Ever wish you could get the inside skinny on what hearing aids are really like? What would your best friend say if you asked candid questions about what hearing aids sound like, what it feels like, and how they really feel about using one? If you truly want to know what hearing aids are like, you need to come in for a demo, but for now, keep reading for a summary of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
No, not the type you may get on a work evaluation. When a microphone and a speaker detect each other’s signal, they interfere with each other creating a high-pitched whistling sound. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
While this may sound terrible, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly tuned. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Feedback can be removed, in some more advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Loud Setting
Eating dinner out with the family can seem like eating dinner alone if you have untreated hearing loss. It’s virtually impossible to keep up with the conversations. You may end up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But hearing aids today have some really advanced technology that can drown out background noise. They bring the voices of your children and the wait staff into crystal clarity.
3. At Times it Gets a Little Sticky
When something is not right, your body has a way of reacting to it. If you eat something too spicy hot, you produce more saliva to rinse it out. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears have their own way of removing a nuisance.
Earwax production.
So it’s no surprise that those who wear hearing aids often get to deal with the buildup of earwax. Thankfully, it’s just wax and it’s not a problem to clean the hearing aids. (We’ll show you how.)
Then you’ll just put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
You may be surprised by this one. When a person has hearing loss, it very gradually starts to affect cognitive function if they don’t get it treated as soon as possible.
Fully understanding spoken language is one of the first things you lose. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a difficulty.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by using hearing aids as soon as you can. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can slow down cognitive decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of individuals had increased cognitive function, according to research conducted by the AARP, after wearing hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a bit challenging to manage. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to die, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But most of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily resolved. There are strategies you can use to substantially increase battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, currently you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. Just put it on the charger when you go to bed. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It isn’t as hard as learning to operate a new computer. But getting used to your new hearing aids will definitely take some time.
It progressively improves as you continue to wear your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Anybody who’s been wearing a pair of hearing aids for 6 months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
Only actually wearing hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. If you want to find out, contact us.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html