Adjustment
Hearing aids are incapable of truly correcting a hearing loss; they are an aid to make sounds more accessible. Three primary issues minimize the effectiveness of hearing aids:
- The occlusion effect is a common complaint, especially for new users. Though if the aids are worn regularly, most people will become acclimated after a few weeks. If the effect persists, an audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist can sometimes further tune the hearing aid(s).
- The compression effect: The amplification needed to make quiet sounds audible, if applied to loud sounds would damage the inner ear (cochlear). Louder sounds are therefore reduced giving a smaller audible volume range and hence inherent distortion.
- The initial fitting appointment is rarely sufficient, and multiple follow-up visits are often necessary. Most audiologists or Hearing Instrument Specialists will recommend an up-to-date audiogram at the time of purchase and at subsequent fittings.
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—Carrie Chapman Catt (1859–1947)
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—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)