Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are really like? How does a hearing aid feel when you have one on, 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? If you truly want to know what hearing aids are like, you should come in for a demo, but for now, continue reading for a description of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Have Feedback
No, not the kind you may get on a work evaluation. When a microphone and a speaker pick up each other’s signal, they interfere with each other creating a high-pitched whistling sound. It creates a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal speaks.
While this might sound terrible, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly maintained. If you’re encountering it, the earmold may not be correctly fitted or you need to replace it.
Feedback can be removed, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
If you have untreated hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can feel like you’re eating alone. It’s virtually impossible to follow the conversations. You may find yourself sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking ability for background sound. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. At Times it Gets a Bit Sticky
When something is not right, your body has a way of responding to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you produce more saliva to wash it out. You will make tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears also possess a defense system of their own.
They make extra wax.
So it’s no surprise that people who wear hearing aids often get to deal with the buildup of earwax. It’s just wax, luckily, so cleaning it isn’t a problem. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
You may be surprised by this one. If somebody starts to develop hearing loss it will gradually impact brain function as it progresses.
Accurately understanding spoken language is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and solving problems become challenging.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by using hearing aids as soon as you can. They re-train your brain. Research shows that they can decrease cognitive decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of individuals had increased cognitive 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
Many individuals simply hate managing those tiny button batteries. And they seem to run out of juice at the worst times, like when you’re about to hear “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy details of a story.
But simple solutions exist to alleviate much of this perceived battery trouble. There are methods you can use to greatly increase 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 nowadays. Just place it on the charger at night. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It isn’t as difficult as learning to use a new computer. 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 use hearing aids the better it gets. During this adjustment time, 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 usually will say it’s all worth it.
Only actually using hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. If you want to find out, give us a call.
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html