The commercials show up multiple times a day about this “new” category of hearing aids. Some are even “made in Germany!” If these commercials are to be believed, these “new hearing aids” will work for EVERYBODY and you don’t even need to get your hearing checked! The truth is that these devices were originally intended for people who only have minimal issues with hearing and typically only need part-time help.
Prior to this category, people with mild hearing loss had no option for help. They had to wait until their hearing loss was “bad enough”. Imagine if you were told by your doctor that you only needed help to read fine print and there was nothing like reading glasses available! That is what these “new hearing aids” are. They are the hearing equivalent to reading glasses. Just like reading glasses are not right for someone who needs prescriptive glasses, these over the counter hearing devices are not right for those who need prescriptive devices.
So how do you know what you might need?
A Doctor of Audiology (audiologist) can do a diagnostic assessment of your hearing just like your ophthalmologist can perform a diagnostic vision exam. A “free hearing test” is NOT a diagnostic assessment. After an audiologist examines your ears and runs the appropriate testing, they will be able to tell you what, if anything is going on with your hearing and make appropriate recommendations for whatever issues you are having.
Commercials exist to sell a product. Hearing loss is a symptom. You deserve the real answers, the truth about your hearing.
