Hearing Loss Care in Lafayette, Louisiana
Diagnosed and treated by four Doctors of Audiology, right here in Acadiana. Since 1984.
If You Are Missing Words, You Are Not Alone
About 15 percent of American adults have some hearing loss. In people over 65, the number is closer to one in three. Most of them wait an average of seven years before seeing an audiologist. You do not have to. ACI Hearing Center has been treating hearing loss in Lafayette Parish since 1984. Our four Doctors of Audiology diagnose the cause, explain your options in plain English, and walk you through the treatment plan that fits your life and budget.
The Three Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common form. It happens when the tiny hair cells in the inner ear or the hearing nerve are damaged. The most frequent causes are aging (called presbycusis), long-term noise exposure, and genetics. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, but it is highly treatable with modern hearing aids or, in severe cases, cochlear implants.
Conductive hearing loss means sound cannot get through the outer or middle ear the way it should. Common causes include earwax blockage, fluid behind the eardrum, a perforated eardrum, or a middle ear bone problem called otosclerosis. Conductive hearing loss is often fully or partially treatable with medical care, minor procedures, or surgery. We work with local ENT physicians to coordinate that care.
Mixed hearing loss is exactly what it sounds like. There is both a sensorineural component and a conductive component in the same ear. Treatment usually combines medical care for the conductive part with hearing aids or implants for the sensorineural part.
Early Signs to Watch For
Hearing loss usually starts quietly. Most people do not notice it in themselves. Family members notice first. Watch for these signs:
- You ask people to repeat themselves more than you used to
- Speech sounds muffled, especially with women and children
- You have trouble following talk in restaurants or crowded rooms
- The TV or radio is louder than others in the room prefer
- You avoid social settings you used to enjoy
- You have ringing in one or both ears
- Phone calls are harder than they used to be
- You feel tired after a day of listening at work
If two or more of these ring true, book a hearing evaluation. It is painless, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and gives us a clear answer.
Treatment Options at ACI
Prescription Hearing Aids
For most sensorineural hearing loss, modern prescription hearing aids are the primary treatment. We fit devices from Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Signia, Starkey, Widex, Unitron, and Lyric extended-wear. Every fitting includes real-ear measurement so we know for a fact that the device is delivering the right sound to your eardrum. Our treatment plans range from $4,500 to $7,500 and include binaural hearing aids (both ears), a real-ear measurement fitting, follow-up adjustments, cleanings, and our care commitment for the life of your devices. See all hearing aid brands and technology levels.
Cochlear Implants
When hearing loss is too severe for hearing aids to fully help, cochlear implants can restore speech understanding. ACI provides candidacy evaluation, pre-surgery testing, and lifelong programming (called mapping) for adult and pediatric cochlear implant recipients. We work with all three FDA-approved brands: Cochlear, Advanced Bionics, and MED-EL. Learn about the cochlear implant evaluation process.
Medical and Surgical Referral
When we find a conductive cause we cannot fix in the audiology office, such as chronic ear infections, otosclerosis, or a suspected acoustic neuroma, we coordinate a referral to a local ENT physician. You keep us as your audiology team through the whole process, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Combined Care for Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
More than half of adults with tinnitus also have hearing loss. Treating the hearing loss usually reduces the tinnitus, and modern hearing aids include built-in tinnitus sound therapy programs. Read our full tinnitus care guide.
Assistive Listening and Accessories
TV streamers, captioned phones, remote microphones for restaurants, and Bluetooth accessories. All fit into your treatment plan at no extra charge if they help you hear better in the specific situations you care about.
What a Hearing Evaluation at ACI Includes
- Case history and lifestyle interview. We ask about your hearing history, medical background, noise exposure, medications, and the specific situations where you struggle.
- Ear canal and eardrum inspection. A quick look with a video otoscope. We show you the pictures so you see exactly what we see.
- Pure-tone audiometry. The classic beep test. Tells us how soft a sound you can hear at each pitch.
- Speech testing. How clearly you understand words at a comfortable volume. This is often the number that matters most.
