Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to use hearing aids”? What would your best friend say if you asked candid 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 really want to know, come see us for a demo.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
This isn’t the kind 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 produced by the speaker. It creates a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know what to do with.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal speaks.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly maintained. If you’re experiencing it, the earmold might not be properly fitted or you need to replace it.
Feedback can be removed, in some more advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
If you suffer from neglected hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. Conversations are virtually impossible to keep up with. You might wind up sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. They bring the voices of your children and the servers into crystal clarity.
3. At Times it Gets a Bit Sticky
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of responding to it. If you eat something too spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to rinse it out. You will make tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears have their own way of removing a nuisance.
Earwax production.
Due to this, earwax accumulation can sometimes be a problem for individuals who use hearing aids. It’s only wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t a problem. (We’ll show you how.)
Then you’ll just put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
You might be surprised by this one. If someone starts to develop hearing loss it will slowly impact cognitive function as it progresses.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things you lose. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become challenging.
Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps stop this brain atrophy. Your brain gets re-trained. Studies show that they can slow down cognitive decline and even reverse it. 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 Have to be Replaced
Many people 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 particulars of a story.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily resolved. You can significantly extend battery life by employing the right methods. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, currently you can buy rechargeable hearing aids. At night, just dock them on the charging unit. 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 camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is rather advanced. It isn’t as hard as learning to use a new computer. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take some time.
The longer and more routinely you wear hearing aids the better it gets. Throughout this adjustment time, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anybody who’s been wearing a pair of hearing aids for 6 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 find out, contact us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html
