Hearing Aid Trial Period Making the Most of Your Hearing Aid Trial Period You’ve noticed your hearing getting progressively worse as the years pass. You finally take the first step in treatment by having your hearing tested. The results come back and the audiologist confirms what you suspect – your hearing loss needs to be corrected with a hearing aid. Now comes the process of choosing a hearing aid and getting it fitted. You have to choose the style of hearing aid, whether it’s programmable or non programmable, and whether it has digital or analog circuitry. Your audiologist can give you valuable information and answer any questions that you might have. Hearing aids can cost between a few hundred dollars and several thousand dollars. They are a sizable investment for many people, so it’s definitely worth your time to make an informed choice on your purchase. The least expensive hearing aids will have analog circuitry and will not be programmable. Programmable digital hearing aids cost more, but generally, the more you pay, the better the sound quality of the hearing aid and the more customizability and features it comes with.

Hearing Device Center Resources How We Hear Do I really need a hearing device How do I get a hearing device Assistive listening devices Tinnitus Cochlear Implant Acoustics Analog or Digital Difference Assistive Listening Devices for the Classroom ADD Disorder & Hearing Impairment Central Auditory Processing Disorder Common Causes of Hearing Impairment in Children Common Causes of Hearing Impairment in Seniors Hearing Aid Trial Period Phone Devices for the Hearing Impaired Service Animals - Just not for the blind

• Is there a manufacturer’s warranty?
  
• What is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty?
  
• How long does the manufacturer’s warranty last?
  
• What does the warranty cover (damage, theft, loss?)
  
• Can an extended warranty be obtained

Some warranties cover the cost of repairs, while others will include maintenance fees or even replacement costs for a lost hearing aid. Make sure you have the warranty in writing and that it specifies everything that you have been told. Check your homeowners or renters insurance to see if loss or theft might be covered through that policy, or if a rider can be added. Another thing which you may have not thought of is how you purchase the hearing aids – some credit cards automatically double the warranty of any electronics purchased, and hearing aids may be included under that benefit.

Hearing aids are usually sold with a specific trial period, during which you have the right to return the aid for a refund if you find it is not suitable for you. This right may be terminated in some cases if the aid is lost or damaged, so you must be extremely careful with your aid during the trial period. The length of many of these trial periods is mandated by state law, which differs from state to state, so find out what the minimum trial period is in your state.

During the Trial Period

When you first wear a hearing aid everything will sound strange. Don’t forget, hearing loss is generally a gradual process taking place over many years. You became used to it, and the level of loss you are currently experiencing without the aid has become to seem “normal” to you.

A hearing aid will allow you to hear sounds that you may have been missing. But at the same time, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of increased auditory information. The physical sensation of having a foreign object in your ear is another thing that can take awhile to get used to.

Start by wearing your hearing aid for short periods of time, say, one hour at a time at various times throughout the day. Each day extend the length of time that you are wearing it. Begin by using it in a quiet environment and speaking to only one person at a time. When you become used to that, gradually start using it in noisier environments. It’s a good idea to keep a record of which circumstances the hearing aid is beneficial in. That way, if it needs to be adjusted, you can give the audiologist very specific information about which sound environments the hearing aid is effective or ineffective in.

Over your trial period, you should try to become accustomed to your new hearing aid by wearing it as much as possible. Also, try to wear it in different listening environments such as restaurants, movie theatres, group settings, in addition to one-on-one conversations in person, on the telephone, listening to music and television.

At the beginning, many things will sound unfamiliar or different to you. Focusing on one sound at a time can allow you to become accustomed to your new hearing abilities. Listen to running water, the telephone ringing, the television, computer sounds and the refrigerator, taking mental note of the sound of each object. This way you will be able to integrate common household sounds into your consciousness and they will not seem so obvious.

Try adjusting the volume to see which is best for which situation. If you have a programmable hearing aid, experiment with the various programs to see which program sounds best. Each day you should be able to wear your hearing aid for longer and longer periods of time and become more accustomed to the sounds that you are hearing.

The trial period is also used for learning how to care for your hearing aid. Make sure you understand basic hearing aid care such as how to insert and remove the hearing aid, cleaning the hearing aid, removing excess moisture, and changing and safely disposing of the batteries.

Quality hearing aids and Assistive Listening Devices programmed by skilled professionals, like the audiologists at the Hearing Device Center of the California Ear Institute are necessary to creating the optimal listening environment for any individual with hearing impairment. Click here to make an appointment to improve your hearing today !