Preferred Hearing Solutions

Hearing aid acceptance and success depends upon the hearing impaired person’s attitude and expectations. While hearing instrument fitting cannot be successful 100% of the time, most hearing impaired individuals can be successfully fitted. This is possible through the use of the latest technology in hearing instrument science. The first and most important obstacle to a successful fitting is the natural tendency to avoid trying something new. The successful hearing instrument user MUST be willing to try a new approach to better hearing. The FDA requires that hearing aids sold within the United States have a 30-day trial period, allowing the consumer to return hearing aids for a refund within 30 days for any reason.

UNREALISTIC & REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Unrealistic expectations in one form or another are experienced by most hearing aid wearers. They don’t want a hearing aid but will use it if they can hear and understand everyone perfectly, or can hear and understand, perfectly, in all background noise situations. Even those with normal hearing occasionally have difficulty in some hearing situations. There is no hearing instrument made that will allow the hearing impaired to hear perfectly in all situations. To expect this will only set them up for failure. Their prophecy will have been fulfilled when the hearing aids were of no value and didn’t work for them. It is far better to have realistic and reasonable expectations when trying a hearing aid. Some realistic and reasonable expectations are as follows:

• Hearing aids are very effective in most situations, especially quiet ones, for mild to moderate and sometimes, severe hearing losses.
• Hearing aids can be effective in some background noise situations.
• Background noise will be louder, but people with balanced hearing are able to hear and understand through the background noise. This can occur to hearing aid users if their hearing in both ears is balanced, if their hearing is not severely impaired and if they have good understanding ability when speech has been made loud enough for them to hear.

There are lots of excuses for not seeking help to hear better, but these excuses must be set aside in order to enjoy a fuller and more enjoyable life. Many of these excuses are:

• "If people around me would speak louder, I wouldn't have a hearing problem."
• "Hearing aids cost too much."
• "Most people with hearing aids complain that they don't work."

Generally, people who are pleased with their hearing instruments won't talk about them. Those who are displeased will openly talk about their hearing aids. As a result, be careful not to be influenced by those who are improperly fit or those who have an attitude which is insulating them from a successful fitting.

After you have made the decision to get a hearing evaluation and be fitted with hearing instruments, there is some valuable information which will help make the adaptation process a much easier transition.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTING HEARING AIDS

In order to obtain the maximum benefit from hearing aids you must work with your hearing professional at Preferred Hearing Solutions. Some key points to remember are as follows:

• Maximum benefits from your hearing instruments take time, effort, and patience.
• You MUST make a commitment and be willing to follow instructions.
• Your hearing aids MUST be physically comfortable. Allow your specialist to adjust your instruments for perfect physical comfort.
• Your hearing instruments MUST produce clear and comfortable sounds, not tinny, muffled or loud. Report tinny, muffled or loud sounds to your specialist so that he may adjust your instruments.
• It is imperative that you complete the therapy as prescribed by your hearing instrument specialist at Preferred Hearing Solutions.
• Always try to position yourself in the best listening situation possible.
• Finally, when necessary, use all your powers of observation to assist you in the hearing situation

SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

You, the family and friends, play a crucial role in helping meet emotional and psychological needs of the hearing impaired.  It is a role filled with understanding and support.

There is a tendency to speak loudly - even to shout - when communicating with a hearing impaired person.  Once that person has been fitted with a hearing instrument, a loud voice can actually make understanding more difficult. The hearing instrument provides the amplification necessary to be understood when speaking at a normal level.  When the hearing aid user is in the process of adjusting to the instrument it may be necessary to speak a little more slowly and a bit more distinctly than usual. But don't overdo this! Many hearing instrument users have a great and immediate need to be treated normally. So talk naturally while making sure that you're not rushing or slurring your words.

Try to speak to the hearing aid user's face. Your eyes, expressions and gestures are important in communicating. Be sure you have the attention of the person before you try to communicate. The hearing instrument user will be going through a period of once again learning how to concentrate. You can help by making sure you will be heard before you start to talk. Get the hearing aid user's attention by calling him/her by name or "honey" or whatever you normally call him/her. Do not speak until you're sure he or she is listening.

Many of us have grown used to introducing distractions to our speech. We talk with our mouths full. We cover our mouths as we speak. We smoke. All of these things make us harder to understand. Sometimes family members even devise unusual tests to prove the effectiveness of the hearing aids. Please refrain from this, as it may lead to discouragement and frustration. Leave the testing to the hearing instrument professional.

Background noise can be a distraction too. The hearing instrument user is learning how to sort out important sounds from the background..a difficult task, even for people with good hearing.  Don't talk when the dishwasher is running. While we should not turn down or turn off the TV sound or radio every time we want to make a comment, we should attempt to hold discussions away from such distractions.

Whenever we find that we have not been understood, it's wise to rephrase our comment or questions rather than parrot the same words over and over again. Different words or different phrases may be more easily understood. The more successful listening experiences you can help to create, the sooner the hearing instrument user will develop confidence in using them.

There are times when hearing may be more difficult than usual for a hearing instrument user.  They often don't hear as well or understand as easily when tired or ill. These are times when patience and clear speech are particularly important.

These suggestions are based on common sense, but that doesn't diminish their importance. Most important is patience and understanding on our part - an understanding that each hearing instrument user will develop listening skills and adjust to the the hearing aids at an individual pace. This pace cannot be rushed, and it needs to be supported by your intelligent efforts. Your attitudes can discourage the use of hearing instruments or they can help the hearing impaired person realize their fullest benefits. Your support and sincere encouragement are just as important as the hearing instrument itself because without family and friends adjusting to its use, it may fall into disuse, and then there are no benefits at all.

For more information about expectations from hearing devices, call Preferred Hearing Solutions @ 951-652-9655, 951-303-8886 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it