One of the common myths of hearing aid use, particularly among first-time wearers, is that hearing aids will restore “normal” hearing, helping them hear everything exactly as they did before hearing loss was diagnosed. The fact is, no matter how sophisticated the hearing technology, no hearing aid yet designed will help you hear all the sounds you used to hear, exactly the way you used to hear them.
We’re here to help you learn the most realistic expectations for your best hearing experience. As a result, one of our most important responsibilities is to work with every patient, whether first-time or repeat, individually. Each person’s experience is unique, and it is essential to each individual’s success that we help them become accustomed to not only wearing hearing instruments, but to the changes they’ll experience in how they’ll hear the everyday sounds of their lives while wearing hearing aids.
In the language of our profession, it’s called “Patient Counseling”. We will help you have realistic expectations about what your aids can and will do for you, and teach you how to gain the maximum benefit from your new instruments.
Here’s a short list of some of the ways hearing aids WILL help you enjoy life more:
Hear conversations without having to constantly ask people to repeat themselves, making social situations more enjoyable.
Hear telephone conversations more clearly and easily, with less confusion.
Television viewing will be more enjoyable. You will hear dialogue, your favorite newscasters, and other speakers more clearly – and at a lower volume.
Life will become more “three-dimensional” as you once again hear sounds you’d forgotten, like rain on the roof, footsteps on the sidewalk, leaves rustling in the summer breeze, and birds singing.
Conversation in situations where “background noise” is present will become easier.
Adjusting to your new hearing aids takes time, patience and the willingness to make changes. Learning to use your hearing aids to gain the maximum benefit from them requires those same qualities. Over the years, we’ve learned that every patient – and every lifestyle – is uniquely different. Programming adjustments must be customized to fit each patient’s level of hearing loss, evaluating their ability to “discriminate” sounds, their lifestyle, personal sound preferences, and a host of other things we consider for your best fit.
Above all, keeping a positive attitude will be the key to your success. The one thing we don’t want you to do is put your hearing aids in a drawer. Nobody benefits that way. Not you, not your loved ones. That’s why we’re here: to help you learn about your new hearing aids and be able to use them to hear all the sounds of your life to the best degree possible. So stay positive. Call us anytime. Remember: we’re here to help.