Most individuals are happy with their hearing aids: 91% of hearing aid wearers are happy with the hearing aid experience when talking one-on-one, based on a recent survey. 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.
These are some dramatically positive figures for an intricate device like a hearing aid. But we have to question, what are the other 9%, 15%, and 25% experiencing? What makes them less happy with their hearing aid?
Let’s explore the good and the bad things people have to say about their hearing aid experience. (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. And for people who are less happy, this article should help you deal with your concerns.
1. I feel more connected
People who have had their ability to hear restored with a hearing aid often feel reconnected with individuals around them. Their energy levels are higher. They engage and stay more active.
Their inability to hear isn’t as discouraging anymore. Because they don’t need to work as hard to hear what people are saying, they feel less fatigued.
People are typically happiest when they feel connected to others and their world, and for many using a hearing aid makes that possible.
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 some practice getting used to them.
3. I couldn’t learn how to use my hearing aid on my own
Hearing aids aren’t a “one-size-fits-all” solution as many people might think. If it doesn’t sound great when they first get home they may get the misconception that this is as good as it gets and choose not to wear the hearing aid.
You might not even recognize how complex hearing loss is. Hearing aids are designed to address various types and degrees of hearing loss by adjusting how sound goes into the ear.
When you’re in the office, we will perform a complete hearing aid fitting. When you get home, we highly recommend that you practice using your hearing aid with a friend in various settings.
If it still doesn’t sound good after a few weeks, consult us. We can very likely make modifications or help you better comprehend how the hearing aid works in settings where you’re having difficulty.
4. Without healthy hearing, you forgot what you were missing out on
Can you recall what gentle laughter or a delicate whisper sounds like? What about the wind, wind chimes, singing birds, or quiet music? Perhaps you can’t recollect what children playing sounds like, or you’ve forgotten the sound of the delicate breathing of your significant other.
Hearing these little discreet sounds that were forgotten about is unexpectedly pleasing according to many people who get hearing aids. It means a great deal to have these sounds restored, it lets them once again experience the fullness and grandeur of the world around them.
5. Becoming accustomed to my new hearing aid took some getting used to.
You most likely weren’t at first comfortable with your first pair of shoes when you were a toddler. But now, of course, you’re completely comfortable with them. In a similar way, a new watch or a new hat might take a little time to get accustomed to.
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 recognizes 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 become accustomed to them. They wouldn’t give up all the benefits of hearing, and they often regret waiting so long to get a hearing aid.
People who had patience and stuck with it were happy that they did. It’s made their life so much more enriched.
Improved hearing should be the focus
If you’re not having the best experience with your hearing aid, don’t quit. The effort and the time will be worth it. It will become second nature before too long.
Whatever you’re experiencing with your hearing aid today, talk with us about it. We can typically offer advice on how to adjust to your hearing aids faster. Enjoying all that life has to offer with restored hearing is worth the adjustment.
