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 see us for a demonstration.
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. “Feedback “ is a high-pitched noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound produced by the speaker. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They may squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal speaks.
Even though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are properly tuned, it’s rare. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback cancellation system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Noisy Restaurant
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner alone if you have untreated hearing loss. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversations. Most of the evening, you may end up just nodding and smiling.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. Sometimes it Gets a Little Sticky
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of responding to it. Your body will create saliva if you eat something overly spicy. You will generate tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.
Earwax production.
So it’s not surprising that people who wear hearing aids frequently get to deal with wax buildup. It’s just wax, luckily, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll just put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
This one might surprise you. When somebody has hearing loss, it very gradually starts to impact cognitive function if they don’t have it treated as soon as possible.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to comprehend what people are saying. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a challenge.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by wearing hearing aids as soon as you can. Your brain gets re-trained. Studies show that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of individuals had improved brain function, according to research carried out by the AARP, after using hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. You Need to Replace The Batteries
Those tiny button batteries can be a little challenging to manage. And they seem to die at the worst times, like when you’re about to find out “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy particulars of a story.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily resolved. There are methods you can use to significantly increase battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, nowadays you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. At night, simply dock them on the charger. Put it back on in the morning. 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
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It’s a lot easier than learning to use a computer for the first time. But it definitely takes a little time for your brain to adjust to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
The longer and more regularly you wear hearing aids the better it gets. Try to be patient with yourself and your hearing aids during this transition.
Anyone who’s been wearing a set of hearing aids for six months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
Only actually using hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. If you want to figure it out, give us a call.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html