Buying a Hearing Aid: What You Should Be Aware Of

If you've had your appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist and/or an audiologist and they've determined you are suffering from auditory loss, chances are you're now wondering what you can do about it. Unfortunately, for many people with auditory impairment, there is nothing that can be done in terms of reversal or treatment. Once the damage is done, it's done. Until medical science comes up with a way of repairing the damage, patients must look for a way to cope with what can be a very frustrating disability. For many, that means buying a hearing aid. Here is what you should be aware of as you shop for one. Don't Delay Once confronted with an official diagnosis of auditory loss, a lot of people suddenly decide that living with this impairment isn't so bad after all. Instead of buying a hearing aid, they simply choose to continue dealing with the constant frustration of not being able to hear. This is a big mistake for a few reasons. The main reason is that your brain can actually forget "how" to hear if you let yourself wallow in impairment for too long. Once this happens, it can be difficult to go back and get help. If you get a good device now, you can stave off this sensory loss and retain your ability to make sense of the sounds you hear. Don't Fall For Marketing Hype It's easy to fall under the spell of a great marketing campaign. You start reading a list of features a mile long, linked review blurbs, and a doctor giving his official endorsement and you think you're looking at the greatest advancement in hearing since the advent of the ear. While you very well may be, don't forget that someone was paid handsomely to come up with copy that would make you feel just like that. You're much better off finding independent reviews and—better still—trying out the device for yourself before you make a purchase. Don't Go Too Cheap Many experts recommend starting with a hearing aid that is on the simple side when you are just getting used to wearing one. You don't want to contend with ridiculously complicated technical controls at the same time you're trying to get used to hearing amplified sound. This doesn't necessarily mean you should look for the cheapest product you can find, however. The learning curve can be tough to get past. Don't make it harder by buying a hearing aid that even the most experienced wearer would throw down in disgust.