What You Should Know About The Hearing Aid Trial Period
Individuals differ in what they need or expect a hearing aid to do for them. Considering the wide variety of hearing aid choices available to consumers, the selection and fitting processes generally take several appointments with an audiologist or other hearing care professional to customize the device to meet your particular needs. Chances are that you may need to explore different options to find out what kind of hearing aid will work best for you. That's when a trial period can help.
Importance of a Trial Period
Although almost anyone who has a hearing problem can be fit with a hearing aid that improves hearing, choosing the right kind of hearing aid for yourself can be a challenge. You may not experience the benefit you expected from a hearing aid and need to try another type or style of hearing device before you find one that works for you. Your audiology professional also may need to make adjustments to the hearing aid programming.
Whether you have problems with comfort, amplification, static, or understanding speech, it takes time to get used to wearing a hearing aid. Because wearing a hearing aid isn't a matter of one size fits all, in many states, the law requires hearing aid dispensers to offer at least a 30-day trial period. Some audiologists and dispensers extend the trial period longer than 30 days – sometimes up to 60 days or more.
Terms and Refunds
Since the terms of the trial period vary among hearing aid dispensers, you should ask for the details about the option to return a hearing aid before you buy one. It's a good idea, too, to get any terms you discuss in writing, especially terms that apply to getting a refund of your money.
Some dispensers give you the option of trying out a hearing aid free of charge during the trial period. If a hearing aid dispenser requires you to put down a deposit during that time, some will give you a full refund of your money if a hearing aid doesn't work for you. However, some dispensers charge a restocking fee if you return a hearing aid during the trial period.
What to Expect During the Adjustment Period
It's important not to have unrealistic expectations, as learning to wear a hearing aid takes practice. When determining whether a hearing aid is right for you, keep in mind that while the technology can improve your hearing, it won't fully restore your hearing loss.
Your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser will work with you to develop a schedule for getting used to wearing a hearing aid. After all, your brain needs time to adjust to receiving more auditory information. Some sounds, including speech, may seem quite loud at first. Even your own voice may sound different with a hearing aid.
It may help to wear the hearing aid for only a short period of time each day and then gradually increase the number of hours you wear it. But the more you wear it, the faster you will get used to the louder sounds. In the meantime, your audiology professional will schedule return appointments during the trial period to take care of any problems you may experience while you adjust to wearing the device. Contact a local audiologist, like Albuquerque Hearing Associates and similar locations, for more help and information.
Share