1. Don’t go it alone. Bring along a friend or relative. Two people hear and remember more.
2. Know before you go. Most people wait an average of five to seven years before seeking help for their hearing loss. The worse your hearing loss becomes the harder it is for your brain to adjust to hearing again. Don’t wait.
3. Have your hearing tested. During your visit have your hearing tested in a sound proof booth. Different types of hearing loss should be remedied individually.
4. Try before you buy. Ask to try the hearing aid. A simulated sound field can show how a hearing aid works in a particular situation.
5. Ask about add-ons. Directional microphones can help you hear in noisy places; feedback cancellation prevents squealing.
6. Can you hear me now? Before you leave the office, ask to have an automated “real ear” test to see how in works in your ear.
7. Get it in writing. Get a signed copy of the contract that outlines what you’re buying – the make and model-price-trial period. Many manufacturers allow 30 to 60 day trial periods.
8. Ask about training. You hear with your brain, not your ears. Ask about aural education and rehabilitation on follow-up visits.
9. Pay the piper. These small technological marvels are not covered by Medicare or private insurance companies. There may be other help available.
Unaddressed hearing loss can erode the individual’s quality of life, undermining family relationships, interfering with short-term memory, and creeping into virtually every aspect of daily living. Increasingly, research shows a correlation between hearing loss and other chronic medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s. But nine out of ten hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life.