I have often thought about what a tough job hearing aids have compared to eyeglasses or contacts. Let's face it, glasses and contacts do a great job in helping you see at a rock concert, a loud noisy party, restaurants, and watching television. Hearing aids, on the other hand, have a much more difficult job trying to constantly change and adapt to all of the different listening environments to which you may be exposed.
You may think, my glasses work fine, why aren't my hearing aids doing the job? Hearing Aids are just that: Aids, helpers, and little mini assistants. They will greatly improve your hearing, but they will not completely correct it. People with normal hearing sometimes miss words here and there, especially in noisy places.
It is critical that you purchase hearing aids from a licensed professional who is familiar with today's changing technology and programming capabilities. A hearing aid that doesn't fit right or that isn't programmed correctly can be frustrating. If this has happened to you, don't give up, be patient. Keep your follow up appointments because sometimes just a little change in the fit or program can make a huge difference. If there are certain things that your hearing aid is doing or not doing, go back to your hearing clinic and ask for help. You'll be amazed what changing the settings can sometimes do.
Recently we had a younger man call our office who was completely frustrated and unhappy with his year old hearing aids. He had purchased them in another state and had not gone for any follow up appointments and recently moved near my clinic. After checking his settings, we adjusted the instruments according to his stated complaints. He left our office literally in tears. He called me yesterday after a week had gone by to thank us again for changing his life. He explained that his job had actually been in jeopardy because of his poor hearing and things at home weren't any better. Now, his boss has made an appointment with our clinic after noting the change and the man told us that his wife was finally off of his back and she was even more thankful for his hearing than he was.
All that is to say: stick with it. Yes, hearing aids can be a lot more frustrating to deal with than contacts or glasses, but in the end it will be worth it. Don't give up – a world of better hearing is waiting for you.
Author Biography:
Kelly C. Calkins is a doctor of audiology and has practiced for over 20 years. She is the owner of Alpha Hearing and Balance, works with several otolaryngologists in Atlanta, GA, and is also affiliated with the American Institute of Balance. If you are looking for digital hearing aids in the Atlanta area, take a look at her clinic profile by clicking here or give her a call at 770-491-3900. To find another clinic in your area, simply type your zip code into the clinic locator near the top left hand corner of this page.