By Gary Friedman, MS, FAAA, is an audiologist, and member of the American Academy of Audiology
David P. Pascoe, PhD, audiologist and former professor at Washington University in St. Louis, passed away this summer. He was one of my teachers and most important mentors in the field of audiology. Dr. Pascoe wrote a wonderful book, "Hearing Aids: Who Needs Them" and I often share parts of it with my patients. His book was meant for the general public as a reference for people with questions about hearing and what to do when hearing begins to diminish in sensitivity. I hope you enjoy my paraphrasing some of his excellent thoughts and suggestions.
Opinions about the need for hearing aids differ from one professional to another. Personally, I have rarely ever told a patient, "You need hearing aids." It's been my experience that after testing the hearing of someone with hearing deficits, I discuss the results and speak with that patient about his/her concerns and desire for better hearing. Dr. Pascoe provided the most wonderful two sentences that I've seen in print to help the patient who asks "Do I need hearing aids?" The first: "Some people WANT to hear more than others!" The second: "Some people NEED to hear more than others!" The point is clear, it's rarely my decision for someone to order hearing aids; my patient makes the decision.
Dr. Pascoe wrote about what to expect from hearing aids, and I value these important concepts:
1. Hearing aids make speech clearer by amplifying some sounds more than others. However, in the presence of significant background noise, like in a crowded restaurant, they cannot make the noise disappear. People with normal hearing don't hear as well in noise as they do in a quiet room or area, so don't expect to hear perfectly in noise.
2. In your home, understanding words coming from another room in the house is unrealistic. People with excellent hearing don't hear perfectly when sound comes from other rooms. Encourage conversation from the same room when you are looking at a person's face with whom you are conversing.
3. Ask your family members and friends to speak a little slower if you have a hard time understanding.
4. Hearing aids will make what you hear sound different. It takes time for our brains to re-learn sounds. Research studies consistently indicate that people perceive more benefit the longer they wear their hearing aids.
5. Wearing hearing aids for most of the day gives the best results. The most successful hearing aid users wear them most of the day so that their brains have consistent sound reception.
6. Properly fitted hearing aids will not make you hear normally, nor will they cause hearing damage. They also should be expected to fit comfortably.
7. Before buying hearing aids, make sure you understand the seller's conditions for the "trial period." This is the amount of time the buyer has after the fitting to decide if he/she are happy with the hearing aids and want to keep them as opposed to not being happy and want to return them.
If you have difficulty hearing and would like more information, contact Pen Bay Speech & Hearing at 207-230-6380.
Gary Friedman, M.S., F-AAA, is an audiologist at Pen Bay Speech & Hearing with extensive experience in audiometric testing, hearing aid dispensing and videonystagmography (VNG) evaluations.
Pen Bay Healthcare
Pen Bay Healthcare is a not-for-profit family of services which includes Pen Bay Medical Center, a Leapfrog Group 2012 National Top Hospital and the largest community hospital in Midcoast Maine, as well as Pen Bay Physicians & Associates, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Quarry Hill Retirement Community and the Knox Center for Long Term Care. Through these organizations, and with a staff of more than 100 outstanding physicians and more than 1,500 healthcare professionals, we are able to provide the people of Midcoast Maine with a continuum of both routine and specialty patient-centered medical services. Pen Bay Healthcare is a member of the MaineHealth system. For more information, visit penbayhealthcare.org.
