Your journey to better hearing booklet

BETTER
HEARING
Your Journey to
A guide to living a healthy hearing life

Hearing is one of the human body’s most
remarkable senses. It integrates seamlessly with our
brains to help us connect with the world around us. Made up
of a complex system of delicate and synchronous parts, it’s
easy to take this vital sense for granted.
If any of these components aren’t working properly, the
result could be hearing loss. For 48 million Americans—
or nearly one in five ages 12 and older—this is precisely
the case (Lin, Niparko, & Ferrucci, 2011).
If you are one of those 48 million Americans with hearing
loss, or know someone who could use help, this Better
Hearing Guide is for you.
In it, you’ll find out just how common hearing loss is, how
help is more advanced and available than ever before, and the
steps you can take to ensure hearing loss doesn’t get in the
way of a healthy and happy life.
UNDERSTANDING HEARING LOSS
Facts..........................................................................................................................3
How Hearing Loss Occurs...................................................................................5
What Hearing Loss is Like.................................................................................... 7
CHOOSE BETTER HEARING
Why Seek a Professional......................................................................................9
What to Expect at Your First Appointment................................................... 11
TAKE ACTION
How Hearing Aids Work..................................................................................... 13
New Features......................................................................................................... 15
Hearing Aid Styles................................................................................................ 17
Cost.......................................................................................................................... 19
The Right Fit........................................................................................................... 21
TIME, PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE
Help Ensure Success.......................................................................................... 23
Hear Better Faster................................................................................................ 25
Practice Assignments......................................................................................... 27
You’re on Your Way.............................................................................................. 31
Table of Contents

Like most journeys, the journey to better hearing usually begins with the
desire to accomplish a goal. In this case, the goal is to finally do something
about your hearing loss and stop letting it impact your quality of life.
We say “finally” because unlike eyesight, which people address by getting
glasses as soon as it fades — hearing loss tends to be ignored or put off for as
long as possible.
The reasons for delay in seeking treatment are as varied as the people who
experience hearing loss:
FULFILLING
JOURNEYS
THE MOST
START WITH A GOAL
Once people fully understand the dynamics of hearing loss, the determination
to take this fulfilling journey can begin. So let’s start there.
The onset of hearing loss is
usually gradual — Making it
easier to ignore or go unnoticed.
It’s not always recognized for
what it is — Instead, it’s other
people talking too softly
or mumbling.
It’s viewed as inconsequential
— “So what if I can’t hear as well?
It’s not hurting anyone but me.”
It’s relatively easy to work
around — You can just turn the
TV up louder or avoid places
where it’s more of a problem.
There’s a concern about how
hearing aids look and what
others will think — “My hearing
isn’t bad enough for hearing aids.”
On average, people wait seven years between first
noticing their hearing loss and finally taking action.
FACT:
Hearing Loss Affects More Than Just You
Many people put off treating their hearing loss because they wrongly assume it’s
only harming them. However, your hearing loss can impact others in many ways:
Frustration — When they constantly have to repeat themselves.
Misunderstanding — Your withdrawl from people and activities may be
misinterpreted as rudeness or disinterest in others.
Concern — If you are unable to hear warning sounds like smoke detectors,
alarms or sirens.
Confusion — When you answer incorrectly, don’t respond at all, or
relay the wrong information.
1 2

Understanding Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, you’re not alone. In fact, the World Health Organization
estimates that 360 million people worldwide have “disabling hearing loss.”
Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic
condition in older Americans after hypertension and arthritis.
One in five Americans ages 12 and older experiences
hearing loss severe enough to hinder communication.
Nearly 50% of adults ages 75 and older have hearing impairments.
Men are more likely than women to experience hearing loss.
About 26 million Americans between the ages of 20
and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises
at work or in leisure activities.
Tinnitus affects up to 50 million Americans.
(NIDCD, 2013; Li-Korotky, 2012; ATA, 2013; WHO, 2013)
Tinnitus is currently the
#1 service-connected disability
for veterans from all periods of service.
CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS
Many things can cause our hearing system to stop functioning properly,
though the main causes are:
Natural aging process
Excessive noise
Infections
Variety of diseases, i.e., Meningitis
Injuries to the head or ear
Birth defects
Genetics
Ototoxic reaction to drugs or cancer treatment
(i.e., antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiation)
When we become aware of a sound in our environment, it is the result of a
remarkable sequence of events.
Outer Ear
Sound travels through the pinna (external ear) and down the ear canal,
striking the eardrum and causing it to vibrate.
Middle Ear
Vibrations from the eardrum cause the ossicles to vibrate (the three smallest
bones in the human body) which, in turn, creates movement of the tiny hair
cells (stereocilia) in the inner ear.
Inner Ear
The movement of the hair cells sends electrical impulses through the auditory
nerve to the hearing center of the brain, which translates them to sounds the
brain can recognize.
How Hearing Works
SOME FACTS:
LET’S START WITH
3 4

