In recent years, hearing aids have come a long way. More discreet and technologically advanced than ever, styles are available to suit all budgets and lifestyle needs. With so many models to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming because each model comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. As with anything that you plan to spend a large amount of money on, it is essential that you take your time to make the right decision before committing.

It is difficult to determine whether the hearing aids you select will really live up to expectations even after you have painstakingly weighed up your options. Are the devices you finally choose actually going to improve your life and help you to communicate with others, or are they going to sit in a desk drawer packed away?

Standard hearing practices usually allow you to try out the hearing aids for an hour in their office. Doing so will give you only a basic understanding of how the hearing aids work, but the best way to know which hearing aid is right for you is to wear them in real life.

That’s why we offer The Hearing Aid Test Drive™.

We understand that test driving hearing aids is not exactly the same as test driving a car. You can't simply walk around the block and decide whether your hearing aids are correct for you. You have to experience them outside of our clinic in order to get a true feel for the devices. To determine which hearing aids are right for you, we know that your own experiences are the really best way to make a decision that you will stick by.

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Here’s how it works:

• Schedule a free hearing test with us.
• If your results suggest you would benefit from hearing aids, we’ll work with you to decide on a set of hearing aids based on your specific hearing loss, your lifestyle and your budget.
• Once a model has been chosen, you’ll be fitted with the devices and be able to wear them out of our office. There is with no commitment or deposit required.
• Whether you are at work, the gym, the store, watching television or out with friends, wear your hearing aids in all kinds of situations. Take your time to discover whether the hearing aids are right for you.
• Once you have made a decision, come back and let us know what you think. You are under no obligation!

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Benefits of the Hearing Aid Test Drive™:

• You will know whether your financial investment will be worth it.
• You can try the hearing aids in your everyday situations.
• If you decide to keep the hearing aids, you are already past the tricky adjustment period often experienced with new hearing aids.
• Regardless of whether you decide to keep the hearing aids after the testing period, there is no commitment and no money to pay up front.

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What to expect when wearing hearing aids for the first time

Expect an adjustment period when you begin to test drive the hearing aids. The average person with hearing loss waits 5-7 years to treat it, so you may find that there is an adjustment period to hearing sounds fully again. Much of the background noise that you have learned to ignore with hearing loss will sound new to you, so you will initially find it harder to shut out.

The brain needs time to become familiar again with the high-frequency sounds of speech and environmental noises. After some time, it will get better as your brain adapts to these sounds again. Eventually, they will become less and less noticeable as your mind gets better at tuning them out.

How to adjust better to the hearing aids during your Hearing Aid Test Drive ™

To help your brain become accustomed to normal ambient noise levels again and relearn how to ignore background noise, you can:

• Wear the hearing aids regularly
• Rest your ears for a few hours each day
• Maintain a positive attitude
• Don’t give up too quickly

Don’t forget that you can always contact us for advice during your test drive.

Hearing aids are a substantial financial investment and the decision to buy one shouldn't be taken lightly. We want you to be sure that you made the right decision. We hope that by offering you the opportunity to try out the technology we offer, you’ll be in a better position to choose the right hearing aid for you, that will improve your quality of life for years to come.