Ever ask yourself “what would it truly be like to use hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you’re wearing one, 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? Here’s a description of what hearing aids are like, but if you really want to know, come see us for a demonstration.
1. Hearing Aids Sometimes Get Feedback
No, not the type you might receive on a work evaluation. When a microphone and a speaker pick up each other’s signal, they interfere with each other causing a high-pitched screeching sound. It produces a sound loop that even advanced speakers like those 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 may sound terrible, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly maintained. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Feedback can be removed, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback suppression system.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner by yourself if you have untreated hearing loss. Conversations are almost impossible to keep up with. You may wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But modern hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking ability for background sound. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. It Gets a Bit Sticky at Times
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of responding to it. Your body will make saliva if you eat something overly spicy. You will generate tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears have their own way of getting rid of a nuisance.
They create extra wax.
Due to this, earwax accumulation can sometimes be a problem for individuals who wear hearing aids. It’s just wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and start relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If somebody begins developing hearing loss it will slowly affect cognitive function as it progresses.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to understand the spoken language. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
Getting hearing aids as soon as possible helps slow this brain atrophy. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of people had increased mental function, according to a study carried out by the AARP, after using hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those tiny button batteries can be a little difficult to manage. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to lose power, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be quickly resolved. You can significantly increase battery life by implementing the proper strategies. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, nowadays you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. Just place it on the charger at night. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid when you’re camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is quite advanced. 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 adjust to new hearing aids and to get the configurations right.
The longer and more routinely you use hearing aids the better it gets. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Anybody who’s been wearing a pair of hearing aids for six months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to use hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, call us.
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html