The first thing to do if you suspect you have hearing loss is to see your family doctor. They can check your ears for signs of blockage or infection. If neither is present, they may send you to either an otolaryngologist or an audiologist. An otolaryngologist is an ear, nose and throat doctor, and can best diagnose medical problems with your ears. An audiologist is a professional with an advanced degree. They specialize in testing for hearing loss and hearing aid fitting. It is also possible to obtain a hearing aid directly from a hearing aid dealer or consultant. They will be trained to test for hearing loss, and to fit and sell hearing aids.
The next step is to get a full hearing test. This should consists of several different tests, including the lowest sound you can hear, how well you can hear speech in different environments, and how well you tolerate loud noises. Your perception of different tones or frequencies should also be measured.
You should discuss with your doctor or audiologist whether a hearing aid is the best solution for you, or whether it is possible to correct your hearing loss through surgery.
Next you’ll want to select the hearing aid that is right for you. Make sure you investigate the three main styles of hearing aids (BTE, ITE, and CIC). Most hearing aid companies offer a trial period, so don’t be hesitant to try more than one aid. You will want to choose a hearing aid that is both comfortable and will most effectively improve your hearing. Learn what features are available with the different hearing aids; in particular telecoil is a useful feature that you should seriously consider. You may want to ask about the possibility of direct audio input which would allow you to use assistive listening devices which can be found in some schools, movies theatres and other public auditoriums.
It is important to understand all the costs of a hearing aid, including batteries and repairs. You may end up going through batteries quite frequently, so remember to compare expected battery life with the price per battery. At this time it is also important to learn what the warranty covers, and for how long. It may be worth it to extend the warranty.
A new hearing aid can be a disorienting experience. Become familiar with your hearing aid.
Make sure you are comfortable putting in and taking out the aid, adjusting the volume control, and replacing the batteries before you leave the audiologist. A common complaint of new hearing aid users is that their own voices may sound too loud. This usually takes some time to get used to. Another problem is feedback, where your hearing aid produces a whistle. This is caused by the fit of the hearing aid or by the buildup of earwax or fluid. You will need to see your audiologist for adjustments.