Tips for Selecting a Quality Hearing Aid
If you’re suffering from hearing loss, you aren’t alone. More than 40 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss. Hearing aids can help relieve the consequences of hearing loss and help significantly increase quality of life for those with this condition.
If you think you may need a hearing aid, your first step is to talk with a Doctor of Audiology to do further testing and explore treatment options. Types of hearing loss as well as individual needs vary widely, and because of this treatment can vary from person to person.
Here are the top things to do if you are ready to treat your hearing loss-
1. Choose your hearing care professional wisely. Not all professionals that work with hearing aids are the same. In fact, dispensers in the state of Washington only have to have a high school diploma and little formal training to fit hearing aids. Doctors of Audiology have the highest possible training about all aspects of hearing loss, rehabilitation, and hearing technology. Start with someone dedicated to helping you with your hearing journey, not just someone interested in selling a hearing aid.
2. Get comprehensive testing to determine your hearing loss and needs- This testing should include a case history questioning all aspects of your hearing needs present and past, other symptoms involving your ears, and any medical conditions that might affect hearing and hearing technology needs.
3. Selecting the right technology is a TEAM approach which is UNIQUE to each patient- There is no “one size fits all” solution to selecting the right hearing aid as there are a variety of different manufactures, styles, and functions available in today’s hearing aids. Because of all the different options, consulting with a Doctor of Audiology will help you choose the right hearing aid to fit your needs. Again, what is best for your neighbor might not be right for you. A personalized consultation about YOUR listening needs, not the latest hearing fad, is imperative to your hearing success
4. Follow-up Care- This is just as important as selecting the right professional and technology to maximize your investment in better hearing. Make sure you select a company that is established and believes in care AFTER the hearing aid is fit. Hearing aids need to be cleaned every four to six months to minimize costly future repairs and extend their lifespan. Additionally your hearing should be checked every few years to make sure the hearing aids are adjusted to meet your needs, not just when they are fit, but for the life of the device. Some clinics include these services (and other things such as warranties, batteries and supplies) at no additional costs which makes sure that your investment in better hearing will last for the long run.
8 Comments
I like what you said about getting comprehensive testing to see which hearing aid you need. My mom has been telling me about how she’s having issues hearing. I’ll share this information with her so that she can get tested for hearing aids.
You made a point that one should consider getting comprehensive testing when choosing hearing aids. My grandfather is having hearing problems and we want to get him some hearing aids. I’ll discuss this with my father so we can consider visiting an audiologist to get some recommendations.
I like that you mention the importance of finding a professional who will help you find the right hearing aid fit for you since they aren’t all the same. My husband’s dad just turned 80 and is displaying some signs of hearing loss. I think he should visit a professional who can help him decide which hearing aids would be best for him and his situation.
I am glad you mention the importance of getting comprehensive hearing tests to know exactly which hearing aid can help you the most. My husband’s dad is starting to lose his hearing in one ear. I think he should have his hearing tested so we can know which kind of hearing aid device to look for to help him be more involved in our conversations.
I didn’t know before that hearing aids are specific to each person, so I am glad that you mentioned that you should consider hiring a professional to help you find the right one. My wife’s dad needs help with his hearing, so we are going to look for the right aids for him. I will be sure to recommend seeing a professional to help him find the right ones.
I like that you mention that choosing the right healthcare professional is important so you can find someone that is dedicated to helping you on your journey. My husband’s das has been struggling with hearing loss for a while and hasn’t been involved in our conversations for a while. I think we should look into finding some hearing aids for him that help him get back into life.
My dad thinks that he has hearing loss because we often have to raise our voices in order to speak with him and he can’t hear the kids when they are playing quietly. He would really like to get some help and talk to a professional so that he can get a hearing aid to help him. Thanks for your tips about how he should get a test that can explain his history and make sure that it is customized to him.
Thank you for reminding us to get our hearing tested before we purchase a hearing aid. The other day my father mentioned that he seems to be losing his hearing in his left ear. I will advise him to see an audiologist to check his hearing as well as ask for recommendations for quality hearing aids.