Does your hearing aid fit well? Consumer Reports Survey.

A hearing aid fitting doesn't necessarily mean how comfortable it fits in your ear but rather does it amplify sounds correctly. Where you have your hearing aid fitted can make all the difference as to how well your hearing aid performs. You can buy the most expensive hearing aid but if it is not properly fitted it's not worth much. Consumer reports had followed a dozen actual patients for six months as they shopped for and used hearing aids, conducted a national survey of 1,100 people who had bought a hearing aid in the past three years, and lab-tested the features of 44 hearing aids. They found that most (2/3) of the patients had their hearing aids misfitted: They either amplified too much or too little.Many paid too much as well and were not informed about the capabilities of their hearing aids. These are just some of the reasons why finding a quality audiologist is so important. When looking for hearing aids, Houston has a great audiologist: Dr. Nagel.

FDA & Hearing Aids

Having trouble hearing? Over 35 million children and adults in the United States have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss can have a negative effect on communication, relationships, school/work performance, and emotional well-being. However, hearing loss doesn't have to restrict your daily activities. Properly fitted hearing aids and aural rehabilitation techniques can help in many listening situations. Aural rehabilitation helps a person focus on adjusting to their hearing loss and the use of their hearing aids. It also explores assistive devices to help improve communication. Hearing aids for both ears are typically the norm for most hearing impaired people, but some may need only one hearing aid.

This site provides general information on hearing aids, types of hearing loss, different types and styles of hearing aids, how to get a hearing aid, benefits and safety of hearing aids, hearing aids and cell phones, other products and procedures to improve hearing, and a checklist of steps to remember and consider before purchasing a hearing aids.

This site also includes information on the difference between hearing aids and sound amplifiers that amplify environmental sounds for consumers with no hearing loss. FDA regulates hearing aids, which are intended to compensate for hearing loss. On the other hand, FDA does not consider sound amplifiers to be medical devices when labeled for recreational or other use by individuals with normal hearing. However, certain safety regulations related to sound output levels still apply to these products.

This site provides general information on hearing aids and is not intended to provide medical advice. If you have questions about your health, the best source of information is your hearing health care professional.