Ear and Hearing

Otolaryngologist – Commonly known as an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctor, an Otolaryngologist specializes in disorders which include nasal and sinus disease, nasal deformity, chronic ear infections, allergy, snoring and sleep apnea, disorders of balance and hearing, as well as swallowing and vocal dysfunction.

 

Audiologist – A health care professional specializing in identifying, diagnosing, treating and monitoring disorders of the auditory and vestibular system portions of the ear. Audiologists are trained to diagnose, and treat hearing, tinnitus, or balance problems.

 

Paying for Ear and Hearing Care

Medicare Part B covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams only if your doctor or other health care provider orders these tests to see if you need medical treatment. Medicare doesn't cover hearing exams, hearing aids, or exams for fitting hearing aids.

 

Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) – If you are NJ PAAD eligible you can receive up to $100 reimbursement of a hearing aid purchase.

 

New Jersey Hearing Aid Project – Free refurbished hearing aids for eligible low-income seniors are available through a new, innovative initiative launched by the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH), Montclair State University, and Sertoma/Hearing Charities of America.

 

Eligibility is limited to those individuals who are at least 65 years of age, are New Jersey residents, and have an income not exceeding 250% of the federal poverty level – $30,350 if single; $41,150 if married.

 

The project involves collecting used hearing aids, reconditioning the devices and dispensing to eligible New Jersey residents. When the hearing devices are no longer needed by project participants, they are returned to the project and made available for another consumer.

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Hearing Care Providers

Healthy Hearing is an online directory of audiologists in the Basking Ridge area.

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Ear, Nose, and Throat Physicians

Damian W. Sorvino, MD

95 Madison Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960

973-644-0808

 

Summit Medical Group

Gregory J. Fleming, MD

Didier Peron, MD

140 Park Ave, Florham Park, NJ 07932

973-404-9970

 

Summit Medical Group

Alexander Gnoy, MD  908-277-8679

Lowell E. Gurey, MD  908-277-8668

1 Diamond Hill Rd, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

 

Morristown Otolaryngology at SMG

26 Madison Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960

973-267-1850

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Hard of Hearing Resources

Audio Books – Bernards Township Library has a wide variety of audio-books available through check-out or downloaded from MAIN (Morris Automated Information Network). 32 South Maple Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. You may need a CD player or a device that can provide audio (smart-phone, tablet or computer).

 

NJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) maintains up-to-date resources on hearing loss including communication access referral services, technical assistance, equipment distribution and advocacy.

 

Equipment Distribution Program – Individuals unable to afford the cost of assistive communication devices may apply to the Equipment Distribution Program for assistance. Upon meeting eligibility requirements, individuals may receive communication devices free of cost from the DDHH.

 

Devices currently available as part of this program include:

 

• Amplified Telephone

• CapTel

• Hearing Carry Over (HCO) Telephone

• Smoke Detector

• Baby Cry Alert System

• Artificial Larynx Device (ALD)

 

Practical Hints

Closed Captioning – many newer televisions have closed-captioning [CC] capability built into the set. This enables the viewer to see dialogue as it is being spoken – check your remote control for a CC button.

 

There are also specialized headphones that can ‘pair' with your TV to deliver audio directly to your ears–avoiding the loud volume that can be distracting to others.

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Many theaters/movie houses also offer headphones to enhance your appreciation of dialogue and music.