Your guide to increased understanding, independence and happiness through the use of hearing aids

Patient information Patient's Name Your hearing aid’s make and model name Fitting Appointment Date Your right hearing aid’s serial number is Hearing Professional's Name Your left hearing aid’s serial number is Your hearing aid battery size is This pre-delivery check was performed by Welcome to our Practice Thank you for placing your confidence in our staff and facility to care for your hearing. We are providing you with this working handbook so that you can improve your communication skills. The following pages contain the information and exercises you will need to become acclimated to your new...

to Better Hearing with Hearing Aids ou have made an important decision to begin the process of using hearing aids. This workbook is the result of a year-long study to learn what causes the difference between a person who uses their hearing aids all of their waking hours, versus a person who rarely or casually uses their hearing aids. From this study we have isolated five principles which are the factors of success. Each factor is discussed in a chapter of this workbook. Keep a pen or pencil handy and make notes as you use this book. Review this text often to help you understand the 5 Steps and...

Admit that I have a permanent hearing loss. “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.” — Franklin P. Jones 4

It's time I obtain the assistance I need with my hearing loss. 1 By now you have had your hearing professionally tested and have been told the fact that you could benefit from the use of hearing aids. You now have two choices: (1) Denial or (2) Acceptance. It is normal for most people to go through a period of denial. However, most people wait five-to-seven years before addressing their hearing loss. Such a typical thought process may be: ■ hear fine, it’s just that people mumble; they don’t speak clearly anymore.” “I ■ It’s the noisy places where I have trouble hearing...I’ll just avoid those...

Make a personal choice to achieve better hearing with a good attitude. “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” — Elbert Hubbard

Here I am, ready to learn how to hear better. 1 It is not only the purchase of a product which will give you better hearing. The ability to hear again can be relearned, not purchased.” 2 The fundamental requirement to overcome your hearing problem is your — Thomas Jones Only about 20 percent of your success to achieve better hearing will depend on the performance of the hearing aid products you purchased. deep, driving desire to learn and a vigorous determination to increase your ability to hear. The six characteristics which are present in all persons who complete the transition to hearing aids...

A whole lot has been written about my type of hearing loss. Personal Education: Learn all I can about my hearing loss “Learning is an active process. We learn by doing. So, if you desire to master the principles you are studying...do something about them. Apply them at every opportunity.” — Dale Carnegie 8

Getting involved is my responsibility and will help me improve. 1 The most effective remedy for hearing loss is personal education. You need to learn all you can about your particular loss. To begin, you will need to know: ■ What is the type of hearing loss I have? ■ What is the degree of loss in my left and right ears? ■ How has my brain been affected? ■ How do hearing aids bridge the gap? ■ What can I do to improve my hearing? What type of hearing loss do I have? (Your hearing professional will provide this information as indicated by your hearing test.) _____________________________ has a...

Vowel Sounds Consonant Sounds 0 Loudness measured in decibels YOUR PURE TONE AUDIOGRAM To the right is a graph of your hearing showing the degree of loss in your left and right ears. Your hearing ability has thus been classified in relationship to “normal hearing.” O symbol = right ear X symbol = left ear 4 When you first begin using hearing aids, your brain will be startled to receive signals it has been missing. Until it becomes acclimated to these sounds, you will think to yourself... ■ Everyone's voices sound odd to me. ■ own voice bothers me. It sounds like I am speaking into a barrel. My...

6 Understanding occurs in your brain, not in your ears. Re-acclimating your brain to true sound is a little like priming a pump; you’ve got to stay with it long enough for the water to flow. Once it is flowing – and it will flow – the hardest part is over. ■ From early childhood the sounds of words and noises are conveyed to the brain to gather visual images of things. This information is stored in memory compartments which are your “sound vocabulary.” When you lose part of your hearing, the corresponding part of your brain – which now has no input from your ear – volunteers that brain-part for...

STEP Set Realistic Expectations. “If you still can't hear your friend speak from across the table at the restaurant on family night, be encouraged — a normal hearing person will have trouble under these circumstances too.” — Thomas Jones I set my sights on better hearing and understanding... because to hope for perfect hearing is to set myself up for disappointment.

1 If your hearing was lost suddenly, or, has been lost over time, you will not hear again like you once did with normal hearing. Focus on your improvement, not on those negative times when your hearing aids don’t let you hear what you want to hear. Your hearing aids’ job is to help you hear better, not perfectly. 2 If you purchase a custom hearing instrument, designed to fit your ear, you will likely need to have some adjustments to make it a better fit. 3 The “tinny” or mechanical sounds you hear are normal. These are the soft, high-frequency sounds you have been missing. Your hearing aids are...