Not Happy with Your Hearing Aids? Let's Fix That

You're not alone if your hearing aids aren't meeting your expectations. Many people struggle with devices that sound unnatural, perform poorly in noise, or simply don't provide the clarity they were promised. The good news is that most hearing aid problems can be solved with proper evaluation and programming.

Common Hearing Aid Complaints We Address

"Everything sounds too loud, but I still can't understand speech" - this suggests your hearing aids may not be programmed correctly for your specific hearing loss pattern. Generic programming often fails to account for individual ear canal acoustics and real-world listening needs.

"My hearing aids work fine at home but are useless in restaurants" indicates that your devices may lack appropriate noise management features or haven't been adjusted for challenging environments. Many patients receive hearing aids programmed only for quiet situations.

"My own voice sounds hollow or unnatural" often results from inadequate fitting protocols that don't account for how amplified sound behaves in your unique ear canal shape and size.

Why Standard Fittings Fall Short

Most hearing aid fittings rely on manufacturer "first fit" programming based on your audiogram alone. This approach ignores critical factors that affect your real-world experience:

• Your ear canal's unique size and shape
• How sound actually reaches your eardrum with hearing aids in place
• Your specific speech understanding challenges in noisy environments
• Your individual comfort levels and listening preferences

Without comprehensive testing and verification, hearing aids become expensive amplifiers rather than personalized hearing solutions tailored to your needs.

Our Comprehensive Approach to Better Hearing

We use specialized testing protocols that go beyond basic hearing thresholds. Our evaluation process identifies not just what you can hear, but how well you process speech in real-world situations.

Speech-in-noise testing reveals your specific challenges with background noise, helping us select appropriate technology levels and programming strategies. This testing explains why two people with identical hearing loss may need completely different hearing aid features.

We perform comprehensive case histories that address your individual treatment goals, lifestyle needs, and listening environments. Understanding where and how you struggle most allows us to customize your hearing solution accordingly.

Real Ear Measurement: The Missing Piece

Real Ear Measurement represents one of the most important steps in hearing aid fitting - yet it's used in only 25% to 40% of fittings nationwide. We consider it essential for every patient.

This process involves placing a tiny probe microphone in your ear canal to measure exactly how sound behaves with your hearing aids in place. Real Ear Measurement allows us to verify that your hearing aids are providing the right amount of amplification at your eardrum, not just at the hearing aid microphone.

Without this verification, your hearing aids may be over-amplifying some frequencies while under-amplifying others, leading to poor speech clarity and listening comfort.

Advanced Programming and Fine-Tuning

Dr. John Martinetti, our Board Certified Audiologist at Port Jefferson Hearing, uses evidence-based protocols to program your hearing aids based on your complete hearing profile, not just basic thresholds. This includes adjusting for your specific speech understanding challenges and environmental needs. Dr. Martinetti holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in both Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association—a rare dual certification that provides patients with comprehensive expertise spanning both disciplines. 

We offer test drive opportunities that allow you to experience different programming approaches in your daily environments before finalizing settings. This real-world testing ensures your hearing aids work where you need them most - at work, home, restaurants, and social gatherings.

Regular follow-up appointments allow us to make refinements based on your experiences and changing needs over time.

When to Consider New Technology

Sometimes dissatisfaction stems from hearing aids that are simply outdated or inappropriate for your current needs. Technology advances rapidly, and devices more than 3-4 years old may lack features that could significantly improve your experience.

Modern hearing aids offer advanced noise reduction, directional microphones, and connectivity features that weren't available in older models. If your lifestyle has changed or your hearing loss has progressed, upgrading to newer technology may provide substantial benefits.

Get the Hearing Aid Experience You Deserve

Don't settle for hearing aids that don't work for your life. Our comprehensive evaluation and fitting process addresses the root causes of hearing aid dissatisfaction through proper testing, Real Ear Measurement, and individualized programming.

Whether your hearing aids need reprogramming, accessories, or replacement with more appropriate technology, we'll work with you to create a solution that meets your expectations. Schedule your hearing aid consultation today at 631-331-1888 and discover what properly fitted hearing aids can do for your communication and quality of life.