Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to wear hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you’re wearing one, what is the sound like, and what does it feel like in your ears are all questions you may want to ask someone who already has hearing aids? Here’s a description of what hearing aids are like, but if you really want to understand, come see us for a demonstration.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
No, not the kind you may receive on a work evaluation. When a microphone and a speaker detect each other’s signal, they interfere with each other resulting in a high-pitched whistling sound. It produces a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know what to do with.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly tuned. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Some state-of-the-art hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that identifies feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Loud Setting
If you have untreated hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can seem like you’re eating by yourself. Conversations are almost impossible to follow. You might end up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But hearing aids today have some really sophisticated technology that can cancel out background noise. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. It Gets a Little Sticky at Times
Your body has a way of telling you when something shouldn’t be there. Your body will create saliva if you eat something too spicy. You will make tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears also possess a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s hardly surprising that those who wear hearing aids frequently get to manage wax buildup. Fortunately, it’s just wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We’ll show you how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
This one might surprise you. If somebody starts to develop hearing loss it will slowly impact cognitive function as it progresses.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to comprehend what people are saying. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a difficulty.
This brain atrophy can be stopped in its tracks by getting hearing aids as soon as you can. They re-train your brain. They can slow and even reverse mental decline according to many studies. As a matter of fact, 80% of people had increased brain function, according to a study carried out by the AARP, after wearing hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a bit difficult to manage. And they seem to run out of juice at the worst times, like when you’re about to find out “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy particulars of a story.
But simple solutions exist to decrease much of this perceived battery trouble. There are strategies you can use to significantly extend battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, nowadays you can purchase hearing aids that are rechargeable. When you go to bed, simply place them on the charging unit. In the morning, just put them back on. You can even get some hearing aids with solar-powered chargers so you can charge them even if you are hiking or camping.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is quite sophisticated. It’s a lot easier than learning to use a computer for the first time. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to adjust to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
The longer and more routinely you wear hearing aids the better it gets. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids during this transition.
Anyone who’s been wearing a set 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 find out, call us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html