Attitude is the key to the potential hearing aid user’s success.

A hearing aid is exactly that: an ‘aid’ to help you hear better. Have realistic expectations when you begin your acclimation period. Hearing aids today have come a long way in size, power, and ability to help you cope with every day listening situations. It is important to remember that hearing loss may affect individuals differently.

Here are some other considerations:

• Your hearing aid will not restore your hearing capabilities to ‘normal’ or pre-existing levels.
• Your hearing aid or earmold should be comfortable.
• Your hearing aid will require time to get used to, and to attain your maximum performance potential, as you gradually become accustomed to amplification.
• Your hearing aid will not eliminate background noise.
• Some instruments can reduce certain types of background noise.
• Soft speech should be audible; average speech, comfortable; and loud speech, loud but not uncomfortable.
• Your hearing aid should allow you to understand speech more clearly, and with less effort, in a variety of listening situations.