At Shohet Ear Associates, we have been treating patients with hearing and ear related medical conditions for over 15 years.
Recently, we’ve been seeing an increasing number of patients who have purchased hearing aids from online vendors, big box stores or retail chains and are having poor outcomes with their devices. This is primarily because service and retail options are not very supportive of individualized hearing needs.
But it’s also because hearing is complex and many people think a hearing aid is a simple fix to address hearing loss. The truth is, an over-the-counter hearing aid alone cannot and does not address the hearing health care needs of a consumer.
Without professional involvement, consumers run the risk of either exacerbating their condition with over-amplification or becoming frustrated with the device due to under-amplification, which may result in a decision to not seek further professional care for their hearing loss. Both pose serious health and safety risks to the consumer.
Based on our experience, we wanted to share some of the factors that can improve a person’s outcome with hearing aids.
Good hearing aid evaluations are as much about the person as they are about the hearing. It is important that during the hearing aid evaluation, a patient’s hearing loss, lifestyle, dexterity, cosmetic preferences, budget and different hearing aid processing strategies based on cognitive level are taken into consideration. All of these factors help to determine the best possible solution for each individual.
A wide array of options and technologies is key. Because hearing is so complex, not all manufacturers can address every patient’s hearing needs with their technology which is why it’s important to look for a hearing aid provider that offers a wide array of options.
Implantable hearing solutions are ideal for some patients. For patients looking for improved lifestyle benefits and whose hearing loss has gone beyond what hearing aids can rehabilitate, totally-implanted hearing devices and cochlear implants are an ideal solution.
Verification of hearing aid performance is vital. This is necessary in order to objectively ensure that a patient has been appropriately fit based on their hearing loss and anatomy.
Counseling is an integral part of the fitting process. A hearing aid is a medical device with psychological and lifestyle considerations which is why ongoing care and support is so important to long-term success with any hearing solution.
If you or someone you know is experiencing hearing loss or is simply not happy with their current hearing devices, contact us today for more information on how we can help you discover better hearing health!