There is no prerequisite degree of hearing loss for hearing aid fitting. There are mild gain instruments used by people who have no hearing loss, but have learning disabilities that make focusing on sound and speech difficult. By enhancing just the softer sounds of speech without making loud sounds any louder, the patients are better able to follow what is being said.

Prior to considering hearing aids, you may want to consult an ear surgeon to determine whether there are any reconstructive surgeries that might help your hearing. In most cases, the audiologist would want you to obtain otologic clearance for hearing aids prior to prescribing hearing aids for the first time - especially with a history of frequent ear infections, surgeries and scarring. If it is determined that surgery is not an option, or if you elect not to have surgery, you will want to consult an audiologist that will prescribe a device that is appropriate for your not only for your hearing loss, but your listening environments and lifestyle as well.

It is also important to have realistic expectations, as many factors can impair a person’s ability to listen and comprehend that are beyond the capacity of a device that can only help with hearing acuity. As mentioned above, there are learning disabilities, neurological and psychological disorders that impair a person’s ability to focus on, comprehend or remember what they have heard.