Austin Hearing Services shares basic guide on selecting your first hearing aid. Full service audiologist with the best selection of hearing aids in Austin TX. See us for hearing tests, custom ear protection, tinnitus treatment, ear wax removal, hearing aid repair.

1.
Austin
Hearing
Services
| (512)
851-­‐0871
| http://austinhearingservices.com
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Common Hearing Aid Buying Mistakes Made by First Time Customers
The selection and purchase of a first hearing aid can be an overwhelming task for
anyone. The publication Consumer Reports followed a dozen people over a period
of six months as they shopped for their first hearing aid, and reported on it. What
they found was less than satisfying; because they found that two-thirds of the aids
were either improperly fitted or that they provided either too much or too little
volume. Even within this small group of people the price range for these hearing
aids was huge and the retailers did not always provide them the best information.
Fortunately, there are a few simple tips you can follow so you can find the most
comfortable hearing aid for you and
avoid expensive mistakes. This article is
too short to provide all the tips that
would be useful, so to supplement it we
recommend Your Guide to Buying
Hearing Aids. These guidelines are
provided on the website of the Better
Hearing Institute (BHI), a non-profit
corporation that educates the public
about hearing loss and what can be
done about it. Here are our suggestions:
Step 1 – Consult a professional hearing specialist You can do this either by
calling us for an appointment, or by consulting another certified hearing specialist in
your area; either way we suggest you read the BHI guidelines before your first
appointment. It will help you to ask the right questions and know what the right
answers are.
Step 2 – Determine which type of hearing aid you need Your certified hearing
specialist will help you determine which hearing aid is best for you. During your
examination in Step 1 they will conduct an examination and hearing tests to
diagnose the type and severity of any hearing loss. Settling on the perfect hearing
aid for you will take into account the type of hearing loss you are experiencing as

2.
Austin
Hearing
Services
| (512)
851-­‐0871
| http://austinhearingservices.com
Discover more great content here:
http://twitter.com/Austin_Hearing
http://www.facebook.com/AustinHearingServices
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well as your budget.
Step 3 – Research hearing aids of this type Once you know which type of aid is
bested suited for you, go to the Internet. Your research should focus on any reports
of problems or repairs, consumer reviews on comfort and reliability, as well as price
comparisons.
Step 4 – Search for and select a vendor you can rely on The vendor may be the
specialist you saw in Step 1, or can be someone recommended by them. The
vendor should be able to make molds of your ears and fit the aids properly. You can
buy hearing aids over the Internet, but because most models must be custom-fitted,
we do not recommend this.
Step 5 – Your hearing aid should fit comfortably and sound great Your first
fitting should include tests by your vendor to ensure comfortable fit and good
function of your new hearing aid. A “satisfaction guaranteed” warranty and free
follow-up appointments for fine-tuning and adjustments are standard with reputable
vendors.
We wish you good luck with selecting your first hearing aid, and want you to know
that we are here to provide help if you need it.