How to buy a hearing aid

I am occasionally asked by family who live in other provinces if I can “sell” them a hearing aid to save them money. I understand that hearing aids are an expensive proposition, but I have refused every time and referred them to excellent colleagues. My explanation is always the same. I tell them, “Who you see will make a bigger difference than what you get.” My family will need follow up and aftercare that I can’t deliver when they don’t live in Alberta. As a result, even though my own mother wears hearing aids, I am not her Audiologist. We should never lose sight of the fact that hearing aids fall squarely under health care but it can be a confusing experience, with a lot to lose. It may be worthwhile to consider a few tips in finding the right professional.

Beware of misleading advertising. I saw a TV ad the other day from a major entity in the world of hearing aids that implied their hearing aids could “erase” background noise and only let you hear speech. There is not a hearing aid on the planet, for any amount of money, that can do that the way they suggest. If they could, we would all wear them like we wear sunglasses, even when our vision is normal. Likewise with digital advertising, if you have any internet presence or social media, you are being targeted with ads based on your age, search history, etc. Be wary of what they are telling you. There is no single hearing aid that has “taken over the (Red Deer or Olds) market.” That is a digital manipulation. Be skeptical.
Am I being helped or am I being sold? The experience should feel like health care, not a retail transaction. The conversation should be about treatment outcomes (speech understanding) before gadgetry and smart phones. There should be a plan to achieve this that includes best practices and real ear measurements (see part 1 in a previous article).
What is being recommended? There are about 6 major global hearing aid manufacturers. It is in your best interest to use a technology developed by a major manufacturer to ensure cutting edge research as well as reliability. These have to pass testing with Health Canada to qualify as a medical device. They are therefore exempt from GST and can be claimed as a medical expense on your taxes.
Can anyone adjust my hearing aid? You have the right to choose the professional you work with. But what happens if you lose faith in your professional or if you move cities? Sometimes, the devices are “locked” and can only be adjusted or changed by the company that originally dispensed the devices. This restricts your choice of health care provider. Make sure you get “open platform” devices that can be programmed by any Audiologist or hearing care provider anywhere you may be.
What is the plan for after care? You absolutely will need aftercare, support and counseling about your hearing and hearing aids.
Do I have time to make my decision? You should have no less than one month to try the hearing aids with an option to return them if they don’t meet your expectations. You should not sign anything that obligates you before that trial period is completed. Any suggestion that “you’ll get used to it” is not a legitimate reason to sign something before you are happy with the results.

Health care regulation ensures minimum competence. But maybe we should be looking for excellent, not just competent. You should be comfortable with the relationship and know that professional is committed to your improved communication. Don’t be afraid to interview your health care providers and make the right decision for you.

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Hearing: What Do You Need to Know?

April 27, 2023

“Everyone mumbles.” or “if everyone spoke more clearly, I wouldn’t have a problem.” Have you thought or said either of those sentences before? If you have worked around industrial noise or find yourself over the age of 55, there is a good chance you have. But why? Surely it couldn’t be a reduction in hearing. Or could it?

Biology is Better Than Technology: Protecting Your Hearing

April 27, 2023

“Biology is better than technology….” That’s a phrase I seem to repeat on a daily basis in my Audiology practice. In fact, I say it so much, I recently had a patient tell me I should trademark it! When it comes up in our clinical counselling, what I am usually stressing is that we need to protect our hearing, because once it’s gone, it’s gone. There is no medical or surgical method that can reverse the effects of noise damage. When that is the case, hearing aids are the only option for improved communication. But that is where my phrase comes from, because normal hearing is better than aided hearing, and aided hearing is not normal. My point is that we all need to learn how to preserve what hearing we have, so we don’t have to use hearing aids sooner than expected.

What to expect at your first audiology examination

May 7, 2022

The primary goal for your first visit with an Audiologist should be to diagnose the hearing loss with an intent to consider the medical components of the loss. This will be accomplished through a series of tests designed to identify “site of lesion,” meaning where in the ear the loss is occurring, which in turn leads us to whether medical referral is necessary. A skilled audiologist can identify hearing losses that may be best treated medically or surgically and refer to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists (also called otolaryngologists). About 15-20% of hearing losses have the potential to be solved medically or surgically, without the use of hearing aids. Remember, in Alberta, an Audiologist carries the designation that allows direct referral to the ENT physician, whereas a Hearing Aid Practitioner cannot. You should know the difference. Hearing health care is a team effort between the Audiologist and Otolaryngologist much like vision/eye care is a team effort between Optometrists and Opthamologists, with similar roles and responsibilities.