Consumer's Guide to Hearing Aids > Expectations

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM HEARING AIDS

If your hearing loss has progressed to the point where you need hearing aids, there are several factors you must keep in mind to be a successful user. Hearing aids, regardless of the type of technology, can never REPLACE your natural hearing.

Hearing aid benefit depends on the type and degree of hearing impairment that you have, the amount of noise in your environment, a proper hearing evaluation and a proper hearing aid fitting.

Unrealistic expectations can result in a lot of frustration and dissatisfaction. Knowing what to expect from your hearing aids before you start using them will help you adjust more easily. If you know what to expect, you will enjoy the improvement the hearing aids bring to your life.

Our certified audiologists will counsel you on your type and degree of hearing loss. We will only recommend instruments best suited to your needs.

*Helpful Hint*

Your hearing is a precious thing; always consider the highest technology you can afford. Quality of life is at stake.

The information in this booklet will help you understand how your hearing aids work and what to expect from them.

• Background noise cannot be completely eliminated. We all hear annoying background sounds - even people with normal hearing. We just learn to "tune-it-out." After an adjustment period, your brain will once again remember to "tune-it-out."
  
• Hearing aids are only one step toward better hearing. You must learn to put yourself in better listening environments when possible. Keep communication distances to a minimum. Learn to watch facial expressions. In a restaurant, sit as far away from distractions as possible. In church, sit as close to the preacher as possible. Inform people that you have a hearing impairment; most always, they'll accommodate.
  
• Hearing aid benefit depends on the type and degree of hearing impairment that you have, the amount of noise in your environment, a proper hearing evaluation, and a proper hearing aid fitting.
  
• No hearing aid can restore your hearing to levels that you remember as "normal." Like their name suggests, they are hearing "aids."
  
• Like eyeglasses, hearing aids require an adjustment period. Your brain needs time to re-learn to listen to the sounds it has been missing since your hearing decreased. This is normal. The more you wear the hearing aids, the quicker you will adjust. Soon you will not want to leave home without them.
  
• Most hearing aids require minor adjustments during the first month. When you are fitted with your new hearing aids a computer is used to help set the hearing aids for your specific hearing loss. Often, minor re-adjustments are made for fine-tuning.
  
• At first, your hearing aids will make your own voice sound different. Sometimes minor
  adjustments can be made to help with the sound of your voice. Again, after a short adjustment period your voice will begin to sound more and more natural.
  
• Some common sounds will be annoying at first. Examples are running water, the toilet flushing and the newspaper crinkling. Remember, we all hear the same sounds - even people with normal hearing. People with normal hearing just learn to "tune-them-out." Currently there is no medical device in the world capable of determining what you want to listen to and eliminating what you don't want to listen to. Only our brains are able to tune out or not pay attention to unimportant sounds-although digital hearing aids have come closer than any other device in history. After an adjustment period your brain will once again remember to ignore sounds that you do not want listen to.

* Helpful Hint *

Higher technology hearing aids such as advanced, programmable, & digital hearing aids, have the ability to prevent loud sounds from becoming painful.

BEING A SUCCESSFUL HEARING AID USER BEGINS WITH REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

You have taken the first and most important step toward better hearing. This website will help you understand how your hearing aids work and what you can expect from them.