When Hearing Grows Difficult

By: AARP Education & Outreach | Source: AARP.org | March 20, 2007

Not hearing as well as you used to? You are not alone. The number of people who probably could hear much better with a hearing aid is increasing. Baby boomers are increasingly becoming aware that they have premature hearing loss. Experts agree that noise-induced hearing loss is to blame for what 40-50 year olds aren't hearing. But, about 60 percent of those who need hearing aids go without them.

We all have lots of reasons why we put off getting our hearing tested. It might be concern for the cost or the way we might look with a hearing aid. Denial that our bodies aren't working quite as well as in the past could play a part. Or we might not know how to start the whole process.

Some things to keep in mind as you begin doing something about your hearing:

• You are shopping for a hearing health care professional, not a particular product. Because of the great variety of manufacturers, styles, sizes and options, you will need to rely on an expert to make recommendations for your particular needs. Your neighbor's eyeglass prescription probably wouldn't work for you; neither would her hearing aid.
  
• Unlike most purchases, you can't just walk into a store and pick out a hearing aid. You are buying an expensive piece of electronic equipment that someone has to adjust to your specific hearing needs.
  
• Finding the right hearing care is critical. Professionals who provide hearing health care and sell hearing aids are generally called "hearing aid dispensers." They may be audiologists or hearing aid specialists (or hearing aid dealers), depending on the type of education they have. Audiologists have advanced degrees in Audiology.
  
• Interview several dispensers. Ask about their education, experience, services, and follow-up care. Make sure they offer products from a number of manufacturers so you have a wide choice of options. Check with state licensing boards, consumer protection agencies, or the Better Business Bureau for any unresolved complaints.
  
• Understand pricing. Some dispensers bill separately for testing, the hearing aids, and other services. Most quote one price that includes many services as well as the aids. Until you know which aid you will need, you won't be able to know the complete price.

Take Action

• Download your copy of AARP’s booklet, Consumer Guide to Hearing Aids. It explains what you need to know about hearing loss and obtaining help with your hearing.
• The Hearing Loss Association of America, a non-profit organization, has lots of practical information for people with hearing loss.
• The Federal Trade Commission has sound advice on safely shopping for hearing aids.
• The American Academy of Audiology, a professional association of audiologists has a "find an audiologist" feature on its Web site that refers you to its members. Academy members have, at a minimum, a master's degree, are in compliance with state regulations, and have signed the academy's code of ethics.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institutes of Health, can help you determine if you have hearing loss and whether a hearing aid may help.