Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are actually like? What would your best friend say if you asked honest 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 truly want to know, come in for a demo.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Have Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when somebody tells you how they feel about your results. “Feedback “ is a whistling noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. It produces a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
They may squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
Though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. If you’re experiencing it, the earmold might not be properly fitted or you need to replace it.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Noisy Setting
If you have untreated hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a noisy restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversations. You may end up sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But hearing aids nowadays have some pretty advanced technology that can cancel out background noise. They bring the voices of your family and the servers into crystal clarity.
3. It Gets a Little Sticky Sometimes
When something is not right, your body has a way of responding to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to rinse it out. You will generate tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
Due to this, earwax buildup can occasionally be an issue for people who wear hearing aids. Fortunately, it’s only wax and it’s not a problem to clean the hearing aids. (We’ll show you how.)
Once you’re finished the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one may surprise you. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will gradually affect brain function as it progresses.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become challenging.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by getting hearing aids sooner than later. They re-train your brain. They can decrease and even reverse mental decline according to numerous studies. As a matter of fact, 80% of people had increased cognitive function, according to research conducted by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. You Need to Replace The Batteries
Those little button batteries can be a bit difficult to deal with. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to lose power, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily solved. You can greatly extend battery life by implementing the proper strategies. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, nowadays you can buy hearing aids that are rechargeable. When you go to bed, just put them on the charging unit. 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. You Will Have a Learning Curve
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is quite sophisticated. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will certainly take some time.
It progressively improves as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and your hearing aids throughout this transition.
People who have stayed the course and worn their hearing aids for six months or more typically will say it’s all worth it.
Only actually wearing hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. Isn’t it time to learn for yourself?
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html