My advice to anyone who is a candidate for hearing instruments is to have your hearing tested by a professional audiologist. Doctors of Audiology have AuD behind their names. Talk to other people you know who use hearing instruments and find out their stories. Where do they go? Whom do they see? Pleased or not pleased, etc.

After receiving a full hearing test, ask the audiologist for a copy of your audiogram. You have a right to that information. It gives you the opportunity to shop for hearing instruments without having to be tested again.

If you feel what the testing audiologist offers you is too costly, (Hearing instruments can range from $2000 - $5000 apiece in some cases), take time to shop around. Go to Costco if you want to. Their products are less expensive. They offer longer trial periods. Try them. See if they help you. Take time to try them in every possible place where you want to hear better. If they don't help enough, return them and start over.

Know that once a trial period is over, it's unlikely you can get any money refunded...so read the fine print. Many audiologists only allow 30 - 45 days for trial. This is their business model. It is up to YOU to know what's helping. Also it's up to you to go back for adjustments if it is not working. Once you are fitted with a hearing instrument you have a job to do to help yourself.

It's not an easy job...but it's well worth doing. Good Luck!

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