Clear Words from ClearWorks Audiology
Falling in Love With Your Hearing Aids: It Doesn’t have to be Complicated
Are your hearing aids fitted for success? The secret to hearing aids is simple. When they work, it’s clear! Hearing better is a gift you give yourself and properly fit hearing aids are the first step. If your hearing aids are living in a drawer, or you’ve given up on using them, a second opinion can help! Here are 5 reasons people do not wear their hearing aids and some helpful advice. The good news is a qualified Audiologist, devoted to your comfort and hearing, can help make the ideal match for a better hearing and hearing aid experience.
#1. Improperly Fit Hearing Aid Programming
When hearing aids are not programmed appropriately they may be too loud, too soft, sound distorted and be ineffective. Hearing aid sound must be comfortable most of the time or you will not want to wear the hearing aid(s). Hearing aid programming can be verified to a prescription based on your hearing. Verification measurements should always be used when programming hearing aids.
#2. Counseling and Expectations
Hearing loss is typically gradual, progressing slowly over many years. When hearing aids are used hearing is improved quickly, which is a very big change for your brain. If you do not receive appropriate counseling as to appropriate expectations and how to handle adjusting to hearing aids, it can be an intimidating and off-putting process. It is common for the user to address the potential discomfort of adjusting to hearing aids by not wearing them. Advocate for your hearing needs and talk to an audiologist that can tell you all you need to know.
#3. Insufficient Vital Communication Testing
A hearing evaluation is an important first step to maintain or improve your hearing. If the hearing evaluation does not include certain elements such as hearing when there is background noise, it could lead to problems in a hearing aid fitting. These problems could include sound being too loud or soft or ears feeling plugged up. When hearing aid sound is not comfortable, the wearer is likely to reject the hearing aids. Hearing aids can be optimized if the right information is gained during your initial evaluation.
#4. Waiting Too Long to Address Hearing Changes
Our brains learn and adjust in response to change. When we have hearing loss, our brains adjust to try to maintain speech understanding despite the hearing loss. The hearing parts of our brains also change, and if hearing loss is untreated the auditory brain becomes less effective at listening and tolerating the sounds of the world around us. The most successful hearing aid users are those that address their hearing as soon as they notice a change, or in an inconsistent-user’s case, delays no further. Early hearing aid use maintains auditory stimulation to the brain and results in the best hearing.
#5. Lack of Follow Up
Hearing aids should be worn during most waking hours. To accomplish this with comfort and enjoyment, the hearing aids must be physically and acoustically comfortable. Despite their investment in hearing aids, patients often feel embarrassed to report problems and concerns in fear of being difficult or an annoyance. However, the need for follow up appointments and physical fit and sound changes are normal and necessary. Your audiologist is here to help, and patients that share problems and concerns with the audiologist are the most successful wearing hearing aids.
The good news is the right hearing aids can be life-changing and a win for hearing better. Don’t postpone your hearing health and ability to enjoy it.
Paid content by ClearWorks Audiology
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