- Speech-in-noise testing. Understanding speech in a quiet room is one thing. Understanding it in a restaurant is another. We measure both.
- Tympanometry. Checks middle ear function to rule out fluid, negative pressure, or eardrum problems.
- Results review. We walk through your audiogram with you and your family member, in plain English, and lay out treatment options and pricing before you leave.
Total visit time is about 60 to 90 minutes. Most insurance plans cover the diagnostic evaluation. We tell you the cost up front, in writing.
Serving All of Acadiana
Our office is in Lafayette. We treat patients from across Acadiana every week. Pick your city for local landing pages with driving directions.
Hearing Loss Questions Lafayette Patients Ask Most
How do I know if I have hearing loss?
The clearest sign is that you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves, especially in restaurants or with soft voices. Other warning signs include the TV volume climbing over time, ringing in the ears, feeling like everyone is mumbling, and pulling back from social settings that used to feel easy. If any of that sounds familiar, book a hearing evaluation. It is painless, takes about an hour, and gives you a definite answer.
What causes hearing loss?
The most common cause is aging combined with cumulative noise exposure over the years. Other causes include genetics, chronic ear infections, otosclerosis (a middle ear bone problem), certain medications, head injury, diabetes, and heart disease. About one in three adults over 65 has some hearing loss, and about half of adults over 75. In Louisiana, we also see noise-induced hearing loss from occupational exposure in oilfield, refinery, and construction work.
Is hearing loss permanent?
It depends on the cause. Sensorineural hearing loss (inner ear or nerve) is usually permanent, but it is highly treatable with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Conductive hearing loss (outer or middle ear) is often fully or partially fixable with medical care or surgery. Mixed hearing loss combines both. A diagnostic evaluation tells us which type you have and what can be done about it.
How much do hearing aids cost at ACI Hearing Center?
Our treatment plans at ACI Hearing Center range from $4,500 to $7,500 and include binaural hearing aids (both ears), a real-ear measurement fitting, follow-up adjustments, cleanings, and our care commitment for the life of your devices. Pricing depends on the technology level you choose. We offer financing through Cherry, CareCredit, and PowerPay with 0 percent interest plans for qualified applicants. Lyric extended-wear devices are billed separately as a subscription. Call for current Lyric subscription pricing.
Will my insurance cover hearing aids?
Some plans cover hearing aids partially or fully, and some do not. Louisiana Medicaid covers hearing aids for children, and many private employer plans and union plans include a hearing aid benefit. Medicare Advantage plans often include some hearing aid coverage even though Original Medicare does not. We verify your benefits before your fitting appointment and tell you the out-of-pocket cost in writing before you commit. See our insurance and coverage page for details.
How long does it take to get used to hearing aids?
Most patients feel comfortable with new hearing aids within two to four weeks of daily wear. The first week is the biggest adjustment because your brain has been working around the hearing loss for years. Consistent wear, plus a couple of tuning appointments in the first month, gets most people to a place where the hearing aids feel invisible. That is the goal.
Do I need a hearing test if I use hearing aids from Costco or Amazon?
Yes. Big-box and over-the-counter hearing aids can help mild hearing loss, but they cannot diagnose the cause. A diagnostic evaluation checks for treatable conditions like otosclerosis, wax blockage, single-sided sudden hearing loss, and acoustic neuroma. Missing those is the risk of skipping the audiologist. Even if you keep your current devices, one visit gives you a proper diagnosis and a plan.
What is the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid specialist?
An audiologist has a Doctor of Audiology degree (Au.D.) and is licensed to diagnose hearing and balance disorders, fit hearing aids, verify them with real-ear measurement, provide pediatric care, and coordinate cochlear implants. A hearing aid specialist is licensed only to test hearing for the purpose of fitting hearing aids, and cannot diagnose medical conditions. All four providers at ACI Hearing Center are Doctors of Audiology: Kimberly L. Allred, Elizabeth LeMaire, Sarah Lalande-Davies, and Courtney Barbier.