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Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants, and Assistive Listening Devices

The Hearing Loss Association of America has a video about Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants and Assistive Listening Devices as part of their Video Series: Learn About Hearing Loss.

Practical Advice When Choosing a Hearing Aid

Your health care team will assist when it comes time to choose your hearing aid. Make sure you know what your expectations are before selecting a hearing aid.

  • Do you understand your hearing loss?
  • What do you think the hearing aid will do for you?
  • What types of hearing aids are available?
  • What unique features do hearing aids have and what can they do for you?
  • How much will they cost?
  • Is there an adjustment period for the use of a hearing aid?

Once you have answered these questions and purchased a hearing aid, you may be surprised at all the new sounds you hear. They may be very loud, strange and different from what you remember them to be. Good advice is to adjust to your hearing aid slowly:

  • Start with quiet chats in small groups, then gradually move into larger groups.
  • Wear your hearing aid every day. This daily usage will give you more practice, with better results.

Also, remember that your hearing aids require daily care. As with any device, lack of daily maintenance will shorten the life and only create frustration with poor performance. Hearing aids are very expensive. Know what you want, take care of them, and they will assist you with many of your communication needs.

Donating Hearing Aids

Donate old hearing aids to a non-profit organization and receive a possible tax write-off. Your older models can be refurbished and, in many cases, provided to low income children and adults who would otherwise be unable to afford hearing aids. The Hear NOW program accepts donations and has provided more than 65,000 children and adults with hearing aids when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford them.

The Deaf Service Center in your community may offer hearing aid donation programs. Many local Lions Club chapters also accept hearing aid donations.

Cell Phones and Hearing Aid Compatibility:

Additional Resources

Interpreters

If you have a customer or client who is deaf or hard of hearing you may be requested to provide a sign language interpreter. As the hiring entity, you have the option to hire individuals directly or through an interpreter service agency: 

  • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf – RID certifies sign language and oral interpreters. A certified interpreter must be a current member of RID and will be listed in their online searchable database
  • Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf – Organization that sponsors, initiates and promotes policies and activities that further the American Sign Language interpreting profession. FRID has an updated, searchable member database, which allows a user to search for an interpreter by name.

Resources for Hiring and Use of an Interpreter