Ever ask yourself “what would it really be like to wear hearing aids”? What would your good friend say if you asked candid questions about what hearing aids sound like, what it feels like, and how they actually feel about wearing one? Here’s a description of what hearing aids are like, but if you truly want to know, come in for a demonstration.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when someone tells you how they feel about your results. When a microphone and a speaker pick up each other’s signal, they interfere with each other resulting in a high-pitched screeching sound. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal starts talking.
While this may sound terrible, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly maintained. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Feedback can be eliminated, in some more advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner alone if you have untreated hearing loss. Conversations are nearly impossible to follow. Most of the night, you might end up just nodding and smiling.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. They bring the voices of your family and the wait staff into crystal clarity.
3. Sometimes it Gets a Bit Sticky
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of reacting to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you produce more saliva to wash it out. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.
Earwax production.
Due to this, earwax accumulation can occasionally be a problem for people who use hearing aids. It’s only wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back in business.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
You may be surprised by this one. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will gradually impact brain function as it progresses.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to comprehend the spoken language. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
Getting hearing aids as soon as possible helps slow this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. Studies show that they can slow down cognitive decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of individuals had increased cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Many people simply hate managing those little button batteries. And they seem to die at the worst times, like when you’re about to hear “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy details of a story.
But most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be quickly resolved. You can substantially increase battery life by using the correct strategies. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, you can choose a set of rechargeable hearing aids which are available now. Just put it on the charger at night. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Today, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It’s a lot simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take a little time.
It progressively gets better as you keep wearing 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 six 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 figure it out, call us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html