Sound Advice Hearing - Expectations

Expectations

If your hearing loss has progressed to the level that you may benefit from the use of hearing aids, a critical and important factor in their success is your understanding and acceptance of realistic expectations of their capabilities. Hearing aids regardless of type, manufacturer or even cost can never replace one's normal hearing in all listening situations. Below are some guidelines to help form more 'realistic' expectations:

Taking your time - As part of your rehabilitation you will need a period of time to self adjust to your hearing aid(s) and environment. Very few people have the ability to adjust to hearing aids immediately. Read More>>

Severity of loss - The extent to which your hearing can be improved depends on the severity and duration of your hearing loss along with your listening requirements. Generally the more severe your loss, then you are more likely to need a larger hearing system.

New sounds or long lost sounds - Everyone's hearing will decrease gradually as they get older, and we are often unaware that we have lost the ability to hear certain sounds, or the fact that we have gradually got used to hearing sounds differently (sounds that we accept as being normal, as we know no different). Read More>>

Own voice - Often the first thing that any new hearing aid user will notice is the difference in the quality and loudness of their own voice. This can be off putting and distracting at first. Read More>>

Occlusion - Your hearing instrument is a physical object that occupies space in your ear canal. The sensation of having something in your ear which blocks the sound is referred to as the 'occlusion effect'. Read More>>

Feedback - This basically is a phenomenon where the amplified sound re-enters the hearing aid and is re-amplified. Typically, it sounds like a high pitched whistle, the loudness and pitch of which can vary. Read More>>

Wind - You may be surprised to hear the noise of the wind in your hearing aids when outside, for example when out walking, or on the golf course. This is natural, because the wind comes into contact with the microphone on the hearing aid. Read More>>

Noise - Hearing in noise is difficult enough for someone with normal hearing, never mind someone who is hearing impaired. When you first try your hearing aids you need to be in the comfort of your own home and not in a busy restaurant. Read More>>

Tiredness - Bear in mind that if you are tired or not feeling your best due to a cold etc, it may be more difficult to adjust to your hearing instruments especially in noise.

Can you hear that? - There is no point in comparing your hearing, with your hearing instruments in, with some one who has much better hearing than yourself, as your hearing cannot be restored to normal so you will therefore not be able to hear everything that they can hear.

Television - When using your instruments for the first time with the TV you need to listen to programmes where the speech is clear and distinct so that you can get used to hearing with them, for example the news or documentaries, and not soaps etc where the sounds are more complex. Once you get used to this type of listening situation then you can try other programmes. Read More>>

Telephone - Sometimes this can prove difficult to use, the effectiveness depends on the type of your telephone, type of hearing aid and how you hold the phone in relation to your hearing aid (more importantly the microphone). Some hearing aids are fitted with telecoils which can assist in the use of telephones. Read More>>

Remember hearing aids are not new ears; there may be certain sounds that you will never be able to hear again, they are designed to make the best use of your residual hearing.


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