Arizona Hearing Center

“I was sent to Dr, Syms by an audiologist in the rural area I live in. When I met with him, I was tested and had lost much more hearing than I realized. I have an auditory tumor in left ear which I had not had any specialist look at it in years. I did have MRI every 2 years. Dr. Syms is blunt, and some think rude. He was not rude, but he was blunt. I prefer that in a specialist surgeon. I want the truth. He and the audiologists told me my hearing loss was severe, and I had 2 choices. Either hearing aides which eventually would have to be upgraded until eventually they would not work, or a Cochlear Implant. I thought on the situation and was given a folder with very thorough info on Cochlears and exactly what surgery would entail, possible side affects, etc. In Oct. I had the surgery. Following it I had no pain, and a scar along back of ear which had been glued shut so I did not have to have stitches in that difficult location. I have been going back regularly for what are called mappings to adjust hearing. I have to say that the staff and Dr. are very caring and excellent in their treatment of me. My Chochlear Started working the day I had the turn on session. I can hear conversations and daily get a new sound that I had not heard in a long time. I am going back for care of the tumor and annual checkups on it. My feelings are that I found a great surgeon, a great staff, and am very happy.”

“My husband was sent here by his primary care Dr to remove a Qtip end that fell in his ear canal. I knew it was going to be a hearing aid sales pitch the minute we walked in .. the staff had to do a hearing test on a man who had cotton blocking his ear canal in one ear! On to see the doc who was arrogant and rude. His first sentence was “how long have you had hearing loss” I quickly said “since he crammed the Qtip in his ear canal a few weeks ago.” He responded that would NOT impact his hearing.. really? Ok I said “prove it Dig out the cotton wad and test him again.” He ignored me hoping he’s spring for his expensive hearing aids. When that failed (thanks to me), he removed the cotton and I grabbed my not too bright husband and left. A horrible medical experience. Go somewhere else.”

“I have been extremely disappointed in my experience here, specifically in my attempts to purchase hearing aids. (Dr. Syms seems great, and provided information on hearing aids that are right for me that I had not heard before from any other audiologist). Besides being disorganized with what seems to be a lot of turn over, the biggest heartbreak was in losing $500 in a “non refundable fitting charge” that I was not told about beforehand. After learning that Arizona Hearing Center does not take insurance for hearing aids, but that I could purchase and submit a reimbursement request to my insurance company myself, I went forward with this only because I was not aware that this place would charge me $500 if my insurance reimbursement did not go through, and if I needed to return them. I did submit for reimbursement, but found out a couple weeks later that the information that Arizona Hearing Center gave me specifically to request reimbursement was not adequate (it was not the “superbill” that is needed to request reimbursement, and did not contain enough information to be processed by United Healthcare). By then my return window with Arizona Hearing Center was nearly up, and I had to return the hearing aids, minus the $500 fee that I was not aware of. You would think that if all patients need to submit for reimbursement from their insurance company, Arizona Hearing Center would be better at providing you with the correct reimbursement information needed by insurance companies. It feels like this place is just out to make money at your expense. I have new insurance now through a new employer, but I certainly will not be coming back here for hearing aids.”

“All that ringing and buzzing is gone. 3 years now my AB Implant still going strong! 60 years deaf. Now i hear everything. Dr Syms can do this surgery in his sleep. Great doctor and staff is wonderful and understanding! God bless you all. 24 great grand children and i can hear then talk and cry. They keep up with you. Not just implant you and let you go. He is the best!!”