If you’re considering buying hearing aids, whether over-the-counter (OTC) or through a professional, here’s why you should see an audiologist or hearing care professional first.
1. You will receive a thorough hearing test and ear examination
If you’ve noticed that it’s harder to hear than in the past, it’s time to see a specialist. They will perform a hearing test to determine the extent of your hearing loss, review your results, answer questions, and make appropriate recommendations for you. These results are important information to have because they help you make informed decisions about your hearing health care. An audiologist can also do a special ear test, called a real-ear measurement (REM), which will ensure that your hearing aids provide a volume that is appropriate, comfortable and safe for your hearing loss. REM is considered the gold standard when it comes to ensuring your hearing technology provides the benefit you need. Hearing loss is not a one-size-fits-all problem. A thorough hearing test can determine whether the hearing difficulty comes from the middle or inner ear and whether one ear hears significantly better than the other. For example, asymmetric hearing loss may involve a medical referral to rule out other health conditions.
2. You will learn the pros and cons of different treatment options
There are several treatment options available for hearing loss, from OTC hearing aids to cochlear implants. An audiologist can help you understand the pros and cons of each option and recommend the best one for you based on the severity of your hearing loss and your lifestyle. Along those lines, working with a hearing care professional means you’ll get the best recommendations for aftercare. Hearing loss can change over time, and a hearing care professional can help you determine when other options are more appropriate for your hearing loss. Hearing aids come in many different styles, sizes and price points. Our audiologists and hearing care professionals are well trained and able to fit hearing aids to your specific hearing loss, lifestyle and budget. No two ears or hearing loss are the same, and a hearing care professional is the most qualified person to provide expert advice on the best options for your unique situation. Audiologists and hearing instrument specialists have extensive training and real-world experience with the latest hearing technology.
3. You will receive ongoing help fitting into your hearing aids
Hearing aids require a fitting process for a number of reasons. For many, hearing loss develops gradually over time. Especially for those with gradual onset hearing loss, the volume may need to be gradually increased over time as the ears adjust to the new sound. With properly fitted hearing aids, the volume may seem too loud at first. Imagine sitting in a dark room and suddenly the lights come on. To continue with the analogy, sometimes it’s more comfortable to turn the lights on gradually, rather than turning them all the way up. The same goes for new hearing aid users. A hearing professional is trained to work with your comfort level to provide amplification that is appropriate for your hearing loss, but also takes your comfort into account.
In addition to adjusting to the sound quality and volume of your new hearing aids, it may also take some time to get comfortable fitting the devices and learning how to care for and maintain the devices. Questions are bound to arise, especially in the beginning. A hearing professional is the perfect guide to support your hearing journey and help you with questions and challenges or support you in other ways.
4. You will receive personalized care based on your lifestyle
One of the benefits of seeing an audiologist is that they can provide personalized care. They will get to know you and your unique needs to provide the best possible care. This is in contrast to purchasing an OTC hearing aid, where you are essentially on your own when it comes to learning how to use and care for the device. If Bluetooth is important to you, your hearing care professional will show you how your hearing aids will work with your other Bluetooth devices. Or if you prefer to keep it simple, they can certainly host that as well. Addressing hearing loss is more than just technology. It’s about finding the right solution for your unique hearing needs so you can live your life to the fullest. An audiologist or hearing professional will work with you to help your hearing technology best meet your needs. For example, if you struggle more with background noise, your audiologist can make programming adjustments and specific tailored programs, such as for music, or share helpful tips and tricks to help. Furthermore, hearing is not just the ear. From recent work on hearing and cognition, we know that hearing loss and cognition are interrelated. The listening effort associated with hearing loss can add another layer of difficulty. While wearing headphones can certainly help, sometimes there are other pieces involved in hearing difficulty that can play a role. For example, you may still struggle to understand speech even with the right amplification. An audiologist can discuss your best options to help you in these situations.
5. You will get help with technology
Your hearing care professional can provide the best size and fit options for custom earmolds or other retention options to help keep your hearing aid comfortably in place. They also help connect your headphones to smartphone apps and recommend other useful devices, such as assistive listening devices. If you are considering getting an OTC hearing aid, keep in mind that you may have less support. While OTC devices are an option for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, there are people who should not get an OTC hearing aid. OTC hearing aids will not work well for those who are uncomfortable with a Smartphone hearing aid application, have more than moderate hearing loss, asymmetric hearing loss, or those who prefer personal care. When making decisions about your hearing health care, it’s important to consider all factors to make the best choice for your hearing, needs and lifestyle. Hearing specialists can explain in depth the unique nature of your hearing loss.
6. You will get tinnitus support
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is a common symptom that accompanies hearing loss. For some, it can be quite annoying. Hearing aids are a management strategy. However, hearing care professionals also have other tools they can use to provide the best strategies and support for tinnitus management. For example, your hearing care professional can adjust specific programs in your hearing aid to cover tinnitus, adjust specific frequencies that contribute to the perception of your tinnitus, or recommend other options for you.
7. You will receive aftercare for hearing aids
Hearing professionals will schedule regular appointments for maintenance and follow-up care. These personal appointments are a great opportunity to check in and see how you’re doing. Based on your input, your hearing care professional will continue to make any changes or adjustments to your settings to help you hear better. Sometimes it’s these little tweaks that can make all the difference. In addition, hearing professionals will check and clean your devices at regular, consistent intervals. These regular appointments ensure that any parts or parts of the device that need attention are taken care of. For example, the hearing care professional will notice signs of corrosion on the battery compartment or indicate when the microphone covers need to be cleaned or replaced. Staying on top of your technology will preserve the life of your device, helping you get the most out of your investment.
Listening to health care is a journey
It takes time to get used to hearing aids and they need adjustments and cleaning from time to time. Working with an experienced provider will give you the best possible experience. If you are considering purchasing a hearing aid, be sure to visit an audiologist or hearing care professional near you. They can help you understand your hearing loss, recommend the best treatment options and provide personalized care. With so many benefits, it makes sense to plan this first step in your hearing health care journey.
