@rustycat18 The hearing aid industry is unique. Isn't it amazing that every brand created is called 'the best' by its manufacturer? Hearing aid advertisements mislead us.

We are all looking for a miracle 'cure' for poor hearing. There isn't one. But hearing aids that are well fit can make a very positive difference for most people. Well fit is a key to getting help.

Quality hearing aids are far more expensive than we'd like them to be. It's frustrating that insurance & Medicare rarely cover them. We pay far more money than we ever dreamed of paying for a common health issue for these products. Is it worth it? YOU have to make that decision when you are fitted with a product.

The best advice I can share is the value of a well-qualified hearing aid fitter. Go to a provider that has a good reputation. No matter how good a hearing aid is, if it's not fit well to your individual hearing loss, it will not work as well as it should. Hearing aids used to be basic amplifiers. Today, they are capable of much more, but still are not perfect.

When you get tested for hearing loss, ask the provider to explain your audiogram. Learn what it means. Ask for a copy of it. Be sure you understand the return policy, which gives you a limited amount of time to try those hearing aids out in all the places you frequent; restaurants, worship centers, meetings, family gatherings, etc. If you find they are not helping, return them and explain why. Be sure to do it within the trial time period.

Ask the fitter about Bluetooth and make sure you understand how it works. Ask about hearing assistive technology that goes beyond hearing aids, especially those that can be used in those noisy social settings where you feel left out.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to be fitted by a person who is well qualified to fit hearing aids. In most states licensure is granted to people who have doctorate degrees (AuD) in the field of audiology, AND also to people who have far less education. The lesser educated generally have HIS after their name (hearing instrument specialist).

Some HIS are good at fitting hearing aids. In some geographical areas there are no AuDs available. AuDs are able to diagnose issues that HIS have no experience with.

There is a lot to think about when one knows they need help hearing. Ask people you know who use hearing aids about their experience with their provider.

I have 'blathered' too much here, but my 45+ years of hearing aid experience fuel my energy! 🙂 As someone who is a 'bimodal' user of both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant, sharing my experience is pretty legit! Be assertive in getting help. Seriously. But be realistic. There is no 'cure' for most acquired hearing loss. There is help though.