From “Results” to Results That Last
Identifying the right hearing technology is only the starting point. Long-term success depends on what happens next.
Better hearing doesn’t happen at checkout — it’s built through a thoughtful trial, realistic expectations, and effective collaboration with a provider. A provider’s goal is to ensure the technology is set up correctly, performs as intended, and genuinely improves your daily life.
To get there, you have a responsibility as well: giving the device a fair, informed trial. Most people are never shown what a “fair trial” actually looks like, which leads to confusion, frustration, and abandoned solutions.
This process has been documented as The Audalius Protocol. It prepares you for the trial period, explains the service paths you’ll encounter, and shows you how to work with a provider to ensure the technology fits real-world listening — not just a quiet room.
Don’t go into your trial period guessing.
Go in with a plan.
The human ear is a complex system that at times may need assistance. Don’t hesitate to seek out more information. In the Audalius Protocol, we explain why and how clearer sound protects the Brain Battery from overworking and becoming drained. A drained Brain Battery causes fatigue — something you should try to avoid.
Video courtesy of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH / NIDCD).
Additional resource:
How Do We Hear?
The “Michael Audalius” Protocol Checklist
You’ve moved from guessing to Protocol. Whether you’re pursuing a provider-led path or taking the independent route, these are your next action steps. Follow them in order.
Step 1: The Verification (Provider-Guided Path)
- Book the Appointment: Call your chosen provider and request a Diagnostic Evaluation — not a simple screening.
- Ask the “REM” Question: Confirm that they perform Real-Ear Measurement (REM) during fitting. If they say “the software does it automatically,” keep looking.
- Request the Contract: Ask for a written copy of the Trial Period and Return Policy before you arrive.
Step 1: The Setup (Independent Path)
- Check Your OS: Ensure your smartphone operating system is fully up to date.
- Order from a Reputable Source: Purchase only from manufacturers offering a clear 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Clean Your Ears: Schedule a quick ear-wax removal with your primary doctor. Microphones are sensitive — buildup is the #1 performance killer.
Step 2: Establish Your “Social Fatigue” Baseline
Before you wear anything, choose one environment that typically exhausts you — for example, a family lunch or a busy restaurant.
Rate your mental and listening fatigue on a scale of 1–10. This number is your baseline. Success is measured against this — not volume.
Step 3: The Michael Audalius “3-Day Rule”
- Day 1: Wear only in your quietest room for 2 hours.
- Day 2: Wear for 4 hours, including one light background-noise task.
- Day 3: Wear in a controlled social setting (coffee with one person).
If you experience irritation or mental fog, stop. This is not a volume issue — it requires a technical adjustment through your provider or app.
“If a piece of technology doesn’t help you hear the people you love in the places you enjoy, it doesn’t belong in your ears — no matter how many features it claims to have.”