Blog

Problems with Demo Hearing Aids

Recently we have had patients come to our clinic after trying several different hearing aids, frustrated that nothing has solved their hearing problem. The difficult thing about these situations is that hearing aids take time to get used to, and hearing aids fit elsewhere may not have had best-practice hearing aid programming, via Real Ear Measurement! Many providers act like hearing aids are an instant fix, but a more honest and realistic approach always leads to better outcomes in the end. It takes our brain time to adapt to and process the sound we have been missing!

Watch the video below to learn more about Dr. Egan’s experience with hearing aid demos.

Hi, I’m Dr. Egan from Now Hear This. I’m going to talk to you about the issue with demoing hearing aids. A lot of patients are used to clinics where you just quick, drop hearing aids on the patient after the hearing test to show them everything they’ve been missing. There’s a big disconnect in understanding how hearing aids work when we do this type of process. People think getting hearing aids is a quick fix and all sorts of media and TV commercials will try to tell you that. “Get this instant, perfect, tiny product and all your hearing problems will go away!” That is not the case. Hearing aids are not like glasses where you instantly put them on and all of a sudden, the tree has individual leaves on it. The brain has to take time and energy to make sense of the sound that it has been missing.  In reality, getting used to hearing aids is a lot more of a brain therapy than anything else. It’s like trying to run a marathon without running all the 5 and 10ks leading up to it. That’s why we always offer a 60-day trial period. We believe passionately about doing things right the first time and getting patients used to the sound, getting your brain used to that sound in small doses. If we gave you all the sound you’re missing at once, wow, that would be information overload for the brain. The state of North Carolina requires a 30-day trial period, but we believe in seeing our patients every couple weeks in the fitting process to help give the brain a little bit more sound and continue to work on training for that marathon. That’s why demo hearing aids are not a realistic simulation of daily hearing aid use. As always, if you have questions, please give our clinic a call! Our number is 919-256-2898. Have wonderful rest of your day!