Is there a specific time you remember where you really felt like you made a difference for a client?
I personally hope that every client of mine feels like I made a difference. I do not treat anyone differently -- each client is special. I always try to remember, I have completed thousands of hearing tests and programmed thousands of hearing aids, however this is the first time for a client. I try to educate every client of mine; helping them learn how hearing aids work, and how we can adapt faster to them. In addition, I often encourage my client to bring a friend or family member to all their appointments. I believe this enriches the appointment by having another set of ears to provide useful feedback to me. The more I know about each client, the more I can help and truly make a difference in each client’s journey.
Why do I have to wear my hearing aids all the time?
Your brain loves consistency! The more you experience something, the more normal it becomes. Even if you are sitting alone reading a book, the house makes noise, the fan makes noise, there is outside noise… the more your brain hears these sounds, the faster you will adapt to hearing these sounds again. I tell my clients all the time, humans are creatures of habit, we do not like change. Hearing loss happens over many years and is very gradual, whereas hearing aids correct our disability in a matter of seconds. Be patient with yourself! It’s a big change!
What is your favourite tip for someone who is new to wearing hearing aids?
Read out loud! A lot of clients have a difficult time acclimating to the sound of their own voice. When a client starts to wear hearing aids for the first time, they hear their own voice at a much louder volume than they have been used to in the past. This sensation of sound can be difficult to get used to in the beginning. Our brains are fabulous organs and have the ability to adapt quickly. I encourage clients to read out loud because this allows the brain to hear their own voice as much as possible, which speeds up the process of adapting to your ‘new’ voice.