Most people don't know what to expect from hearing aids. Misconceptions and second hand experience with bulky, whistling, old fashioned analog devices continue to influence the way people think about all hearing aids. Hearing aids have changed dramatically from a generation ago - from outward appearance to internal technology - making them vastly more appealing and effective. Getting acclimated to wearing your new hearing aids is different for each person. But once you are, you should notice a big difference in how the world sounds. Here is how the present day hearing aids can change your life:

• Your ability to hear and understand other should be improved
• Other people's voices shouldn't sound distorted, harsh, tinny, sharp, booming or muffled
• The sound of your own voice should be "normal" and not sound like you are in a barrel
• The intensity and quality of familiar sounds should be sharp, bright, clear and not dull or irritating
• In a crowded room with many people talking at once, sound should be loud but not deafening
• Wearing hearing aids in both ears should help you identify the location of a sound or voice
• Hearing & communicating in quiet environments (home, work, doctor's office) should be improved
• Your ability to hear and understand speech in environments with background noise (restaurants or dinner parties for instance) should be improved
• Your hearing aids should help you understand speech in larger environments where there is reverberation (lecture halls, worship spaces, movie theatres)
• Loud sounds (sirens, traffic, construction sounds) should not be uncomfortable but you should hear them clearly

REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FROM HEARING AIDS

• Hearing aids cannot restore your hearing or your communication to “normal” as glasses can restore your vision to 20/20.
• It is important that you understand that you will not experience the same benefits from hearing aids that your neighbor does. Hearing loss is individual and how a patient performs with hearing aids depends on the hearing loss, the instruments used, as well as the expectations and motivation of the patient.
• There is not one perfect style or manufacturer of hearing aids; not all hearing aids perform the same for all hearing losses.
• Expect the adjustment to hearing aids to take time. It takes patience and time to adjust and become comfortable with amplified sound.
• Hearing aids operate with batteries. The batteries are zinc-air and will need to be replaced anywhere from 3 to 14 days depending on various factors such as battery size, hearing aid circuit and power, the environment, and accessories.
• Patients are often concerned that using hearing aids will cause additional hearing loss. Properly adjusted hearing aids should never make sound loud enough to hurt your ears.