Hearing Aids: What Users Really Think, and Why You Should Pay Attention

The majority of people who wear hearing aids are happy with their experience: Based upon one recent survey, when speaking one-on-one, 91% of people who use hearing aids are happy with their results. When breaking down results with particular activities, 75% were satisfied in a restaurant or on the phone, 78% were satisfied while in the grocery store, and 85% were satisfied watching TV or in a group.

These are some dramatically positive numbers for an intricate device such as a hearing aid. But that still leaves us questioning, what’s happening with the other 25%, 15%, and 9%. What makes them less satisfied with their hearing aid?

Individuals with hearing aids have some good and some bad things to say about them. (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 help you love it even more. If you aren’t as happy with it as wish you were, we’ll investigate what to do about it.

1. I feel more connected

People who have had their ability to hear revived with a hearing aid frequently feel reconnected with those around them. They have more energy. They feel like they can better participate and remain active.

Their inability to hear isn’t so discouraging anymore. They feel less tired because they don’t have to work so hard to understand what other people are saying.

For many individuals, a hearing aid helps them feel more connected to their world and others, which is when they feel happiest.

2. They may sound distorted initially

Contemporary hearing aids are digital. They have many advanced settings for different hearing environments rather than just making everything louder. 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 difficult to learn to use. But getting used to them will take a little practice.

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 some people may think. If it doesn’t sound good when they leave the office they may think that this is as good as it gets and decide it’s easier not to wear the hearing aid.

You may not even recognize how complex hearing loss can be. Hearing aids are developed to address various types and degrees of hearing loss by transforming the way sound enters the ear.

When you are in the office, we will perform a thorough hearing aid fitting. When you get home, we recommend that you practice using your hearing aid with a friend in a variety of settings.

If it still doesn’t sound great after a few weeks, consult us. We can help you get a better understanding of how your functions work and we can probably do some fine-tuning for you.

4. Without healthy hearing, you forgot what you were missing out on

Can you recollect what gentle laughter or a soft whisper sounds like? How about the wind, wind chimes, birds singing, or soft music? Maybe you’ve forgotten how it makes you feel to hear the soft breath of a significant other sitting near you or youngsters playing outside.

Hearing these little discreet sounds that were forgotten about is surprisingly pleasant according to many individuals who get hearing aids. Having these sounds restored means the whole brilliance of the world around can once again be experienced by individuals who get hearing aids.

5. Getting used to my new hearing aid took some getting accustomed to

You most likely weren’t at first comfortable with your first pair of shoes when you were a baby. But now, of course, you’re totally comfortable with them. In a similar way, a new watch or a new hat might take a bit of time to get used to.

Our bodies are designed to feel uncomfortable when something feels out of place, such as a hearing aid going into your outer ear. But within a short time, the body realizes there is no threat and welcomes the device as an extension of the body.

6. I wish I would have invested in my hearing aids sooner

People would never go back to having hearing loss if they were patient and took the time to get used to them. They wouldn’t trade all the advantages of hearing, and they frequently regret waiting so long to invest in a hearing aid.

People who had patience and stuck with it were happy that they did. It’s made their life a great deal 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. Before long, wearing the hearing aid will become second nature.

Whatever you’re experiencing with your hearing aid today, talk to us about it. We can usually offer advice on how to adjust to your hearing aids faster. The adjustment is worth it when you get the opportunity to experience all that life has to offer.