There are many interesting things you come across while working in the hearing health care industry. There are people factors from memory to dexterity to aging; there are environmental factors from weather patterns to a humid home to the voices of those we communicate with; and there are hearing aid factors such as product comfort, sound quality, and ease of use. All of these pieces are part of a very complex puzzle, but I personally consider the most important factor to be patience on the part of the hearing aid user themselves. However, being patient is often rather difficult for people, so I thought I would use this article to outline why it is so important.
First off, why is it that people tend to have very little patience with hearing aids? If you break your leg and wear a cast for 6-8 weeks, do you expect to take the cast off and have everything be perfect from Day 1? Most people would say no because they understand there is rehabilitation involved to strengthen the muscles before re-learning to walk using that weakened leg. In many cases there will always be a limp and, depending on your age and health, you may never be able to do all the things you previously did. If a person has macular degeneration and goes through numerous procedures to improve their sight, do they expect 20/20 vision at the start of treatment? How about at the end of treatment? Again, most people say no to both questions. You expect an improvement but nobody expects to get their normal vision back. So, why do many people think that using hearing aids will immediately fix their hearing, and that they’ll communicate just as easily as they did at 20 years of age? You will see improvements, but by no means should you expect artificial hearing devices to flawlessly fix your damaged hearing system.
Numerous studies have shown that the average person who knows they have hearing loss will wait 7-10 years before getting help. It takes a long time for a hearing loss to develop in the first place, and then they wait an additional 7-10 years on top of that before coming into my office. This means the average person likely has a hearing problem that’s been getting progressively worse for 15-20 years before we even start to address the issue. Does it really make sense to expect everything to sort itself out in three weeks? How about three months? We, as hearing health care professionals, expect to see a progressive improvement in your hearing ability for up to six months when properly using hearing aids. This can occur faster or slower, but the pace depends on you as an individual. You need to be patient and give your body the opportunity to get used to hearing again. There are many sounds around you that will be new (and annoying!), but you must expose yourself to sound in order to improve your ability to understand speech. Those of us lucky enough to have normal hearing are used to hearing the multitude of sound we are constantly surrounded by; but it will take time for your ears and your brain to become accustomed to hearing the sounds of the world through hearing aids. We will be patient in guiding you through this process; you need to be patient as well.
I assume that most people get frustrated with hearing aids when things don’t go smoothly from the start because of the money involved. Hearing aids are not covered by our provincial or federal health care, and they are rather expensive devices to purchase out of pocket. This is why it is critically important to be comfortable in dealing with your hearing aid provider right from the start. When you feel at ease about going to their office with your problems, it is much simpler for us to improve the sound of your hearing aids. If you are uncomfortable with your provider then you tend to put it off and your frustration increases. If you are not confident in their professional abilities to help your specific situation, then you’re definitely getting off on the wrong foot. You have options in most parts of NB, many towns have multiple locations where you can purchase hearing aids. If one isn’t the right fit then TRY ANOTHER. Furthermore, if you try hearing aids and aren’t happy with the performance, return them within your trial period and try another office. The key point in this is to ensure you have confidence and trust in the person you choose to deal with. This is a partnership that will last many years, so start off on the right foot. One thing to keep in mind, it’s never a bad idea to ask your friends or family who wear hearing aids about where they went and the quality of care they received.
So, what’s the underlying theme to all of this? Firstly, do not expect miracles. If you are being cared for by someone who knows their business, you will see improvements in many situations. It won’t be perfect, but it should be better. If your hearing hasn’t improved enough to justify the cost, RETURN THEM. Secondly, make the right decision of where to buy. Ask around, visit the different offices, meet the audiologists (or hearing instrument practitioners), and DON’T RUSH TO BUY. If you’re dealing with a salesman, then urgency and “buy now” is the name of the game. If you’re dealing with a hearing health care professional, then your ultimate success and complete care for your ears is at the forefront. Thirdly, and most importantly, BE PATIENT. Things do get better over time with hearing aids, but only if they are properly selected and fit by a knowledgeable professional. They are products you buy once every 5-7 years, please appreciate that we have a long term vision of improving your hearing ability that won’t be completely clear on Day 1. If you have concerns, be open and honest with your provider, it is their job to serve you, and they are paid through your purchases. You should expect enough success to warrant spending good money on these products; don’t be afraid to work side-by-side with your provider to achieve the greatest level of success possible. Best of luck and I wish you all continued improvements in your hearing world.
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