Benefits and Safety Issues

• What are the benefits of hearing aids?
• Are there limitations with hearing aids?
• Are there safety issues I should know about?

What are the benefits of hearing aids?

• You will be able to hear sounds that you have not heard previously.
• You will be able to hear speech over the telephone more clearly.
• You will be able to communicate more easily with family and friends.
• Your ability to communicate may improve in noisy listening situations (e.g. a restaurant or in a large group of people).

Are there limitations with hearing aids?

• Hearing aids do NOT restore normal hearing. In contrast, eyeglasses can restore 20/20 vision.
• Hearing aids amplify all sounds, including background noise that you do not wish to hear.
• Hearing aids require an adjustment period that may take several months. Follow-up visits with the licensed hearing aid dispenser are necessary to take full advantage of the hearing aids.
• When you begin to use hearing aids, many sounds, including your own voice, might seem too loud.
• You will need to learn how to adjust the settings for hearing aids with more complicated technology.
• Hearing aids can be expensive.

To overcome the potential limitations with hearing aids, inclusion of aural rehabilitation during the process of your hearing aid purchase can be helpful. Aural rehabilitation may assist in maximizing the benefits of hearing aids and developing strategies to deal with hearing aid limitations. For more information about aural rehabilitation, please see the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) “Adult Aural/Audiologic Rehabilitation.”

Are there safety issues I should know about?

Hearing aids should be properly fitted by a licensed hearing healthcare professional (such as an audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser) so that the amplification matches your hearing loss. If not fitted properly, too much amplification may cause additional hearing loss.