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What to expect from Hearing Aids
1. Getting used to hearing aids
Most people gradually lose their hearing over the course of
time. On average, people experience hearing difficulties for
5-7 years before seeking help. So it may have been some time
since a person has heard certain sounds, such as birds chirping,
road noises, or the hum of a fan. Once someone purchases a
hearing aid, an adjustment period is needed to become comfortable
hearing all of these wonderful sounds again. Most people wear
new hearing aids for a couple of hours each day, and then
gradually increase the amount of time they are worn, rather
than wearing them all day immediately.
2. One’s own voice will sound different
Along with other peoples’ voices and environmental sounds,
hearing aids amplify one’s own voice. Therefore, one’s
own voice may sound different. This difference is also part
of the adjustment period.
3. Hearing aids are not “new ears”
Most people with hearing loss have a permanent type of loss
that affects their nerve endings. Hearing aids cannot correct
this permanent damage—they cannot restore a person’s
hearing to normal in the same way that eyeglasses restore
sight. Instead, hearing aids simply provide assistance to
help one hear sounds better. They are one component of the
listening process. Hearing aids should be used in combination
with effective listening strategies and other assistive listening
devices as needed.
4. The clarity vs. loudness issue
Hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds, thereby making
sounds easier to hear. For most people, this increase in volume
also increases the ability to understand speech. However,
for some people, the clarity in their ears is compromised. Even if a sound is loud enough, the sound is not clear and
therefore not easily understood or perceived. Unfortunately,
hearing aids cannot make sounds more clear, but they do make
sounds louder.
5. Utilize communication strategies
As mentioned earlier, hearing aids do not restore hearing
to normal. It is unrealistic to think that one will be able
to hear everything that everyone is saying, even with hearing
aids. Therefore, using the other communication strategies
described in this course is very important.
6. Help from friends and family
Hearing loss poses difficulties for the hard of hearing person
as well as their normally hearing friends and family members. Once a person is getting help from hearing aids, he or she
should ask for help from communication partners. Ask people
to speak from the same room, get one’s attention before
speaking, and eliminate distracting noise (i.e. TV, water
running in the sink, radio). The more help they give, the
less frustration one will experience.
7. Have realistic expectations
Remember, in a noisy restaurant or at a party, most people,
even those with normal hearing, cannot hear perfectly. At
the movies, some dialogue is missed by normal hearing people. People shouldn’t expect to hear everything perfectly,
or they will be disappointed.
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