To understand why hearing loss is so pervasive, it’s important to first
understand how hearing loss happens.
Hearing loss happens when any part of our delicate hearing system
stops working properly, whether it’s due to damage or deterioration. The
most susceptible and common parts to break down are the microscopic
stereocilia, the thousands of tiny hair cells that detect and send sound
impulses to the brain.
When these tiny hair cells become injured, diseased or die naturally, the
result is sensory hearing loss. This is by far the most common type of
hearing loss.
HEARING
HOW
LOSS OCCURS When the microscopic stereocilia (hair cells) in your cochlea are damaged,
they will not send complete signals to your brain, causing you to be
unable to understand the consonants within words. For example, the word
“TOOTHBRUSH” may sound like “OO--BRU.”
HEALTHY HAIR CELLS stand erect,
and are able to accurately detect
sound waves and send sound
DAMAGED HAIR CELLS are limp,
blown out and will no longer stand
erect. They are therefore unable to
detect sound waves or send sound
The
External Ear
The Eardrum
Middle Ear Bones
The Ear Canal
The Cochlea
The
Auditory
Nerve
TOOTHBRUSH
tOOthBRUsh?
TOOTHBRUSH
HOW HEARING LOSS CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE
If you think hearing loss is inconsequential, you should know that studies
have linked untreated hearing loss to significant issues such as:
Diminished psychological and overall health
Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
Social rejection and loneliness
Fatigue, tension, stress and depression
Irritability, negativism and anger
Reduced job performance and earning power
1mages used with permission from Dangerous Decibels® www.dangerousdecibels.org
(BHI, 2013)
5 6

You can’t recreate a typical hearing loss simply by plugging your
ears. A person with normal hearing can hear quiet, medium and
loud sounds that vary from low pitch to high pitch with amazing
clarity and definition.
But when you have hearing loss, you often lose the ability to hear
higher pitched sounds, like the sound of a mosquito near your ear,
women’s and children’s voices, or consonants like T, S and F. Even
though you still may be able to hear strong vowel sounds such as A,
E and I, speech becomes harder to comprehend.
Recent research has shown that exposure to loud sound can damage
nerve pathways yet leave sensitivity to very soft sounds intact
(Kujawa & Liberman, 2009). The result is that speech and music at
the levels we like to listen can be distorted, making understanding
very difficult. This is why “I hear, but cannot understand,” is a
common complaint.
HEARING LOSS
WHAT
IS LIKE
Hearing Loss Checklist
You can hear, but you can’t understand. Among the first sounds that “disappear”
are high-pitched sounds like women’s and children’s voices. Also, you mistake
similar high-pitched sounds, such as “fifty” and “sixty.”
You find yourself complaining that some people mumble or slur their words.
You have difficulty understanding what’s being said, unless you are
facing the speaker.
You are continually asking certain people to repeat words or phrases, though
they feel they are speaking loud enough.
You prefer the TV or radio louder than others do.
You have difficulty understanding conversation within a group of people.
You avoid group meetings, social occasions, public facilities or family
gatherings where listening may be difficult.
You have trouble hearing at the movies, concert halls, houses of worship or
other public gatherings — especially where sound sources are at a distance
from the listener.
Now that you know more about hearing loss, how do you know if that’s what
you’re experiencing? This quick yes/no quiz might hold the key.
YES NO
If you answered “yes” to several of these questions,
then it’s time to choose better hearing.
THIS IS HOW SPEECH SOUNDS
TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS
7 8

