Most people are happy with their hearing aids: Based upon one recent survey, when talking one-on-one, 91% of people who use hearing aids are satisfied with their experience. When speaking about specific activities, 85% were satisfied in a group environment and watching TV, 78% while shopping, and 75% in a restaurant or on the phone.
For an advanced device like a hearing aid, these are some amazingly positive results. But we have to ask, what are the other 9%, 15%, and 25% experiencing? What makes them less satisfied with their hearing devices?
Let’s examine the good and the bad things individuals have to say about their hearing aid results. (We can easily fix most 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. And for individuals who are less excited, this article should help you tackle your concerns.
1. I feel more connected
People who have had their ability to hear restored with a hearing aid frequently feel reconnected with individuals around them. They have more vitality. They participate and stay more active.
They find their days filled with less discouragement over their failure to hear. They feel less exhausted because they don’t have to work so hard to understand what people are saying.
People are usually happiest when they feel connected with others and their world, and for many wearing a hearing aid makes this possible.
2. Initially, sounds seemed distorted
Modern hearing aids are digital. They don’t simply make sounds louder, they have many settings to help you hear best in various places. Because of this, some people may be dissatisfied when they’re in a loud setting like a restaurant or talking on the phone but really satisfied when in a one-on-one conversation.
Hearing aids aren’t hard to learn to use. But they do take some practice getting used to them.
3. I needed help finding out how to use my hearing aid
Hearing aids aren’t a “one-size-fits-all” solution as many people may presume. People may leave the office with the misunderstanding that the sound won’t get any better, which may prompt them not to use them.
Hearing is more complex than you may recognize. Hearing aids are developed to target numerous types and levels of hearing loss by adjusting the way sound goes into the ear.
When you’re in the office, we will do a thorough hearing aid fitting. It’s strongly suggested that you practice using your hearing aid by talking with a friend initially.
Consult with us if you’re still having difficulty after a few weeks. We can probably make modifications or help you better comprehend how the hearing aid works in settings where you’re having trouble.
4. Without healthy hearing, you forgot what you were missing out on
Can you recall what gentle laughter or a delicate whisper sounds like? How about the wind, wind chimes, birds singing, or quiet music? Perhaps you’ve forgotten how it makes you feel to hear the soft breath of a significant other sitting near you or youngsters playing outside.
Many people who get a hearing aid share that it’s a pleasant surprise to suddenly hear these little things that they had forgotten about. Having these sounds restored means the whole magnificence of the world around can once again be experienced by people who get hearing aids.
5. Becoming accustomed to my new hearing aid took some getting used to.
You likely 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 get used to a new hat or a new watch, in a similar way.
Our bodies are made to feel discomfort when something feels out of place, like a hearing aid going into your outer ear. Eventually, when the body knows that it’s not threatened, it will become accustomed to and comfortable with the new device.
6. I wish I would have purchased my hearing aids sooner
People would never go back to having hearing loss if they were persistent and took the time to get used to them. They wouldn’t trade all the advantages of hearing, and they often regret waiting so long to get a hearing aid.
Individuals who had patience and preserved were happy that they did. Their lives have become a great deal more enriched.
Pay attention to improved hearing
If you’re not having the best experience with your hearing aid, don’t give up. The effort and the time will be worth it. It will become automatic before too long.
Talk to us today about what you’re experiencing with your hearing aids. We can help you adjust your hearing aids in a faster and more effective way. Enjoying all that life has to provide with restored hearing is worth the adjustment.