Uses and abuses of hearing aids

The view is expressed that many hearing-impaired individuals are not deriving maximum benefit from amplification or are not using amplification at all because of failure of professionals to keep in mind certain uses and abuses. Some of the specific uses are for minimal and profound hearing losses, adaptation with special earmold modifications, chronic or recurrent conductive losses, part-time use, and binaural listening. Some specific abuses include: unrealistic expectations, overlooking the role of motivation, pressuring persons to try/wear amplification, overamplification, Y cord, inappropriate binaural fittings, and failure to alternate a hearing aid between ears in symmetrical hearing losses.