Choose Better Hearing
If you think you or someone you know has hearing loss, the next step is
an easy one — confirm it by seeing a hearing healthcare professional.
Whether you consult with an audiologist, an ENT doctor or a hearing aid
specialist, it’s important to see someone who specializes in hearing issues.
Seeing a hearing specialist will ensure you will receive a comprehensive
evaluation and precise measurement of your hearing loss.
Just as every person is unique, every hearing loss and hearing need
is unique, too. That’s why it’s always recommended that you consult
with a hearing healthcare professional.
They are trained experts who have the experience and state-of-the-art
equipment needed to inspect your ear canal, accurately measure your
hearing loss, assess your unique needs, and prescribe a solution that
takes all this important and personalized information into account.
You can also count on them to provide all necessary support and
ongoing care.
WHY SEE A HEARING PROFESSIONAL?
The Better Hearing Institute recommends
purchasing hearing aids from hearing healthcare
professionals only.
TIP:
Research by the Better Hearing
Institute concluded that hearing loss
treatment is shown to:
Need more reasons
to feel good about
seeking help?
How about seven!
(BHI, 2013)
Improve physical health
Improve emotional stability
Improve sense of control over
life events
Improve communication
in relationships
Improve intimacy and warmth
in family relationships
Improve ease in communication
Improve earning power
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
HELP IS
AVAILABLE
9 10

You took the most difficult step toward improving your hearing when
you took the first one — recognizing you need to find out more about
your hearing loss and improving your situation. Everything after that
is easy, including your initial hearing consultation. Most appointments
consist of at least these three steps:
After answering questions to establish your general health and
hearing history, you will undergo a thorough hearing examination.
First, both ears will be visually examined to see if there are any
obstructions in the ear canal that might be affecting your hearing.
Then, you’ll be tested with the latest standard-of-care methods and
technology to precisely determine the degree and type of hearing
loss you have. This quick and painless test consists of listening and
reacting to pure tones in a sound treated booth.
Your results will be illustrated in a detailed audiogram that your
hearing healthcare professional will review with you.
Next will be a lifestyle assessment. Expect to be asked a lot of questions
about the things you like to do and the places you like to go. This is an
important step — as your answers help ensure that any solution prescribed
is customized specifically for your needs.
Once the evaluation and assessment are complete, the hearing healthcare
professional will explain your solution options. If it’s determined that
hearing aids can help, you’ll get a personalized demonstration of the
different instruments that are appropriate for your level of hearing loss
as well as your preferences for size, color and features.
Which leads us to the next step of your hearing journey — Take Action.
HEARING ANALYSIS
LIFESTYLE DISCUSSION
SOLUTION OPTIONS
WHAT TO
AT YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
EXPECT
1
2
3
SAMPLE AUDIOGRAM
Choose Better Hearing
125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000
Increasing Pitch (Hz)
Loudness in Decibels (Db HL)
NORMAL
Hearing
MILD
Hearing
Loss
MODERATE
Hearing
Loss
MODERATELY
SEVERE
Hearing
Loss
SEVERE
Hearing
Loss
PROFOUND
Hearing
Loss
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
LOUD
LOW HIGH
SOFT
j
z
p
h k t
f s th
c h
sh
v g
mdb i a n o
ng r
e l
u
11 12

