Atlanta Hearing Aid Services

When you go to an Atlanta hearing aid service provider, you are taking the first step in dealing with your hearing loss.  Audiologists can work with you to determine the nature and degree of your hearing loss.  They will also help to decide upon your individual needs in terms of selecting hearing aid devices or other medical or surgical options.

In most cases, audiologists will conclude that a hearing aid (or two hearing aids) will be the best option.  This is because surgery is not a viable choice for the majority of hearing loss causes.  So, the next step is to consult with an Atlanta hearing aid service about the best hearing aid options.

Hearing aids function much like public address systems in that they feature a microphone which picks up sound, an amplifier which makes the sound louder, and a receiver (or speaker) to deliver the sound.  Nearly all hearing aids are now digital because this type of technology allows the sound to be better manipulated for the wearer’s benefit.  There are, however, many styles of hearing aids.  It is necessary to work with an Atlanta hearing aid service provider when selecting hearing aids because some are best suited for certain types of hearing loss.

One or Two Hearing Aids?
If your audiologist determines that both ears have some hearing loss, it is essential to get hearing aids for both ears rather than only for one ear.  Although it may seem more cost effective to purchase only one hearing aid, this can be detrimental to future hearing and speech recognition.  Studies have shown that when both ears need hearing aids and only one is fitted with an aid, the ear without a hearing aid can lose speech recognition rapidly.  In addition, fitting only one ear can cause issues in hearing people speak where there are noisy backgrounds.  With two hearing aids, there is much better quality of sound and more natural hearing.

Hearing Aid Fittings
In order to get the best possible usage out of hearing aids, they must be fitted properly by an Atlanta hearing aid service.  This means that the hearing aids must be secure and physically comfortable in the ears; they should not feel as if they are going to fall out, but they should not feel too snug, either.

At an Atlanta hearing aid service provider, a computer will be used to evaluate and adjust the settings on the hearing aids after they are placed in the ears.  But, since the office setting does not accurately represent the sounds of everyday life, you will need to work back and forth with the audiologist in order to better adjust the hearing aids.  You may need to visit the Atlanta hearing aid service several times over the course of a few weeks so that you can optimize the settings on your hearing aids.  Most services suggest keeping a daily journal indicating issues you have with certain sounds or specific settings so that the hearing aids can be adjusted as necessary.