The potential advantages and limitations of hearing aids will be reviewed, and follow-up is provided during the initial trial as well as after the purchase. Adaptation to hearing aid use takes time and requires a significant adjustment. It may take several months, during which time the brain adapts to the new way things sound. Some people become frustrated during this time but should be encouraged to continue. Using the aid only part of the day delays adaptation.
Many people resist amplification because of the social stigma associated with hearing loss.
Since our culture unfortunately views hearing loss as a consequence of aging, resistance to a hearing aid is inevitable. Factors of motivation, personal adjustment, and family support are vital factors in hearing aid satisfaction. Although substantial improvements have been achieved in hearing aid design and application, few people with severe hearing-impairment can ever come close to achieving normal hearing with the use of a aid alone. The physiological realities of age-related hearing loss, coupled with the electronic constraints of hearing aids, renders normal hearing impossible, especially considering the levels of noise and background interference found in most public places. Transmission methods include infrared, audio loop, FM radio, or direct audio input.