Today, more than ever, the best solution for many individuals with
hearing loss is hearing aids. Like all high-tech devices, hearing aids
have improved significantly over the past several years in terms of
performance and appearance.
This includes “invisible” solutions that fit deep inside your ear and
are virtually undetectable when worn, or wireless options that stream
audio directly from your TV, radio and phone. Regardless, today’s
hearing aids sound better, fit more comfortably and perform more
reliably than ever before.
ARE A SMART SOLUTION
HEARING AIDS
If your hearing healthcare professional recommends hearing aids,
you’ll want to be ready with questions. So let’s review what you should
know about hearing aids.
Have you heard negative comments about hearing aids? That’s
because the basic premise of hearing aids is to amplify sound. And
until the late ‘90s, that’s literally all they did — make everything
louder. Today’s hearing aids are designed to do so much more to keep
you comfortable and in touch with the world around you.
There is a difference between basic amplification products and hearing aids.
Hearing aids and personal sound amplifier products both improve the ability
to hear sound. However, hearing aids are designed to improve your hearing
in difficult situations with advanced technology features like feedback
elimination and the ability to hear better on the phone.
BE INFORMED
HOW HEARING AIDS HELP HOW DO PERSONAL SOUND AMPLIFIERS (PSAPS)
DIFFER FROM HEARING AIDS?
Take Action
How Hearing Aids Work (The Basics):
DIGITAL SOUND
PROCESSOR
ACOUSTIC
SOUNDS
DIGITAL SOUND
CONVERSION
EAR
CANAL/DRUM
“ello ooreh
oooh ee
you en!”
“Hello! It sure
is good to
see you again!”
DIGITAL SOUND
PROCESSOR
ACOUSTIC
SOUNDS
DIGITAL SOUND
CONVERSION
EAR
CANAL/DRUM
“ello ooreh
oooh ee
you en!”
“Hello! It sure
is good to
see you again!”
A microphone picks
up the sound and
converts it into an
electrical/digital
signal.
An amplifier
increases the strength
of the signal. In
more sophisticated
devices, the signal
is manipulated by
advanced processing.
A receiver/speaker
converts it back into
sound and sends it to
the inner ear.
The brain “hears”
and understands the
sound as speech.
Someone
says hello –
We hear them
say hello – 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
00 0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1 0
0
00
0
0
0
0
0
00 0
1 1
1 1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
01 1
1
1 0 0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
0
0
00
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0 0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
00 0
0 0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1
1
1 0
0
00
0
0
0
0
0
00 0
1 1
1 1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
01 1
1
1 0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 0
0
00
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0 0
0
13 14

Today’s hearing aids still amplify sounds, but thanks to digital and
technological advances, they’re much smarter and more selective in what they
amplify. Like phones that now do a lot more than just let you talk to people,
hearing aids can do a lot more than just make sounds easier to hear.
HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED HOW
HEARING AIDS PERFORM
NEW FEATURES
One of the biggest challenges people with hearing loss have is
hearing in noisy places like restaurants or at social gatherings.
It’s not that they can’t hear, it’s that they can’t hear clearly. It’s all one
muddled mass of sound — and the voices of the people they’re with
don’t stand out.
The best of today’s hearing aids remedy those challenges with
directional microphones and noise reduction technology.
Programmed specifically to your hearing, they’re designed to help
you focus on speech from a certain direction. Noise reduction makes
listening more comfortable, allowing you to focus on who or what you
want to hear.
HELP WITH HEARING IN NOISE
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
INVISIBLE DEVICES
OTHER ADVANCES TO ASK ABOUT
One of the most popular new advances is wireless hearing aids. With wireless,
sound from your TV, computer, MP3 player or phone is streamed right into
your ears at the volume you choose and control. This direct connection
results in more immersive, enhanced sound, as you’re now able to listen at the
volume you want without having to turn the volume up loud in the room.
And innovative wireless accessories enable you to seamlessly switch between
different settings (like remote microphone, which lets you hear as though you
are standing right next to the presenter) and different devices (such as your
TV or cell phone). You can also remotely control your hearing aids.
Best of all, digital technology has enabled all these new features and benefits
to fit in advanced hearing solutions that are getting smaller and smaller
all the time — with some so tiny they rest completely in your ear canal,
virtually undetectable when worn.
When talking to your hearing healthcare professional, ask about other features that
can have an impact on how your hearing aids sound and perform, including:
Moisture, Wax & Oil Barrier — Advancements in mechanical design and
protective coatings help make hearing aids water and wax/oil repellent.
Channels and Bands — Additional channels and bands allow your hearing
professional to create customized settings for different sound frequency ranges.
Feedback Suppression — There is no reason your hearing aids have to whistle,
screech or buzz anymore.
Ear-to-Ear Processing — Means that both your hearing aids “work together” to
create a better listening experience.
Take Action
15 16

