The decision to seek help with your hearing is a major one. If you or your family perceive a change in your hearing, the first step is to have a comprehensive hearing evaluation in order to determine the severity and type of hearing loss. Your hearing loss may be medically-treatable and your audiologist will make the appropriate referral for ear cleaning, ear infection or other medical conditions of the ears.
Hearing Aid Evaluation
If your hearing test reveals a permanent hearing loss, a hearing aid may be recommended for one or both ears. Your audiologist may explain what sounds you are not hearing and what hearing aids can do to help. Your audiologist will help you choose the best hearing aid styles, features and level of sophistication based on your degree of hearing loss, cosmetic requirements, lifestyle, and financial circumstances.
Once you make a decision, the audiologist may take impressions of your ears if you selected custom hearing aids or behind-the-ear hearing aids that require earmolds. Hearing aids must usually be ordered from a manufacturer and then programmed by your audiologist to meet your specific hearing needs. Non-custom hearing instruments can be delivered within a few days, however custom or behind-the-ear hearing aids typically take approximately two weeks.
Hearing Aid Fitting
After selecting your hearing aids, your hearing professional will program them, based on a prescription, to meet your hearing needs. The audiologist will explain how to use the devices, how to put them in the ear and how to remove them, how to change batteries and how to care for, clean, & repair your hearing instruments. It is also a good idea to bring family members or close friends to the hearing aid fitting so they can help remember all the information that is given and be a support to you.
For first-time hearing aid users, adjusting to amplification is a process. Some patients will take longer to become acclimated to their hearing aids than others Common issues with first-time users have commented on are the strange sound of your own voice and awareness of sounds that were not noticeable before wearing hearing aids. This is normal and to be expected. The goal of the hearing aid is to make everyday sounds audible and comfortable, but the sound you hear should be clear and pleasant. Small changes can be made to the hearing aids at your first fitting if there are things that you feel should be adjusted right away. The audiologist may do some testing or live speech mapping to make sure the hearing aids are providing optimal audibility for all speech sounds.
You may be also be given a short survey or list of questions to answer. Be honest about what you hear so that the hearing professional can work with you to create the best listening experience with your new hearing aids. Your hearing aid fitting is only a starting place; other changes to customize the hearing to your liking may need to take place over a few appointments, as you wear the hearing aids in more situations and adapt to all the new sounds you are hearing.
Attitude as well as a little patience are important key to success with hearing aids. Hearing aid studies have shown that people who have a positive attitude do better with hearing aids. If you, as well as your spouse or family, approach your hearing aid fitting with a positive outlook you will have a much better listening experience more quickly. Keep in mind that it may take some time to get used to the sounds you were missing, and by working closely with your audiologist, you will get the most out of your new hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Repair
Hearing aids have small working parts, and it is not uncommon over time for a hearing aid to need a repair. You may try to turn the hearing aid on in the morning and find that there is no sound; the battery door may come unhinged. These things do happen, even when hearing aids are cared for properly. If you should experience an issue that needs repair, take the hearing aid(s) to your hearing care professional. They are equipped to diagnose broken hearing aids. Some minor hearing aid repairs can be done in the office setting in a short period of time; others will need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. Your hearing professional can help determine what kind of a repair is necessary if you feel your hearing aid is not working properly.
If you are a current patient and have hearing aids that were not fit in our office, we are happy to try to repair your hearing aids. We are able to service most major manufacturers of hearing aids and can tell you in the office if yours is a brand we service. Hearing aids come with a warranty when purchased new. If your warranty has expired, it is still possible to repair most hearing aids with a small fee. Depending on the hearing aid manufacturer, this repair may come with a new year-long warranty. Your hearing professional will provide you with details when you take your hearing aid into the office.