The majority of people who wear hearing aids are satisfied with their experience: As reported by one recent survey, when talking one-on-one, 91% of individuals who wear hearing aids are satisfied with their results. When processing results with specific activities, 75% were satisfied in a restaurant or on the phone, 78% were satisfied while in the supermarket, and 85% were satisfied watching TV or in a group.
These are some wonderfully positive figures for a complex device such as a hearing aid. But that still leaves us wondering, what’s happening with the other 25%, 15%, and 9%. What makes them less satisfied with their hearing aid?
Individuals who use hearing aids have some good and some bad things to say about them. (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. If you’re not as satisfied with it as wish you were, we’ll explore what to do about it.
1. I feel more connected
There’s often a reconnection with friends and loved ones for individuals who have had their ability to hear revived with hearing aids. 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 fatigued because they don’t have to work so hard to understand what other people are saying.
People are usually happiest when they feel connected to others and their world, and for many wearing a hearing aid makes this possible.
2. They may sound distorted initially
Modern hearing aids are digital. They don’t just make sounds louder, they have lots of settings to help you hear better in various places. That’s why people may be so satisfied in a one-on-one conversation but dissatisfied in a restaurant or on the phone.
It isn’t hard to learn to use a hearing aid. But getting used to them will take a bit of practice.
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 might presume. People might leave the office with the misunderstanding that the sound can’t get any better, which may prompt them not to use them.
Hearing is more complex than you might recognize. Hearing aids are developed to target numerous types and levels of hearing loss by adjusting the way sound goes into the ear.
Our qualified hearing specialists will complete a hearing aid fitting in the office. When you get home, we suggest that you practice using your hearing aid with a friend in a variety of settings.
Talk with us if you’re still having difficulty after a couple of weeks. We can help you get a better comprehension of how your functions work and we can likely do some fine-tuning for you.
4. I had forgotten what I was missing out on without full hearing
Do you remember what a subtle whisper sounds like? What about gentle laughter? What about the wind, wind chimes, birds singing, or quiet music? Perhaps you’ve forgotten how it makes you feel to hear the delicate breath of a significant other sitting close beside you or youngsters playing outside.
Hearing these little discreet sounds that were forgotten about is surprisingly pleasing according to many individuals who get hearing aids. Having these sounds restored means the full magnificence of the world around can once again be experienced by people who get hearing aids.
5. It took a while to get used to my hearing aids
When you were a toddler and had to wear shoes for the first time, you likely thought that was awkward. But now, of course, you’re completely comfortable with them. It may take time to get used to a new hat or a new watch, in a similar way.
When something like a hearing aid is first placed in your ear canal, your body is made to initially feel discomfort. Eventually, when the body understands that it’s not threatened, it will become used to and comfortable with the new device.
6. I wish I would have invested in 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 normally feel disappointed about putting off for so long and they would never trade the benefits of being able to hear.
People who were patient and preserved were glad that they did. Their lives have become so much more enriched.
Improved hearing should be the drive
Be patient and don’t quit, even if you aren’t yet having the best experience. The effort and the time will be worth it. It will become automatic before too long.
Whatever you’re experiencing with your hearing aid today, talk to us about it. We can help you fine-tune your hearing aids in a faster and more effective way. Experiencing all that life has to provide with restored hearing is worth the adjustment.