Hearing aids come in a wide range of styles. Your hearing healthcare professional
will recommend one or more types based on factors such as your level of hearing
loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs and budget. Most Behind-The-Ear
and Receiver-in-Canal styles come in a range of colors and metallic finishes to
complement your hair or skin tone.
HEARING AID
STYLES
Take Action
CIC hearing instruments are custom-made to fit
completely in the ear canal. Only the tip of a small
plastic ”handle” shows outside the canal, which is
used to insert and remove the instrument.
Completely-In-Canal Hearing Aids (CICs)
This custom-fit style is inserted farther into the ear canal
than other styles, making it virtually undetectable to
others. IIC hearing aids are designed to be removed
daily to promote good ear health.
Invisible-In-The-Canals (IICs)
Hearing Aid Technologies
Wireless
Designed to deliver superior sound quality, these
advanced devices also enable direct sound
streaming of TVs, music, phones and more.
Non-Wireless
Designed with many of the same performance
features as wireless hearing aids, minus the ability to
stream sound directly from media devices.
Invisible
Designed to rest deep inside your ear canal
where no one can see them, while still delivering
exceptional sound quality.
Personal Sound Amplifier Products (PSAPs)
Typically stripped of sound enhancement features,
these rudimentary devices are a throwback to the
old analog hearing aids that basically just made all
sounds louder.
What type of hearing device is right for you also depends on lifestyle, aesthetic and budget preferences.
Custom earmold that fits within the outer portion of the ear.
The larger face plate on the ITE style allows for more user-controlled
functions.
In-The-Ear Hearing Aids (ITEs)
Barely visible when worn, the RIC style is an instrument in
which the receiver (or speaker) is inside the ear canal. Thin
electrical wires are used instead of a plastic acoustical tube,
reducing distortion. RIC hearing aids provide a comfortable,
open fit and are cosmetically appealing.
Receiver-In-Canal Hearing Aids (RICs)
The world’s most common style. The hearing technology is
housed in a casing that rests behind the ear. A clear plastic
acoustical tube directs amplified sound into an earbud or a
customized earmold that is fitted inside the ear canal. Some
manufacturers also offer a mini BTE or a Power BTE.
Behind-The-Ear Hearing Aids (BTEs)
Custom earmold that fits securely in the ear
canal. A smaller portion shows in the outer ear.
The ITC style offers easy insertion and removal.
In-The-Canal Hearing Aids (ITCs)
17 18

One of the first things first-time hearing aid buyers want to know is “How much
is a pair going to cost?” The short answer is, “Anywhere from $6,000 to $500.”
The right answer is, “It depends on what you need.” In other words — people have
different hearing needs, not all hearing aids are alike, and not all service packages
are the same.
When considered along with other quality-of-life items that you pay for monthly
(for instance, cell phones, cable TV or even coffee), the financial investment is
very comparable and definitely worth it.
Remember, too, that hearing aids are highly sophisticated medical devices fit by
educated and trained professionals, and typically include additional benefits and
services like follow-up visits, repairs and counseling.
THE QUESTION
EVERYONE ASKS
Like many things you buy—from televisions to cell phones to glasses—there is a
wide range of pricing that applies to hearing aids. They’re available in a variety
of styles, with a range of high-tech features, which means you’ll typically pay
less for big and basic than you will for hearing aids that are little and loaded.
Features discussed earlier that cancel noise, eliminate feedback, improve
high-frequency audibility and enable direct connectivity to phones, TVs and
music greatly improve performance and enhance everyday listening, but also
increase costs. Unfortunately, most insurance programs don’t cover the cost of
hearing aids. For details on pricing and financing options, talk to your hearing
healthcare professional.
THERE’S A RANGE FOR A REASON
What’s Right For You?
Hearing aids today are designed to accommodate and enhance a variety
of different listening environments. What you’ll want and what it costs will
depend on how busy and active you are, and what types of environments
you frequent.
Very Noisy
Premium technology designed for active people that
frequent a variety of listening environments, including
events with crowds or high noise levels — like sporting
events, noisy restaurants and concerts.
Take Action
Quiet
Basic technology designed to help people who are
less active, or spend the majority of their time in
quiet environments — like reading and listening to
music.
One-On-One
Select technology designed for simple listening
environments such as one-on-one conversations
and small groups.
Noisy
Advanced technology designed to be used in
relatively easy listening situations with some noise —
like quiet restaurants, meetings and card games.
19 20

