Ever wish you could get the inside skinny on what hearing aids are truly like? How does a hearing aid feel when you have one on, what does it 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 need to come in for a demonstration, but for now, keep reading for an explanation of what you can expect.
1. Sometimes You Get Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when somebody tells you how what they think 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 creates a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
We’ve all heard this type of feedback right before somebody begins speaking into a microphone.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly tuned. If you’re encountering 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 suppression system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
Eating dinner out with the family can feel like eating dinner by yourself if you have neglected hearing loss. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversations. You might wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But hearing aids nowadays have some really sophisticated technology that can cancel out background noise. They bring the voices of your children and the wait staff into crystal clarity.
3. At Times it Gets a Bit Sticky
Your body has a way of letting you know when something doesn’t belong. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to wash it out. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you generate tears to flush your eye. Your ears have their own way of getting rid of a nuisance.
Earwax production.
Due to this, earwax buildup can occasionally be an issue for individuals who use hearing aids. It’s just wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t a problem. (We’ll show you how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will gradually affect cognitive function as it progresses.
Accurately understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a difficulty.
Getting hearing aids as soon as possible helps slow this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. They can slow and even reverse cognitive decline according to many studies. In fact, 80% of people had improved cognitive function, according to a study carried out by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Many people simply hate managing those tiny button batteries. And they seem to die 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 straight forward solutions exist to alleviate much of this perceived battery trouble. You can greatly extend battery life by employing the proper methods. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, today you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. When you go to bed, just dock them on the charging unit. In the morning, just put them back on. You can even get some hearing aids with solar-powered chargers so you can charge them even if you are camping or hiking.
6. You Will Have a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But it definitely takes a little time for your brain to adapt to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
It steadily improves as you continue to wear your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids during this transition.
Anybody who’s been using a set of hearing aids for 6 months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
Only actually wearing hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. If you want to find out, contact us.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html