Summary
Hearing aids improve audibility, but cannot fully restore cochlear frequency/time resolution. A satisfactory plan combines verified amplification with communication strategies and support.
Offer aids for functional hearing difficulty, not only after an arbitrary 30 dB cut-off. Offer two when both ears have aidable loss, with an individual trial and follow-up. NICE NG98
Agree the listening situations that matter: conversation, work, music, telephone and warning sounds. Measure success against those goals as well as the audiogram. NICE NG98 BSA adult rehabilitation guidance, April 2025