Approximately 1 to 14 days.

Improvement varies. Some of the variables are:

The average hearing aid lasts 4 to 7 years and should be worn most of the time.

Hearing aids are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, from instruments that fit behind the ear to instruments that totally fit within the ear canal and are minimally visible. Electronic circuitry has advanced significantly in the recent past, allowing patients greater sound comfort and improved speech recognition in noisy situations, to name a few. Digital hearing aids, which are adjusted via a computer connection, provide the most flexibility, allowing Ken to custom fit the response of the device to a specific hearing loss. Digital hearing aids can be modified if hearing changes or as your listening needs change. Ken will help you choose the best instrument according to your needs and your budget.

Besides helping you to hear and understand voices better, properly adjusted hearing aids will allow you to hear sounds that previously may not have been audible. You may notice that your own voice is louder, too. Your entire auditory system will adjust to the new sounds that have not been heard for a long time. The sound of wrinkling newspaper or water running may be annoying at first. However, after about 2-3 weeks, you will notice an adjustment to these environmental sounds. Gradually increasing the amount of time you wear the hearing aids and following the schedule provided by Ken, will result in an easier transition to amplified sound. During the initial adjustment period, several follow up appointments may be required to monitor your progress and adjust the controls of your hearing aid(s), if needed. These follow-up visits are crucial to your success with amplification.