FAQs

OUR CENTERS

OUR CENTERS

Q: Where are we and what are our opening hours?

A:We are located in Fuengirola in Calle Hermano Pinzón nº 4 and in La Cala de Mijas in Plaza Boulevard 26b. Two locations in the center of the Costa del Sol. Our locations are privileged, since we can provide services to nearby cities such as Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Ronda, Alhaurín del Grande, Benalmádena, Torremolinos and, of course, Málaga Capital .

Our opening hours are from 10:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday. Saturdays and Sundays we are closed to rest in order to give the best possible service during the week.

You can contact us and see our location here.

Q: Who are we?

A:We are an independent hearing care professional, well established on the Costa del Sol, covering most of Malaga and Gibraltar.

We are dedicated to all aspects of hearing health, and provide the highest level of care possible. We have no commitments to any particular hearing aid manufacturer. Consequently, we can prescribe the most appropriate and suitable hearing aids to solve each individual' s problem (hearing and cosmetic).

Being independent allows us to give completely impartial advice.

If you want to put a face to us, just click here and you will get to know us a little better.

Q: What services do we offer?

A:At the SONTEC Hearing Centre our audiologists and audiology professionals will take care of all your hearing healthneeds.

If you or a loved one has a hearing loss, we can help. We offer the best and most advanced technology.

By helping you to listen, understand and communicate better, we strive to improve the quality of life for you and your family.

We offer you the best hearing solution, with a free in-depth hearing evaluation, which will help us to recommend the best solution for your problem.

If you want to know more about our services you can find them here here.

Q: Do you speak English or another language?

A:At SONTEC Hearing Center we speak up to 5 languages. Spanish, English, German, Afrikaans, Czech, Russian and Portuguese.

 

Q: Can I choose the hearing centre that suits me best?

A:YOU ARE FREE TO CHOOSE the Hearing Centre where you purchase your hearing aids and have a complete audiological examination.

 

HEARING

HEARING

Q: Why should you take care of your hearing?

A:Of the five senses, hearing is one of the most precious. Without it, we lose touch with our loved ones and the world at large. Think of all the sounds you hear every day: your friends talking, children laughing, your favourite song, a compliment. It is this exciting and informative symphony of sounds that enriches life.

As well as helping us communicate and socialise, our hearing also helps keep us safe. A fire alarm, a car horn or a child shouting "help!" are just a few examples of the vital signals we need to be able to hear.

We depend on our hearing in so many different ways, which is why we must value and protect it.

You can watch the video on our YouTube channel "General tips for taking care of your ears" or the video "How to take care of your hearing".

Q: What are the causes of hearing loss?

A: Hearing loss is often associated with ageing, but this is not always the case. Although it can occur at any age, it most commonly occurs after the age of 65. But it can also be caused by infections, injuries or congenital malformations.

  • Age-related hearing loss: As we getolder, we lose the ability to hear soft, high-frequency sounds. It is easy to live without birdsong, but coping with the loss of the ability to hear some of the main sounds of speech is much more complicated.
  • Hearing loss related to loud noise:This type of hearing loss is usually caused by overexposure to excessive noise . Some jobs are more at risk than others, such as the military, police, bricklayers, factory workers, farmers, dentists and nursery school teachers. Rock concerts and MP3 players can also damage hearing. You can watch the video on our YouTube channel "How hearing works in your brain".

 

Q: What types of hearing loss are there?

A: There are generally three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss (which is a combination of the two).

  • Conductive loss

The causes of conductive hearing loss are due to problems in the outer and middle ear, which can prevent sounds from reaching the inner ear. The most common causes are a build-up of earwax in the ear canal, a perforated eardrum, fluid in the middle ear, injuries or even defects in the ossicles.

  • Sensorineural loss

This type of loss occurs when sensory cells or nerve fibres in the inner ear are damaged in a way that inhibits the transmission of information to the brain. The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss can be the natural process of ageing or overexposure to noise. In most cases, this condition is permanent.

Q: Videotoscope, what is it and how does it work?

