Ever ask yourself “what would it really 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 truly want to understand, come in for a demo.
1. Sometimes You Get Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when somebody 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 creating a high-pitched whistling sound. It causes a sound loop that even modern speakers like those in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal starts talking.
Though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Feedback can be eliminated, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner by yourself if you have neglected hearing loss. It’s virtually impossible to follow the conversations. You might end up sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking ability for background sound. They bring the voices of your children and the wait staff into crystal clarity.
3. It Gets a Little Sticky at Times
Your body has a way of letting you know when something doesn’t belong. If you eat something too spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to wash it out. You will generate tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears have their own way of getting rid of a nuisance.
Earwax production.
As a result of this, earwax accumulation can occasionally be a problem for individuals who wear hearing aids. It’s just wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Once you’re finished the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If someone starts to develop hearing loss it will gradually impact cognitive function as it progresses.
One of the first things to go is the ability to understand the spoken language. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a challenge.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by getting hearing aids sooner than later. They re-train your brain. They can slow and even reverse mental decline according to numerous studies. In fact, 80% of individuals had improved brain function, according to a study conducted by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Need to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a bit difficult to manage. And these batteries seem to pick the worst time to die, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily solved. There are methods you can use to substantially extend battery life. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, you can buy a pair of rechargeable hearing aids which are available now. At night, just put them on the charging unit. In the morning, simply put them back on. You can even get some hearing aids that have solar-powered charging docs so they will be available to you even if you are camping or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It isn’t as hard as learning to use a new computer. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to get used to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
The longer and more regularly you use hearing aids the better it gets. During this adjustment period, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Individuals who have stayed the course and used their hearing aids for six months or more typically will say it’s all worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to wear hearing aids. Isn’t it time to find out for yourself?
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html