Top 5 Tips when buying hearing aids

1. Choosing an audiologist is just as important as choosing the aid itself
   Effective treatment of hearing issues is more than just purchasing a hearing aid. In fact, the quality of professional services is a determining factor in the success of the fitting and degree of satisfaction from the performance of hearing aids.
   
   Fully-qualified audiologists are university trained and members of the New Zealand Audiological Society [NZAS], bound by a code of ethics to provide the best services. NZAS audiologists are required to maintain their skills and knowledge through ongoing education.
   
   Only NZAS audiologists are able to access funding for hearing aids, including ACC, War Pensions and the government subsidy.
2. Insist on a full diagnostic hearing test
   Ensure your audiologist offers an extensive hearing assessment in soundproof conditions.
   
   A full diagnostic test is the only hearing assessment to accurately determine the type, degree and possible causes of your hearing loss. Free hearing checks are only screening tests and not able to detect whether a loss is permanent or temporary, and sometimes hearing aids can be unnecessarily recommended.
3. Match your hearing aids to your specific hearing loss
   Your hearing loss is as unique as your fingerprint. Two people with a similar degree of loss will process sound differently depending on the cause of the loss and length of time the problem has gone untreated. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so beware of over-the-counter or heavily discounted offers that may not address your specific hearing loss.        
4. Know all the options before you purchase
   Your audiologist should work with a range of hearing aid styles and brands, and offer you a needs assessment appointment to determine which products are right for your unique lifestyle, hearing loss and budget. 
   
   Be careful if a provider is promoting one particular brand only without discussing other options: this may not be the most suitable hearing aid for your needs.
5. Seek professional expertise to get the best performance from your hearing aids
   No matter how state-of-the-art your hearing aids may be, they will not address your hearing loss if they are not properly programmed and adjusted to suit your lifestyle. Look for an audiologist who is able to not only guide you through the initial fitting of your aids, but who will offer a trial period and follow-up expertise for the lifetime of the product.

At Dilworth Hearing we pride ourselves on our reputation of clinical excellence for over 50 years and our commitment to providing our clients with great service.

• Every hearing aid comes with a two-month trial period. Purchasing hearing aids is an important decision, so we want you to be satisfied before you make a final decision. If you don’t wish to purchase after the trial period, the cost of the aids will  be  refunded.
• You will receive one free pack of batteries per month for 12 months and 20% off batteries thereafter [rechargeable batteries not included].
• All our clients are entitled to a free annual hearing aid ‘check and clean’ by our technicians, to make sure everything is in optimal condition [this does not include the cost of any repairs]. All our hearing aids come with a manufacturer’s warranty.

We are sure you will be happy with your hearing aids.

However, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.