Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are truly like? What would your good friend say if you asked honest questions about what hearing aids sound like, what it feels like, and how they really feel about wearing one? If you really want to know what hearing aids are like, you need to come in for a demonstration, but for now, continue reading for an explanation of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Have Feedback
This isn’t the kind of feedback that you get when someone tells you how they feel about your results. “Feedback “ is a whistling sound that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They might 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. If you’re encountering it, the earmold might not be correctly fitted or you need to replace it.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that identifies feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
If you have neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can feel like you’re eating alone. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversations. Most of the night, you may end up just nodding and smiling.
But hearing aids nowadays have some really sophisticated 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 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 eliminating a nuisance.
Earwax production.
So it’s not surprising that people who wear hearing aids often get to manage the buildup of earwax. It’s only wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t a problem. (We’ll show you how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and begin enjoying your hearing again.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
You might be surprised by this one. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will gradually impact brain function as it progresses.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
This brain atrophy can be stopped in its tracks by wearing hearing aids sooner than later. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can decrease cognitive decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP revealed that 80% of individuals had increased cognitive function after managing their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Those tiny button batteries can be a little challenging to deal with. 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 most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily resolved. You can substantially increase battery life by implementing the right strategies. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, nowadays you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. When you go to bed, simply dock them on the charging unit. In the morning, just put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Have a Learning Curve
Today, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It’s much easier 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.
The longer and more consistently 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 pair of hearing aids for six 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, call us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html