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Ask the Audiologist About Hearing Aids

Hearing loss hinders spoken communication and can be devastating. Identifying your hearing loss is the first step to getting help. For most people, the next step is getting fit for hearing aids. Hearing aids that are properly fitted and used can improve functional listening abilities. In turn, better listening ability enhances the lives and well-being of many people with hearing loss and their families, friends, and co-workers.

How do I know what hearing aid is best for me?
Today there are many different types and styles of hearing aids available. The one that is best for you will depend on many factors including the amount of hearing loss you have and the listening situations you are in on a daily basis. The best way to determine the best hearing aid for you is to have your hearing tested by a licensed audiologist and discuss the options available to you.

What is an audiologist and where do I find one?
An audiologist is a professional with a Masters or Doctorate degree in Audiology who is trained to evaluate your hearing and recommend hearing aids. Audiologists work in free-standing facilities like the League for the Hard of Hearing, speech and hearing departments of hospitals, in physician’s offices, university clinics, and in private practices. You can check with the American Academy of Audiology (1-800-222-2336), the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (1-800-638-8255), or your state licensing board for a qualified audiologist in your area.

Will a hearing aid cure my hearing loss?
No. Hearing aids compensate for hearing loss. They help you to function better in daily communication situations, but they do not restore normal hearing. Despite what some manufacturers of hearing devices may advertise, hearing aids do not cure hearing loss.

Will a hearing aid make my hearing worse?
Properly fitted hearing aids will not make your hearing worse. The audiologist should make sure they are not set too loud, and all aids have a cut off level to protect the listener from excessive noise levels. Some people who use hearing aids report that they feel as though their hearing has decreased after they take the aids out of their ears. This is because they have become used to the amplification and to hearing better while wearing the aids.

Will wax in my ears interfere with a hearing aid?
Excessive wax can interfere with the process of taking an ear impression when you are ordering an aid, or interfere with the aid itself. It can also cause a lot of feedback (whistling). If you have a great deal of wax in your ears, you should have it removed by a doctor. A small amount of wax in your ears is normal. You will need to clean your hearing aids on a regular basis to be sure that wax does not get inside the aid and prevent it from working properly. Ask your audiologist to show you how to clean your hearing aids.

Will a hearing aid cause me to have ear infections?
Before you get a new hearing aid you should receive medical clearance from a general physician or an otologist (an ear specialist). If you do not have ear infections before you are fit with a hearing aid, you should not have increased problems with ear infections after you are fit. Keeping the hearing aid clean will help to prevent outer ear infections.

What is the difference between a behind-the-ear aid (BTE) and an in-the-ear aid (ITE)?
A behind-the-ear hearing aid rests behind your ear and is either connected to a plastic piece called an earmold or a tube that sits in your outer ear and ear canal. This carries the sound from the hearing aid into your ear. An in-the-ear aid does not have the piece behind the ear. All of the mechanical parts of the aid are housed inside a plastic shell that is in the ear. In-the-ear aids come in a variety of sizes. The larger ones fill up the outer part of your ear; the smaller ones, called in-the-canal hearing aids are inserted into the canal portion of the ear and do not fill up as much of the outer ear. Another style called a completely-in-the-canal aid is inserted deeper into the ear canal and is less visible than the other styles of hearing aids.

Is it necessary to wear two hearing aids?
If your hearing loss is the same in both ears, two hearing aids will provide more benefit than one, especially in situations with background noise. If there is a significant difference between your ears, two hearing aids may or may not be beneficial. Studies have shown that when one ear is not stimulated (that is, you only wear one hearing aid) the ability for the unaided ear to understand speech may actually decrease over time.

Are smaller hearing aids better?
Smaller hearing aids are considered by many consumers as being more modern and therefore, more advanced. This is not necessarily true. Smaller hearing aids may be more "invisible" and acceptable cosmetically, but are only suitable for specific hearing losses. Discuss this issue with your audiologist.

What is a conventional hearing aid?
An analog or conventional hearing aid is one that is not programmed through a computer and does not use a computer chip to control the sound in the aid. Your audiologist tailors the conventional hearing aid to your specific hearing loss by adjusting the aids with a screwdriver or special tool.

What is a programmable/digital hearing aid?
A programmable hearing aid is an aid that your audiologist programs through a computer or another specialized device to tailor the hearing aid to your hearing loss and to your communication needs. Many programmable hearing aids have more than one memory (or program). You, as the hearing aid user, choose which program you will use for listening in quiet situations and which you will use in noisy situations. Some hearing aids may incorporate programs for music or other listening situations depending on the user's needs. Some programmable hearing aids, require the use of a remote control, some have a push-button on the hearing aid to change programs, others automatically switch from one program to another.

