If an advertisement claim sounds to good to be true, it probably is!
Do not buy a hearing aid through mail order. This presents difficulty with warranty, follow up, and repair.
Ask about a warranty and trial period.
Ask for a complete contract, including the total cost, any non-refundable amounts, refundable amount, and have the document dated and signed.
Visit a REGISTERED AUDIOLOGIST.
If you have difficulty understanding speech or have trouble following conversations, and have no hearing problems that should be medically treated, you may need a hearing aid. For example, a hearing aid may help you if you have difficulty; * understanding in group situations * hear voices and sound but do not understand * hearing on the telephone * hearing the TV or radio and need it louder than others do * others tell you that you do not always hear them correctly
Hearing instruments generally last approximately 5 years before expiring. You may require a new hearing aid if yours; * is perhaps five years or older and no longer performs well. * has been repaired many times, weakening the circuitry and shell. * is no longer providing you with the benefit you feel it should. * produces feedback uncontrollably. * no longer fits snugly into your ear.
Often one hearing aid provides marked improvement in hearing. However, it is often better to use two hearing aids in order to balance the hearing between ears, to increase hearing from all directions, and to increase hearing ability in noisy environments.
If your hearing aid is appropriate for you, you should enjoy wearing it and will feel that you are not hearing very well without the aid. This WILL NOT make you dependent on your hearing aid or make your ear "lazy".
The technology that now goes into the making of a hearing aid is very complex. It takes a great deal of care and knowledge to choose one that is appropriate for you. If the correct aid is chosen, and if it fits properly, it should be a pleasure to wear.
There are many types of hearing aids available today that help reduce the amplification of background noise. But, it is important to recognize that these noise suppression aids are not perfect. The reduction of background noise inevitably leads to the elimination of some of the sounds you want to hear as well. A hearing aid can not yet distinguish between background sound and speech especially at a function such as a party, where one moment the background may be noise to you and the next you may find yourself listening to that very conversation that was noise a moment before!
Then you may choose to wear hearing aids only when you feel you need or want to. Others choose to wear their hearing aids all the time, to be sure they are not missing anything. When and where to wear you hearing aid is your choice!
Your hearing aids are sold on a trial period. This gives you the opportunity, without obligation, to try hearing aids before you are committed to keeping them. If you feel you do not want to keep the hearing instruments, simply return them to the Clinic.