For hearing aid and cochlear implant users, one of the most important people in our lives is our hearing care professional (HCP).
This person has more influence on my peace of mind, bank account and quality of life than I would normally give to anyone not a husband, child, parent or BFF. I see my HCP more frequently than I see my family doctor, probably because hearing loss poses more barriers than other health challenges. It makes me more dependent on technology, which is prone to becoming blocked, broken, flooded and generally more stuffed up than any other body part, internal or external.
The top factors in the Quality-of-Life index are health, family life, and community life. My personal Q-O-L index improves in these areas when I have good communication. This means being able to move through the day, fully connected to people and technology, with communication access available whether I take advantage of it or not, just like the hearing people do or don’t.
Lack of good communication is stressful – not just for me, but for the people in my life. If I’m having a bad hearing day, you don’t want to be around me. If my hearing aid breaks down, you’ll want to clear out of town. Oh wait – I would need you to drive me to the HCP, because I’d be engaging in what we used to call a hairy canary. And that’s why I need the best possible – the perfect – HCP who would see me right away, wipe my tears, calm me down, and have me communicating well again, as soon as possible.
And that’s also why, when I find an HCP that I trust, I commit myself to a relationship with that person. The only reason I would ever leave for a new hearing professional is if she (or he) moved away, as was the case with my second-audiologist-ago, or had a baby, as did my last audiologist. Happily, the HCP who stepped into their office shoes is a wonderful hearing instrument specialist. I will stay with her as long as she doesn’t move away or start a family – or unless I move out of town. I’m staying with her because I choose to, because she’s good. I’m lucky to live in an area where there is competition for my business. If I lived in the far north of Canada, for example, I would depend on the services of the circuit HCP, who might swing through every few months.
But if I were on the market for another HCP, I would use this checklist when conducting interviews:
Communication skills: Good articulator, well-modulated voice, hopefully in the lower frequencies, faces me when speaking. (Without these, there’s no point in continuing the interview. Also, I’m tired of training my HCPs to speak better.)
Well-trained: A graduate of an Audiology or HIS program with a real diploma or certificate on the wall. Preferably more than one, indicating additional courses in technology and communications.
Problem-solver: Goes beyond comprehensive hearing testing to ask questions about lifestyle and communication needs. If s/he responds to a question with “I don’t know”, will also say, “but I’ll find out and let you know” and then follows through. (This sounds more complicated than it actually is.)
Empathetic, non-paternalistic: An HCP who assumes to automatically know what’s good for me and prescribes a course of action without my input is not only doing me a disservice, but themselves as well.
Technically knowledgeable, humanly creative: Does not regard the hearing aid as the single piece of equipment holding the universe together; will recommend and provide information on other real-life strategies such as smartphone and telecoil technology, speechreading, and other sources of support.
If you’re an HCP and feeling nervous that you can’t meet the above criteria, let me reassure you: with a little bit of effort and a whole lot of desire, you can. These quotes may help:
Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it. Salvador Dali
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. Vince Lombardi
If you come anywhere close to being a perfect HCP, people with hearing loss will be knocking on your door. And if you were my HCP, I’d meet you halfway. I want you to be happy with the perfect client.
Yes Gael you are absolutely right. A great HCP is like a rare gem. So many people like us, Hard of Hearing, try to save a few dollars by going with the least expensive HCP. (In the US hearing tests and visits to an HCP may not be covered by insurance.) Or make their choice based on whose office is closest to their home. Or see someone who only represents one hearing aid manufacturer. In the long run they end up spending more money because they are so unsatisfied that their hearing aid sits in a drawer somewhere. The person may end up traveling back and forth to their HCP numerous times because the aid is unreliable, paying extra money when the warranty has expires. Not to mention being inconvenienced by not having the hearing aid or CI.
I have been very lucky and have had the same HCP for longer than I’ve been married and I’m heading towards my 24th wedding anniversary! I jokingly tell him that he cannot retire, ever. Next to my marriage my ongoing relationship with my audiologist is one of the most important in my life. His fees may be a tad more than those warehouse type business or hearing instrument franchises but he is worth every penny. And I pay out of pocket not having insurance that will cover those expenses. With some services it is smart to base your selection on price point alone. Choosing a HCP is not one of those.
I have been so fortunate to have great audiologists and hearing instrument specialists throughout my hearing loss journey BUT I have discovered along the way that it is a partnership and they are as good as I allow them to be and as good as I allow myself to be. The hardest part was allowing myself to listen and follow their advise and know that at the end of day I would have a better hearing day. They had a lot of patience with me because at times I was my own worst enemy. They had an understanding of what I was going through and the ability to walk me through it. NOW, THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD HELP ME FIND THE BATTERIES I KEPT MISPLACING. Some things I just had to do on my own the hard way. I mean there is absolute terror when your battery dies during an important phone call and you forget where you put your spares. Its a learning process and sometimes I learn the hard way BUT thankfully I have such a great support system .
A hearing health provider is so important for people when purchasing a hearing aid for the first time. I see so many sad cases where people spend so much money and the hearing aid ends up in the draw. Always make sure you have a trial period before purchase and test it out in noisy restaurants and family groups. Return for adjustments during this time. If the HCP has an attitude about this it is time to find another one to your satisfaction. Always take a hearing friend or family member with you when purchasing a hearing aid for the first time.
So agreed. I have seen my audiologist more in a year then I see my family doctor in a few years. I have my degree in Communicative Disorders with audiology. I am trying to get my foot in the door to an audiology office or a hearing aid dispenser. I love reading what you look for in a professional. As being hard of hearing there is nothing more off putting than a doctor that turns his back and talks or looks down.
Truth, Gael. You are so right.