My hearing aids
aren't working well.
If your hearing aids aren't delivering the results you hoped for — whether they're new or you've been wearing them for years — a reassessment can make all the difference. Don't give up on hearing aids because of one poor experience.
A poor hearing aid experience is very rarely the fault of hearing aids as a technology. In most cases, something went wrong in the fitting process — and most of those problems are fixable.
The most common reasons hearing aids don't work well
If your hearing aids are sitting in a drawer or you're not getting the benefit you expected, one or more of these is likely the cause.
They weren't programmed to your audiogram correctly
This is the single most common cause of poor hearing aid outcomes. Hearing aids must be precisely programmed to your specific hearing loss profile. If the programming is off — even slightly — the results are significantly worse.
Real-ear measurement wasn't used
Real-ear measurement (REM) verifies that the aid is actually delivering the right sound levels in your ear canal. Without it, programming is based on averages — not your ear. Many clinics skip this step. We don't.
Your hearing has changed since they were fitted
Hearing loss is not static. If your aids were fitted years ago and have never been reprogrammed, they may no longer match your current hearing profile. Annual reviews exist for this reason.
The device wasn't the right fit for your needs
If the wrong style, brand, or technology tier was recommended — perhaps due to commercial incentives at a retail chain — the device simply may not suit your hearing loss or lifestyle. An independent assessment can identify this.
You didn't get enough follow-up support
A first fitting is rarely the final fitting. As you adjust to amplification, your audiologist needs to fine-tune the settings based on your real-world feedback. Without enough follow-up, many people give up before they've given the aids a proper chance.
How Canberra Audiology Can Help
Whether your aids are from us or another provider, we can help you get better results.
Fresh hearing assessment
We'll conduct a full up-to-date diagnostic hearing assessment to confirm your current hearing profile — particularly important if it's been more than 12 months since your last test.
Reprogram your existing aids
If your existing hearing aids are a good device but poorly programmed, we may be able to reprogram them using real-ear measurement verification — dramatically improving performance without replacing them.
Trial a different device
If your current aids aren't the right fit for your hearing loss or lifestyle, we'll let you trial an alternative. As an independent clinic, we have access to all major brands — not just the ones a retail chain is tied to.
Address physical or comfort issues
Feedback (whistling), discomfort, or poor sound quality are often caused by fit issues — such as poorly fitted earmoulds or excessive ear wax. These are quick to identify and usually straightforward to resolve.
We can service aids from any brand — including those purchased elsewhere. If you need repairs, cleaning, or parts, call us on (02) 6156 4474.
Understanding What Went Wrong
These pages explain the most common causes of poor hearing aid outcomes — and what to do about them.