Take Action
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR INVESTMENT
The non-profit Better Hearing Institute reiterates this point, writing in
a recent published report, “The [hearing aid fitting] process requires a
complete in-person hearing assessment in a sound booth; the training
and skills of a credentialed hearing healthcare professional in order to
prescriptively fit the hearing aids using sophisticated computer programs;
and appropriate in-person follow-up and counseling. This is not possible
when consumers purchase one-size-fits-all hearing aids over the Internet
or elsewhere” (BHI, 2011).
ALWAYS CONSULT WITH AN EXPERT
Hearing healthcare professionals will make sure you select the most
appropriate hearing aid style and technology level to best meet your
personal hearing needs and lifestyle.
Today’s best hearing aids are precision instruments, utilizing
advanced technology that can and should be customized to
fit your specific hearing loss and your unique lifestyle needs.
Determining which hearing aids are right for you depends on a
variety of important and unique factors, including:
The nature and severity of your hearing loss
Your eyesight and dexterity
The size and shape of your outer and inner ear
The types of activities you enjoy
Cosmetic concerns
That’s why getting fit with the advice and consultation of
an experienced hearing healthcare professional can’t be
overemphasized.
THE RIGHT FIT
21 22

Time, Practice & Experience
In a short while, wearing your new hearing aids will be second nature, and
you’ll wonder why you didn’t get them sooner.
However, it’s important to know that complete satisfaction won’t
happen overnight.
Unlike eyeglasses, which, when put on, give you immediate results, hearing
aids typically require a short transition period. You’ll need to get used to how
they sound, how they feel, and get in the routine of wearing them every day.
It will take practice, time and patience to fully realize all the benefits these
powerful “mini computers” can have on your life.
Effort and a positive attitude are critical to improved hearing. Much
of the success with your hearing aids will depend on your desire
to learn and a determination to increase your ability to hear. To
achieve better hearing, you must work at it daily. The ability to hear
again has to be relearned, not just purchased.
Because you haven’t heard normal sounds and noises for a while,
the sounds amplified by your hearing aids may be strange: tinny,
metallic, artificial and unnatural. This is because you are hearing the
high-frequency speech sounds like /s/, /f/ and /k/ that you have been
missing, or have heard differently for years.
Your brain will need to become reacquainted with the high-frequency
sounds of speech and environmental sounds you’ve been missing.
When you begin using hearing aids, it may take up to 4–6 weeks to
transition to the new sounds you’re hearing.
THE POWER OF POSITIVE HEARING
HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING INVOLVE
MORE THAN JUST YOUR EARS
HELP
ENSURE SUCCESS
23 24

Don’t get discouraged or give up! It often takes up to a month to get comfortable
wearing your new hearing aids.
It’s important to know that hearing aids will not let you hear like you did with normal
hearing. Focus on your improvement, not on those negative times when your
hearing aids don’t let you hear what you want to hear. The function of your hearing
aids is to help you hear better, not perfectly.
You might need to take them in at least once or twice the first month to get fine-tuned
to your needs. A little trial and error is to be expected.
The “tinny” or mechanical sounds you hear are normal. These are the soft,
high-frequency sounds you have been missing. Be patient while your brain gets
reacquainted with these sounds.
At first your voice may sound strange to you. Some wearers say that in the beginning
they sound like they are in a barrel. In time, it will sound more natural.
Background noise is normal. Normal-hearing people hear it too. Don’t give up on
hearing aids because noise bothers you. Better hearing will require you to put up
with a few inconveniences.
Set Realistic Goals
One discipline common to almost everyone who successfully makes the
transition to hearing aids is practice. It is an investment that will require time.
Your hearing professional has access to resources specifically designed to
make practice productive and fun — including personalized websites filled
with clinically proven hearing skills training exercises and interactive games
that you can do at home.
Once you have logged the sufficient number of hours for your brain to re-acclimate
to ambient sounds, you will be able to go on with your life without
thinking so much about your hearing.
FASTER
HEAR BETTER
25 26

