There are many options available for improving hearing ability. Some of these options are hearing aids that will be prescribed by a licensed hearing care professional; other options include over-the-counter (OTC) hearing devices. OTC devices may look like a hearing aid and may be marketed like a hearing aid, but there are distinct differences between an OTC device and a hearing aid.
According to research at the Better Hearing Institute only about 7 in 10 hearing aid users are either "satisfied" or "very satisfied with the Fit and Comfort of their hearing aids. There is good news though for the 50% of users who need ear molds for their hearing aids. We may in the next few years be entering into a new generation of superior fit and functionality for custom fit hearing aids, thanks to molds based on a 3D imaging technique.
The Better Hearing Institute has just published consumer guidelines for purchasing hearing aids in an eGuide titled Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids. The Guide represents the most current thinking in the hearing health industry concerning how you should be treated by hearing care professionals and their staff as well as an explanation of five distinct phases of the customer experience as it relates to acquiring hearing aids. For each of the five phases, there is a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of what every customer should expect when they visit a hearing care professional.
The entire 12 page is also downloadable as an eGuide so that it can be shared with friends and associates.
