Most people are happy with their hearing aids: Based upon one recent survey, when talking one-on-one, 91% of individuals who use hearing aids are pleased with their experience. When speaking about specific activities, 85% were satisfied in a group setting and watching TV, 78% while in the store, and 75% in a restaurant or on the phone.
These are some wonderfully positive numbers for a complex device such as a hearing aid. But we have to ask, what are the other 9%, 15%, and 25% experiencing? Why aren’t they as satisfied with their devices?
Let’s discover the good and the bad things individuals have to say about their hearing aid results. (We can easily fix the majority of the bad stuff and that’s the good news!)
If you love your hearing aid, this article will make you love it even more. If you aren’t as happy with it as wish you were, we’ll investigate what to do about it.
1. I feel more connected
There’s often a reconnection with friends and loved ones for people who have had their ability to hear restored with hearing aids. They have more vitality. They engage and stay more active.
They find their days filled with less frustration over their inability to hear. Because they don’t need to struggle to hear what people are saying, they feel less exhausted.
For many individuals, a hearing aid allows them to feel more connected to their world and others, which is when they feel happiest.
2. In the beginning, sounds seemed distorted
Modern hearing aids are digital. They don’t only make sounds louder, they have lots of settings to help you hear better in a variety of places. That’s why people might be so satisfied in a one-on-one conversation but dissatisfied in a restaurant or on the phone.
Hearing aids aren’t hard to learn to use. But they do take a little practice getting used to them.
3. I needed help learning how to use my hearing aid
A frequent misconception about hearing aids is that it’s a one-size-fits-all solution. If it doesn’t sound great when they leave the office they might get the misconception that this is as good as it gets and choose not to use the hearing aid.
You may not even realize how complex hearing loss is. Hearing aids are designed to manage numerous types and degrees of hearing loss by transforming how sound goes into the ear.
When you are in the office, we will perform a total hearing aid fitting. When you get home, we highly recommend that you practice using your hearing aid with a friend in a variety of settings.
Consult with us if you’re still having difficulty after a few weeks. We can most likely make adjustments or help you better understand how the hearing aid works in settings where you’re having difficulty.
4. I had forgotten what I was missing out on without healthy hearing
Can you recall what gentle laughter or a delicate whisper sounds like? How about soft music, birds singing, wind chimes, or the wind? Perhaps you can’t recall what kids playing sounds like, or you’ve forgotten the sound of the soft breathing of your significant other.
Hearing these little discreet sounds that were forgotten about is unexpectedly pleasant according to many people who get hearing aids. Having these sounds restored means the whole magnificence of the world around can once again be experienced by individuals who get hearing aids.
5. It took a while to get accustomed to my hearing aids
You probably weren’t at first comfortable with your first pair of shoes when you were a baby. But now, of course, you’re totally comfortable with them. It might take time to become accustomed to a new hat or a new watch, in a similar way.
Our bodies are made to feel uncomfortable when something seems out of place, such as a hearing aid going into your outer ear. Eventually, when the body recognizes that it’s not threatened, it will become used to and comfortable with the new device.
6. I wish I would have purchased my hearing aids sooner
Individuals would never go back to having hearing loss if they were persistent and took the time to get used to them. They wouldn’t give up all the benefits of hearing, and they often regret putting off for so long to get a hearing aid.
Of those now wearing them who struggled initially, say they’re so thankful they stuck with it. It’s made their life so much more enriched.
Pay attention to improved hearing
Be patient and don’t quit, even if you aren’t yet having the ideal experience. It’s worth the time and effort. It will become second nature before too long.
Whatever you’re experiencing with your hearing aid today, talk with us about it. We can help you adjust your hearing aids in a faster and more efficient way. The patience is worth it when you get the opportunity to experience all that life has to offer.
