Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are truly like? How does a hearing aid feel when you’re wearing one, what does it 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 truly want to know, come see us for a demo.
1. At Times You Get Feedback
No, not the type you may get on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a whistling sound that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They may squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
Though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Some state-of-the-art hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Loud Setting
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner by yourself if you have untreated hearing loss. Conversations are almost impossible to keep up with. You might wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But hearing aids nowadays have some really sophisticated technology that can drown out background noise. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. Sometimes it Gets a Little Sticky
When something is not right, your body has a way of reacting to it. Your body will make saliva if you eat something overly spicy. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears have their own way of getting rid of a nuisance.
They make extra wax.
So it’s hardly surprising that people who wear hearing aids frequently get to deal with wax buildup. It’s just wax, luckily, so cleaning it isn’t a problem. (We’ll teach you how.)
Then you’ll just put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. When someone has hearing loss, it very gradually starts to affect cognitive function if they don’t get it treated as soon as possible.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a challenge.
Getting hearing aids as soon as possible helps stop this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. Research shows that they can decrease mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of individuals had improved cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a bit challenging to deal with. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to lose power, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But most of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be quickly solved. There are strategies you can use to significantly extend battery life. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, nowadays you can buy rechargeable hearing aids. Just place it on the charger at night. In the morning, just put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Today, hearing aids have advanced technology. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to get used to new hearing aids and to get the configurations right.
It progressively gets better as you continue to wear your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Anyone who’s been using a pair of hearing aids for 6 months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
This is what it’s really like to use hearing aids. If you want to find out, contact us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html