Hearing aids compatible with your needs are recommended by the specialist based on the audiogram and patient information. The process is complex and closely monitored by the audiologist, through a careful assessment of the individual needs and preferences of the patient.

Hearing aids work best when they are recommended and adjusted properly. Let’s look at what a successful hearing aid means and how to get the most out of this experience.

If hearing aids are recommended after hearing tests, the hearing specialist will look for hearing aids that are compatible with your hearing needs on a daily basis. This process begins with a concrete needs assessment and ends with visits to adjust the settings needed for the chosen device to cope with all the auditory experiences.

Hearing needs assessment

Your audiologist will begin the selection process with a few questions to learn more about your lifestyle, your expectations of your hearing aid, your personal preferences, and other previous experiences with hearing aids, such as whether you have worn hearing aids before. last. The result of hearing tests, along with this information, are details that the audiologist needs to sort the hearing aid options you can choose from.

Hearing tests will produce a result called an audiogram, which is represented by a graph. With the help of hearing tests, the specialist can make a selection of hearing devices that perfectly cover the detected hearing loss. Hearing loss will have a certain degree – mild, moderate, severe or profound and a specific, for this reason the specialist may recommend a limited number of devices. In general, smaller hearing aids, either those you wear outside the ear, or hearing aids that are inserted into the ear canal, will be recommended for lighter hearing loss.

Lifestyle

When thinking about which hearing aid to choose, it is very important to make sure that the audiologist understands your lifestyle in as much detail as possible. You have probably gradually avoided certain social environments and situations as your hearing has deteriorated. Now it’s time to think about what you would like to do with the new hearing aids. For example, if you like to relax in the evening with long phone conversations with your loved ones, you will want to have a hearing aid that works very well with your mobile phone. If you work in a crowded office, you will need a hearing aid to facilitate group conversations.

In general, high-performance digital hearing aids are specifically designed for hearing-impaired patients who experience a variety of hearing situations and a sometimes overwhelming variety of background noises. For people who spend most of their time in the comfort of home, and the background noise is very low, not at all, the audiologist can even recommend hearing aids from the essential range.

Personal preferences

You may have personal preferences that may influence the selection of hearing aids. You want hearing aids that are almost invisible, or you may want a lightly visible hearing aid with a modern style that you can choose in your favorite color. Do you prefer to be able to adjust the volume of the hearing aid manually or do you prefer to have a technology that automatically adapts to the environment? Want to have different accessories, gadgets, such as remote control or wireless accessories?

Your preferences can be affected by the level of dexterity, especially when changing the battery, which can be so small, difficult to handle. You are willing to change a small battery more often or you will opt for a device with a larger battery that you change less often. But what do you think if you charge your hearing aid every night, just like you do with your mobile phone? These are just some of the options you can explore with your audiologist.

Have you worn hearing aids before?

Finally, it is very important to consider previous experiences with hearing aids if you are an experienced hearing aid wearer. Did you love the latest set of hearing aids? For what reason? Did you like the style, the sound quality or maybe something else? What hearing difficulties did you have with the last hearing aid you wore? What new features would you agree to test? This type of information will be useful so that the specialist can determine what features should be kept in the new hearing aid and how it can improve your level of satisfaction.

Do you need two hearing aids?

Due to the fact that we have two ears, it seems a well-founded reason. If you have bilateral hearing loss in both ears, it is advisable to wear two hearing aids. If you wear only one hearing aid, but you will need two, the sound will never be able to reach optimal quality. Therefore, when you decide whether to buy a hearing aid or two, the answer will always be to opt for two hearing aids in case of bilateral hearing loss.

Selection of hearing aids

After discussing all your needs with your audiologist, you will be presented with some recommendations at different prices. In some cases you will have the opportunity to test the hearing aids for free for a while, in the Audiolux cabinets the hearing aids with demo versions can be tested for free for 2 weeks. Once you have made the purchase decision, the specialist will order the chosen hearing aids and will schedule you for the first adjustment.

Adjusting hearing aids

From the moment of adjustment you will hear sounds that you probably haven’t heard in a while. In fact, you will most likely feel that all the sounds are too loud at first. It takes a period of adjustment for the brain to learn what sounds to ignore, for example the sound of its own footsteps or the sounds produced by its own clothing. But, don’t worry, the audiologist will make sure that the hearing aids are adjusted according to your audiogram. You will also be shown how to change the battery, how to use the device, how to clean it and how to take care of your hearing aids over time to extend their life.

Adaptation to hearing aids requires a period of accommodation that can be between a few days and a few months, depending on each patient. The most important thing is to wear them constantly, even for a short time in the first days and then add an hour a day. Successful hearing aids are as personal as any of us. The appropriate specialist will give the necessary time to understand in detail the specific needs of each patient and will develop an approach that will provide patients with personal satisfaction and the best long-term results.