Week ONE Week TWO
If necessary, choose a quiet environment to begin using your hearing aids.
You might not want to wear your new hearing aids in crowded or noisy
environments until you have adjusted to them in your own home.
Listen carefully to the many forgotten sounds in your home, like the
refrigerator, furnace, or the sound of turning the pages of a book or magazine.
You will get used to hearing them again.
Practice having a conversation with your spouse or loved one. Make sure
your television and radio are turned off. Facing each other, sit no more than
seven feet apart. Practice looking at the speaker’s mouth. Remember, much of
communication is visual.
Practice reading out loud. You will slowly adjust to the loudness of your speech
while wearing your hearing aids. It is normal at first for your voice to sound
different. Don’t worry, soon it will sound familiar again.
Practice listening to the different speech patterns of different people. The goal
is to find a comfortable volume level for listening, not to try and understand
everything that is being said. Hearing and understanding improves with time.
If you become fatigued, take a break. Put your hearing aids back on a couple of
hours later.
Practice getting used to your new hearing aids a little every day. Be patient. Do
not wear your hearing aids all day long during this period. Your progress will
depend on your commitment to hearing better.
Gradually increase the time you spend wearing your hearing aids by wearing
them in your car, at the grocery store, and when you run errands. By learning
to wear your hearing aids in your daily routine, your brain will soon “tune out”
the normal noises you initially may find irritating.
Wear your hearing aids while listening to the television (which is more difficult
than it seems). Practicing watching television will make other difficult listening
situations easier.
Practice increasing the distance between you and whoever is speaking without
adjusting the volume of your hearing aids.
Participate in conversations with two other people at a time in quiet
surroundings. Don’t worry if you can’t understand both of them. Try focusing
on one at a time. Remember, even a normal-hearing person has trouble
understanding when several people are talking at the same time.
If you become fatigued, take your hearing aids out for a while, but always
put them back in. Do not give up. Like learning a sport or playing a musical
instrument — becoming proficient requires daily practice.
ASSIGNMENTS
27 28

If you haven’t already, wear your hearing aids in louder, more crowded
places and for longer periods of time. Wear them to work, worship,
parties, meetings, sporting events and restaurants. These are difficult
environments, so you will need to be patient and begin learning some
skills to improve your listening situation.
In listening environments with background noise, concentrate on the
speaker. Over time, your brain will subconsciously categorize sounds and
will tune out background noise and focus on the speaker.
Call your hearing healthcare professional with any questions you have
during this process. They understand the difficulties you face dealing
with your hearing journey, and are there to help.
And remember, there will be situations where it’s difficult to hear even
for normal hearing individuals.
Take care of your hearing aids
(and they’ll take care of you)
Like any state-of-the-art device or high-tech instrument, your hearing aids need to
be well cared for to work their best. Follow the care and cleaning instructions given
to you at your fitting, and your hearing aids should provide years and years of
performance and comfort.
Your commitment to make your hearing aids work in your everyday routine.
Time spent wearing your hearing aids to become comfortable using them in
different environments.
Your patience while your brain adjusts to unfamiliar sounds.
Managing your own environment by learning what situations you can control
and what situations to avoid.
BETTER HEARING WILL DEPEND ON:
1
2
3
4
Week THREE
29 30

There’s no doubt hearing aids are a significant investment in terms of time and
money. But what you’re about to get in return has the potential to be priceless:
Feeling more safe and secure
Feeling less isolated
Being more engaged with family and friends
Enjoying music and TV to the fullest
Feeling more aware and confident
Communicating easier
Feeling less reliant on others
Improving your overall quality of life
Enjoy your new hearing aids. You are
well on your way to better hearing!
YOUR WAY
YOU’RE ON
REFERENCES
American Tinnitus Association (2013). Retrieved July 2013: www.ata.org.
Better Hearing Institute (2013). Retreived July 2013: www.betterhearing.org.
Better Hearing Institute (2011). Better Hearing Institute Warns on Do-it-Yourself Hearing Care (press release).
Retrieved July 2013: www.betterhearing.org/press/news/Internet_direct_mail_hearing_aids_pr10122011.cfm.
Kujawa, S. & Liberman, M. (2009). Adding Insult to Injury: Cochlear Nerve Degeneration after “Temporary” Noise-
Induced Hearing Loss. The Journal of Neuroscience, 29(45), 14077-14085.
Li-Korotky, H. (2012). Age-Related Hearing Loss: Quality of Care for Quality of Life. The Gerontologist, 52(2), 265-271.
Lin, F., Niparko, J., & Ferrucci, L. (2011). Hearing Loss Prevalence in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine,
171(20), 1851-1853.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (2013). Retrieved July 2013: www.nidcd.nih.gov/
health/statistics/Pages/quick.aspx.
World Health Organization (2013). Retrieved July 2013: www.who.int.
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