Most programmable hearing aids incorporate digital sound processing. This type of technology allows for more sophisticated processing or controlling of the sound inside the hearing aid resulting in sound that, for many people, is a little clearer than with analog hearing aids. Digital hearing aids usually adjust automatically and almost instantaneously to the type of environment you are in (noisy vs. quiet, for example).

Digital/programmable technology is available in all sizes and styles of hearing aids. Some special options (such as a t-coil) may not be available in the smaller hearing aids because of size limitations.

Are there any disadvantages to digital and programmable hearing aids?
The primary disadvantage of these types of hearing aids is the cost. Digital hearing aids generally cost two to three times as much as conventional hearing aids.

What are some of the options available on hearing aids?

Directional Microphones: a pair of microphones available on some hearing aids that focus in on a specific direction, usually where a person is speaking. These are helpful when attempting to communicate in noisy environments.

Telephone coils (t-coil): a separate circuit that can be incorporated into most hearing aids that creates a magnetic field to give you a “direct” connection between the hearing aid and the telephone receiver. T-coils are also uselful when using some assistive listening devices and in rooms that are “looped”.

Direct Audio Input: a connector available on some behind the ear hearing aids that enables the hearing aid user to connect directly to assistive listening devices and FM systems.

What if I decide to try a hearing aid and I don't like it?
In many states there is legislation that requires hearing aids to be sold on a trial basis. The consumer has the right, after a specified amount of time, to return the hearing aids. Generally, hearing aids are paid for when they are picked up and if returned, the money is refunded minus any cancellation fee. In most cases, dispensers charge a reasonable cancellation fee to cover the costs of ordering aids, and time spent with the consumer for the evaluation. Be sure to get the cancellation policy of your dispenser in writing, prior to purchasing an aid. The League for the Hard of Hearing's policy is a 45-day trial period. The costs of the evaluation with the hearing aid and for ear molds are not refundable.

How much do hearing aids cost?
There is a wide range in the price of hearing aids. The cost of hearing aids can range from $800 to $3,000 each, depending on many factors including whether the hearing aid is conventional, programmable or digital.

Does insurance cover the cost of hearing aids?
Check with your specific insurance plan to determine if hearing aids are covered; the majority of insurance plans do not have hearing aid coverage. Medicare does not cover hearing aids. You are encouraged to request your employer's health plan to cover hearing aids.

I seem to be "all thumbs." Are some hearing aids easier to handle than others?
The smaller the hearing aid, the harder it is to manipulate. If you can pick up a dime off of a table, you will probably not have a lot of difficulty handling a standard hearing aid. Some hearing aids have larger volume control wheels to make handling easier. Some aids are equipped with a remote control that you hold in your hand to turn the aid on and off, and to adjust the volume. Since you can see the buttons on a remote, and they are relatively large, it makes it easier to manipulate the aids. There are some hearing aids that use rechargeable batteries, so the user does not have to worry about changing small batteries.

I have trouble using my VCR, how am I going to handle something as complicated as a hearing aid?
You don't need to be an electronics expert to use hearing aids. As with most new things, there are things to learn and a period of adjustment. Your audiologist should teach you how to put the hearing aids in your ear, how to adjust the volume or settings, change the battery, clean and care for them. Your questions and feedback are essential to your feeling comfortable with your hearing aids.

What are assistive listening devices and can they help me? Click here to link to Assistive Listening Device section

TIPS:

Have a complete hearing evaluation by an audiologist who is licensed in the state that he/she is practicing. Your audiologist may also dispense your hearing aid, or you may need to go to a hearing aid dispenser following an evaluation with the audiologist. Don't buy your hearing aid from a magazine or TV ad.

When you decide to get a hearing aid, be sure your audiologist or dispenser can show you a range of products from different manufacturers.

When selecting aids, focus on performance and how well you can understand speech rather than cosmetics.

Ask for the return policy in writing. Check to see what kind of orientation and follow-up is included in the price and care plan.

Hearing aids take getting used to. They don't fix or cure a hearing loss. Remember, your Aunt Tillie's or favorite celebrity’s hearing loss and experiences with hearing aids are different from yours. The best hearing aid for you is the one that works best for you.

Explore assistive listening and alerting devices. There are many devices available at reasonable cost that can assist the hearing aid user in particular situations, easing stress and increasing your safety and communication ability.