Relationship – Key to Hearing Success (Lyndi Hofstra)

Relationship – Key to Hearing Success

When was the last time that you saw your doctor – a week ago, a month, last year? How about your dentist or health specialist? These professionals expect you to make regular visits to their offices and more than likely you make the appointment and you keep it because they have earned your trust.

Regular visits to the right hearing professional is just as important as wearing the correct hearing aid. Good service matters for the long term  hearing instrument success. People who have purchased hearing instruments and stopped wearing them – put the in their drawer – typically have not stayed in touch with their provider. They gave up but they still have a hearing loss. Hearing is something we take for granted, but without it we are isolated. The relationship between the client and the provider must be consistent, regular check ups are necessary in order to build a
trusting relationship and to keep the hearing aids in good working order.

Think for a moment about the variety of situations a person is in on a daily basis, the amount of noise present, the groups, the meetings, the soft spoken family members, the job, the car, the stores, the place of worship, all have differing amounts of difficulty for the hearing impaired.

Think for a moment of trying to explain to a provider the problems you are incurring in ALL these various situations. It is the job of hearing health care provider to assess these various situations and address them through counseling, adjustments, or real ear testing. Clients who come in for their regular check ups have a record of treatment that the provider can review. This record provides vital information for consistent care.

“Relationships that build trust are those where the needs of the client are assessed and they are guided along in a treatment plan in such a manner that demonstrates that the provider clearly understands and cares about their hearing difficulties.”(Dennis Van Vliet,AuD,Hearing Review) Follow up is key to success. The provider needs to quantify the changes that have been made to the hearing aids and counsel
the client on proper communication techniques that ensure better hearing and comprehension.

Successful use of hearing aids is dependent upon consistent wearing of the hearing instrument, a trusting relationship with the hearing provider and regular visits to their office for follow up care.

Hearing Journey – THE BEND IN THE ROAD IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD, UNLESS YOU REFUSE TO MAKE THE TURN.

Lyndi Sue Hofstra MA,BC-HIS
Hofstra Family Hearing