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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhy Can the Best Hearing Aid Still Fail to Help You Hear Clearly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hearing aids can underperform when they aren’t properly fitted, programmed, or maintained. The VA provides eligible veterans<\/a> with hearing aids and follow-up care, but several issues can affect how well they work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A follow-up appointment can help identify the problem before you assume you need different hearing aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your hearing aids make sounds louder, but speech is still hard to understand, they may not be providing enough amplification at the frequencies that help you distinguish speech sounds. Consonants such as \u201cs,\u201d \u201cf,\u201d and \u201cth\u201d contain high-frequency information that can be particularly difficult to hear with high-frequency hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research has found that a hearing aid’s initial settings don’t always match the amplification prescribed for a person’s hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a 2015 study<\/a>, researchers evaluated hearing aids from five manufacturers and found that 74% of the tested fittings deviated from the prescribed NAL-NL2 target by 10 decibels or more at one or more frequencies when measured with soft speech. The study examined 80 fittings across eight participants, using the same programmed sloping high-frequency hearing loss audiogram for each<\/a>. These findings show why a hearing aid’s initial programming should not be assumed to match the amplification prescribed for a person’s hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before replacing your hearing aids, ask whether the fitting meets the targets prescribed for your hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A best-practice hearing aid fitting<\/a> involves more than selecting a device and adjusting its volume. It combines a hearing evaluation, individualized programming, objective verification, and follow-up care. The American Academy of Audiology’s adult clinical practice guideline describes recommended practices for hearing aid fitting. A best-practice hearing aid fitting always includes, but is not limited to, the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A systematic fitting process helps your provider determine whether the hearing aids are meeting prescribed targets, whether the devices and physical fit are working properly, and whether additional testing is needed to understand your communication difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best-practice hearing care includes a comprehensive evaluation, individualized programming, real-ear measurement, and follow-up. Find a HearingLoss.com-Certified provider near you who follows these evidence-based standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Real-ear measurement<\/a> checks how much sound your hearing aids deliver inside your ear canal. Your audiologist places a thin probe tube near your eardrum, measures the amplified sound, and compares the results with prescribed targets for your hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because ear canals differ, the same hearing aid settings won’t produce identical results for everyone. Programming software estimates performance, while real-ear measurement checks what is actually happening in your ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2018 study<\/a> published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology included 24 adults and compared hearing aids using one manufacturer’s initial settings with the same hearing aids programmed and verified using real-ear measurements. Researchers found that 79% of participants preferred the verified fitting. Participants also recognized more words at soft and conversational speech levels in quiet with the verified fitting, although the study did not find a significant improvement in sentence recognition in noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The takeaway is simple: Real-ear measurement helps your provider verify the fitting instead of relying on software settings alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about prescription glasses. High-quality lenses won’t help you see clearly if the prescription is wrong. Hearing aids work in a similar way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest hearing aid technology may offer useful features, but the brand alone doesn’t determine how well you’ll hear. Your hearing loss, programming, physical fit, and follow-up care all matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best hearing aids for you are those suited to your hearing needs and properly fitted and verified. Before switching brands, ask your provider whether your current devices are delivering the prescribed amplification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact the VA audiology clinic that fitted your hearing aids and schedule a follow-up. Explain where you’re struggling, such as understanding conversations in noise or hearing speech clearly even when the volume seems loud enough. If your hearing drops suddenly, seek immediate medical evaluation rather than waiting for a routine hearing-aid adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your provider to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the problem persists, ask what else could be affecting your speech understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy Are Your Hearing Aids Louder but Not Clearer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a Best-Practice Hearing Aid Fitting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Your Hearing Aid Fitting Should Follow Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy Does Real-Ear Measurement Matter So Much?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy Does the Hearing Aid Fitting Matter More Than the Brand?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Should You Do If Your VA Hearing Aids Aren’t Working?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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