A:The audiologists at Sontec Hearing Centres explain what a Videotoscope is and how it works. The importance of this service offered by our hearing centre so that patients can see their external auditory canal through a screen.

HEADPHONES

HEADPHONES

Q: How do the hearing aids work?

A: Simply put, a hearing aid is a tiny combination of a microphone, an amplifier and an earpiece. Depending on the quality of the hearing aid you choose, it will also offer a range of hearing enhancement features that can be extremely sophisticated.

While there are many types and levels of sound processing technologies, all hearing instruments share five basic components:

  1. Microphones that pick up sound.
  2. An amplifier that boosts your power.
  3. A tiny chip that processes and improves the sound quality to adapt it to the user's hearing needs.
  4. An earphone that sends amplified sound to the ear.
  5. A battery, which makes the above elements work.

Different hearing aids come in a variety of physical designs, but what really makes the difference is the technology that goes into them. The more advanced the technology, the richer and more rewarding the hearing experience.

Q: Why wear two hearing aids?

A: Many people think that it is normal to use one hearing aid, when in fact it is just the opposite. Just as a visual problem usually affects both eyes, most hearing losses affect both ears, so it makes sense for the hearing care professional to prescribe the fitting of two hearing aids, i.e. a stereo or binauralfitting.

This system has many advantages: a much more natural hearing, a wider auditory field, localisation of the origin of the sound source, a sensation of auditory relief and a better understanding of words.

Q: Do my hearing aids need to be checked and cleaned?

A: Yes, hearing aids need to be checked and cleaned from time to time, and at Sontec Hearing Centre we provide them FREE OF CHARGE.

Q: Why do the hearing aids beep?

A: Yes, sometimes hearing aids whistle. You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain the cause of "why hearing aids whistle".

Q: How do I change the tube of a BTE hearing aid?

A: You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain "How to change the filter on a RITE hearing aid".

Q: How do I change the filter on a RITE hearing aid?

A: You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain "How to change the filter of a RITE hearing aid".

Q: How do I change the battery in a RITE hearing aid?

A: You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain "How to change the battery of a RITE hearing aid".

Q: How do I change the filter on an INTRA hearing aid?

A: You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain "How to change the filter of an INTRA hearing aid".

Q: How do I change the battery in an INTRA hearing aid?

A: You can watch a video on our YouTube channel where we explain "How to change the battery of an INTRA hearing aid".

Q: How do I clean the hearing aids?

A: To clean your hearing instruments, use cleaning agents suitable for hearing instruments or a soft, damp (but not wet) cloth. Do not use alcohol or other solvents to clean the hearing instruments. The tube and earphone coupler should be cleaned with a soft cloth on behind-the-ear hearing instruments. If ear wax builds up in the coupler and is difficult to clean, ask your hearing care professional for assistance.

Q: How do I care for my hearing aids?

A: Turn off the hearing instruments before going to bed. If moisture accumulates inside the hearing instruments, leave the battery door open overnight to allow the internal components to dry out. Keep hearing instruments away from excessive heat or cold. Remove your hearing instruments before using, for example, hair spray, perfume spray or shaving lotions. Handle hearing instruments with care. If hearing instruments are dropped on the floor or on a hard surface, it is a good idea to have your hearing care professional make sure they are not damaged. Despite the protection offered by the nanotechnology coating, never immerse your hearing instruments in water or wear them while in a sauna. Also protect your hearing instruments from rain. Keep your hearing instruments out of the reach of children and pets. For a more extensive list, read this article on how to care for your hearing instruments.

Q: Can hearing aids be used in the shower?

A: Never immerse the hearing instruments in water or wear them while in a sauna, shower or swimming. Also protect your hearing instruments from rain. If your hearing instruments accidentally get wet, follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to dry them.

Q: What to do if the hearing aids get wet?

A: Excessive humidity may require a dehumidifier or a silica-based drying agent which can be purchased from your hearing care professional. In severe situations, ask your audiologist to check your hearing instruments. 

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