Hearing Aids: Facts and Fallacies

Are you in denial?

If you have hearing loss, chances are good that a hearing aid can help you hear. However, research show that of the thirty-six million Americans with hearing loss, many do not use a hearing aid. Why is this?

A study funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education looked into the possible causes.

Stigma

Remember when eyeglasses carried a stigma?

Times change. Now glasses are fashionable and a great way to accessorize. Gone are the days when wearing glasses labelled you as a geek or older than your years. And the same is happening for hearing aids.

For a start, modern technology means miniaturization. It’s no longer necessary for those with mild to moderate hearing loss to wear an external device, because you can have a device that sits inside the ear canal and is all but invisible.

And behind-the-ear devices are smaller and come in a range of colors from various skin tones and hair colors to designs that are meant to be noticed.  In gorgeous metallic colors or eye-catching animal prints, why not have fun with your hearing device? The days of stigma are gone.

Expectations

If you’ve heard stories of dissatisfaction about hearing aids, it could well be the person bought their device from a discount store and didn’t get the help of a skilled professional to guide them. There is more to purchasing a hearing aid than putting it in your ear. The sudden amplification of background noises you haven’t heard for years can be off putting or disorientating, and this can discourage people.

Knowing what to expect from a hearing aid makes all the difference to your satisfaction. It takes help from your audiologist to learn to tune out background noise. But rest assured, with the services of a professional audiologist you are best equipped to make a smooth transition. The audiologist prepares you for what to expect, adjusts the device for maximum comfort, and tutors you in how to learn to love noise again.

Cost

Hearing devices are sophisticated pieces of electronic equipment and can be expensive. There’s no denying it. However, try thinking of a hearing aid as a long-term investment in your general health, and the cost takes on a different complexion. Improving your hearing helps ward off depression, decreases the chance of a serious fall or long hospital stay, and lowers the risk of dementia.

If that doesn’t convince you, then breakdown the outlay over several years and see what the new figure looks like. Remember that if you look after your hearing device, it should serve you for many years, so the purchase price is relatively small when you consider how much use you’ll get from the device over several years.

Isn’t it time you made up your own mind and make an investment in your hearing health?