Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to use hearing aids”? What would your best friend say if you asked candid questions about what it sounds 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 really want to know, come see us for a demo.
1. Sometimes You Get Feedback
No, not the type 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. 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 speaks.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly maintained. If you’re experiencing it, the earmold might not be correctly fitted or you need to replace it.
Feedback can be removed, in some more advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback suppression system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Noisy Setting
If you suffer from neglected hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can seem like you’re eating by yourself. It’s virtually impossible to follow the conversations. You might wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking capability for background sound. They bring the voices of your children and the servers into crystal clarity.
3. It Gets a Bit Sticky at Times
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of reacting to it. Your body will create saliva if you eat something overly spicy. If you get something in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s hardly surprising that people who wear hearing aids often get to deal with the buildup of earwax. Luckily, it’s only wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and begin enjoying your hearing again.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
This one may surprise you. When a person develops hearing loss, it very gradually begins to impact brain function if they don’t have it treated quickly.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to understand what people are saying. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become challenging.
Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps stop this brain atrophy. Your brain gets re-trained. They can slow and even reverse mental decline according to many studies. As a matter of fact, one study conducted by AARP revealed that 80% of individuals had improved cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Many people simply hate dealing with those tiny button batteries. And these batteries seem to pick the worst time to die, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But most of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be quickly solved. You can substantially increase battery life by employing the correct strategies. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, nowadays you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. When you go to bed, simply dock them on the charger. In the morning, just put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid when you’re camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It’s much easier than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take some time.
It progressively gets better as you keep wearing your hearing aids. During this adjustment period, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anybody who’s been using a pair of hearing aids for six months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to wear hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, call 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