At speaking engagements to consumers, one of my most commonly asked questions is "which brand of hearing aid is best?"
Most people asking that question are missing the most critical points.
There are several excellent brands, and yes, some are better than others, but most people focus so much on the features and advertising, that they overlook what's really important.
Some of the best hearing aids in the world can provide horrible results. The key is not who made it, but who is chosen to select, fit, and adjust hearing aids.
There are several big differences between hearing aids and other consumer products. These include:
o Each hearing loss is unique. Some are easy to correct, some are much more difficult to correct with amplification. An experienced fitter can program and fine tune a hearing aid to take advantage of all its capabilities. An inexperienced newbie can take an excellent instrument and mess with the programming until it becomes a disability rather than a help.
o The most advanced and expensive units have the most adjustment and programming abilities. The higher learning curve and extra complexity make it even easier for someone not familiar with the model to thoroughly mess it up.
o The quality and accuracy of an ear impression is important. To prevent whistling, a digital hearing instrument may cut gain or high frequencies, which will reduce the feedback, but at the expense of speech understanding.
o The model selection makes a big difference. Each manufacturer has "entry level", "mid level", and "high end" selections. If someone orders a well known brand name, but the seller selects the economy, entry level model, there may be disappointments ahead.
The fitting and dispensing of hearing aids is more of an art and craft than a science. The best fitters and dispensers seem to have a "touch" for it that can't be learned from books, or even school. Again, it is much more important to choose who you work with than which brand you select.
Also, hearing is such a subjective sense. Just as some people love Mexican food and others don't, some people love to hear "crispness and sharpness", and others prefer a more mellow sound. The nuances and differences of sound are almost infinite.
Here are a few practical points to consider before investing:
Remember, who you get them from is more important than the brand. Look for someone that you can trust, that you are comfortable working with, and that has many satisfied clients that
would recommend him/her. You might begin by asking anyone you know or see who wears hearing aids if they are satisfied with the place that fit them, and would they recommend them.
Although it is good to increase your knowledge base and be aware of what is available by doing internet research, don't get stuck on one brand and model to the exclusion of all others. There is
sometimes a high learning curve on becoming proficient in programming certain brands. If you want the adjustments and fitting procedure to be in your favor, do one of these two things:
1) If you don't really care what brand you get, and you just want to hear as best as you can, try to go with the brand that the fitter/dispenser/audiologist recommends and is used to fitting. It is difficult to become an expert in adjusting all of the brands made. If your fitter has been fitting one particular
aid for several years, and has gone to schooling and seminars on the best ways to program and adjust that particular brand, he/she will do a much better job making you happy with the way you hear if
you go along with their recommendation.
2) If you feel you really must have a particular brand and/or model, try to buy it from someone who specializes in that brand, even if you have to drive a little farther.
It does help to do research ahead of time, and become familiar with the buzz words and key features of current hearing instruments. When you read a report of someone who had a bad experience with a particular new model, remember that the unsavory results may be from the person who fit and adjusted it, not from the brand itself. When it comes to your health and happiness, do research first, then get recommendations and referrals about who to see."
Bob Bare
Director
Hearing Haven
3740 Josey Lane Suite 125
Carrollton TX 75007
972-394-4370
phone
bob@hearinghaven.com
http://www.hearinghaven.com
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