may have involving hearing loss, hearing aid care, maintenance and adjustments, through a device that connects to the internet, such as a computer, tablet or mobile device.

What services are offered through audiologists?

To utilize telehealth services, you will schedule an appointment with a hearing care provider. Before your appointment, you will log onto the telehealth platform, where you will be connected with your specialist. The scope of telemedicine services for hearing healthcare is still growing, but we can currently provide assistance on the following:

Hearing loss assessment and identification

Online hearing testing has evolved over the years to become much more intuitive than the surveys of the past. With the help of a hearing care professional, you can be guided through a series of evaluations that can indicate the presence of a problem with your auditory system. While the accuracy of results can vary based on your specific system, the testing process has been refined to provide important details to your hearing specialist to help them determine how to best treat you.

Hearing aid selection

If you could benefit from the use of hearing technology, our audiologist will take time to educate you on the different types available to you. This means talking about how they fit in or behind the ear, as well as the proper care.

Hearing aid fine-tuning

If you already have hearing aids, we can use remote programming to view your current settings and make adjustments based on your past hearing test results. With this technology, we are able to help adjust volume controls, noise reduction, directional microphones and tone control.

Hearing aid maintenance

If you’re unsure how to take care of your hearing aids, we can help walk you through this process. From what tools you should be using to how frequently, we’re happy to ensure you are properly cleaning and maintaining your technology.

Telemedicine is opening a number of doors in our industry to provide the best care possible to our patients. Whether you have limited mobility or simply can’t make it to our office, learn more about how we can still serve your hearing healthcare needs; conveniently and quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need in-office visits if I do concierge hearing care?

While many follow-up appointments and hearing aid adjustments can be completed remotely, some services—such as hearing evaluations, ear examinations, or new hearing aid fittings—are best performed in person. We’ll help you determine which visits can be handled remotely.

Can older adults use remote hearing care?

Of course! Many older adults enjoy the convenience of remote hearing care, especially if traveling is difficult or if they are traveling to see grandkids and friends. Our team provides simple instructions and support to make the technology easy to use, and family members are always welcome to assist during appointments. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052 to set up a remote hearing care appointment.

Can patients outside Hastings receive remote hearing aid support?

Absolutely! If you move, if your hearing aids came from us, or your hearing aids are compatible with our remote programming, we can often provide ongoing support even if you live or move outside of Hastings. We can also do this if you are temporarily away from home and traveling. We’ll let you know if your devices are eligible and if we see any concerns with servicing your location remotely or via telehealth. Contact us by phone today to get more information. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052.

Can snowbirds receive hearing aid adjustments while traveling?

Yes! We absolutely love our snowbird patients and happily serve our patients a they travel with a variety of needs. One of the biggest benefits of remote hearing care is that many hearing aid programming adjustments can be completed while you’re away from Minnesota. Whether you’re spending the winter in Arizona, Florida, or elsewhere, we’re often able to help you stay connected without interrupting your travels.

Can hearing tests be performed at home?

Many hearing evaluations can be performed during a home visit using specialized portable equipment. We’ll determine whether an in-home evaluation is appropriate for your hearing needs and recommend additional testing if necessary.

Can hearing aids be fitted during a home visit?

For home appointments, we do not do new hearing aid fittings, but we do do hearing aid selections, hearing aid adjustments, hearing aid programmings, cleanings, maintenance, and follow-up appointments. All of these can all be completed during an in-home visit, allowing you to receive expert care without leaving your home.

Is mobile audiology covered by insurance?

Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the services provided. Some hearing evaluations may be covered, while travel fees or certain convenience services may not be. Our team is happy to review your benefits before your appointment. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052 to discuss.

How do I schedule an in-home hearing appointment?

Scheduling is easy. Simply contact Journey Audiology by phone to schedule an in-home, mobile appointment. Based on your hearing healthcare needs, location, and provider availability, we’ll help determine whether mobile audiology is the right option for you and arrange a convenient appointment. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052 to schedule a mobile hearing appointment.

Do you provide mobile audiology services only in Hastings?

No. While we’re based in Hastings, we provide mobile audiology services throughout many surrounding communities. We are really proud to offer mobile, conscience hearing care services to our communities. Contact us to see whether we travel to your area. Simply give us a call at (651) 661-1052 or use our quick contact form.

What cities do you travel to?

We regularly serve patients in Hastings and many nearby communities throughout the southeast Twin Cities metro including Cottage Grove, Woodbury, Red Wing and more. If you’re unsure whether you’re within our mobile service area, simply give us a call—we’re happy to discuss travel availability. You can also use our quick contact form here.

Do you visit assisted living communities?

Yes. We frequently provide hearing care in assisted living communities, senior living residences, and memory care settings. Receiving care where you live can make hearing healthcare easier and more comfortable for both residents and caregivers. In fact, every month we often go to at least one or two senior living facilities or assisted care community locations to provide hearing healthcare education talks, hearing exams, and share information about hearing aids! You can learn more about what we offer for senior living and assisted living communities here.

Can family members attend the appointment?

Absolutely. We encourage family members or caregivers to participate whenever possible if this is something you would like. Having a trusted person present often helps with communication, decision-making, and learning how to use and care for hearing aids. Plus, we firmly believe that the more educated your family and caregivers are, the better able they are to support you as you take each step along your hearing healthcare journey.

Is there an extra charge for travel?

Travel fees may vary depending on your location and the services provided. We’ll always explain any travel costs before your appointment so you know exactly what to expect—there are no surprises.

Can hearing aids be adjusted remotely?

Yes. Many modern hearing aids can be adjusted remotely and through a secure smartphone app. If you already have hearing aids, we can fine-tune your hearing aid program settings based on your feedback, helping you hear your best without needing to come into the office for every adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need in-office visits if I do concierge hearing care?

While many follow-up appointments and hearing aid adjustments can be completed remotely, some services—such as hearing evaluations, ear examinations, or new hearing aid fittings—are best performed in person. We’ll help you determine which visits can be handled remotely.

Can older adults use remote hearing care?

Of course! Many older adults enjoy the convenience of remote hearing care, especially if traveling is difficult or if they are traveling to see grandkids and friends. Our team provides simple instructions and support to make the technology easy to use, and family members are always welcome to assist during appointments. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052 to set up a remote hearing care appointment.

Can patients outside Hastings receive remote hearing aid support?

Absolutely! If you move, if your hearing aids came from us, or your hearing aids are compatible with our remote programming, we can often provide ongoing support even if you live or move outside of Hastings. We can also do this if you are temporarily away from home and traveling. We’ll let you know if your devices are eligible and if we see any concerns with servicing your location remotely or via telehealth. Contact us by phone today to get more information. Just give us a call at (651) 661-1052.

Can snowbirds receive hearing aid adjustments while traveling?

Yes! We absolutely love our snowbird patients and happily serve our patients a they travel with a variety of needs. One of the biggest benefits of remote hearing care is that many hearing aid programming adjustments can be completed while you’re away from Minnesota. Whether you’re spending the winter in Arizona, Florida, or elsewhere, we’re often able to help you stay connected without interrupting your travels.