There are many benefits to wearing hearing aids. One study published in the journal Trends in Hearing in 2021 reports that, “Social activity level increased and social participation restriction decreased significantly after hearing aid fitting in the intervention group compared to the control group.”
Some people mistakenly believe that purchasing hearing aids is the only step you need to take to hear better. However, this is not quite true. The process of relearning to process sounds and communicate well is called aural rehabilitation, which we review more information about below.
Step 1: Audiological Assessment
The very first step in the process of better hearing is to undergo an audiological assessment. This consists of a battery of tests that will determine your exact type and degree of hearing loss. The results of these tests are then graphed on an audiogram, which is a visual representation of your hearing loss.
Step 2: Needs Assessment
After your audiological assessment, your audiologist will conduct a needs assessment. For this, you will need to pinpoint specific situations where you cannot hear well and where you think it’s important to improve your hearing ability. For example, you may wish to better follow along with the discussion at book club or improve communication with your date at Sazon on Shelby Street. It may be helpful to consider these situations during the days or weeks leading up to your appointment and compile a list.
Step 3: Hearing Aid Selection & Fitting
Once your audiologist has conducted the audiological and needs assessments, they can select and program a hearing aid that suits your unique needs. You will need to attend follow-up visits so the programming can be tweaked based on real-world situations.
Step 4: Counseling
Your audiologist will also provide counseling on communication strategies and other techniques to improve your listening and quality of life. For example, they may recommend assistive listening devices, talk about requesting accommodations from a conversation partner and direct you to online resources and support groups.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Southwestern Hearing & Balance today.