Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are really like? What would your best friend say if you asked honest questions about what hearing aids sound like, what it feels like, and how they actually feel about wearing one? If you truly want to know what hearing aids are like, you should come in for a demo, but for now, continue reading for a summary of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
No, not the kind you might receive on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a whistling noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound produced by the speaker. It produces a sound loop that even advanced speakers like those in hearing aids don’t know what to do with.
They may squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
Even though this can be uncomfortable, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Some state-of-the-art hearing aids have a feedback cancellation system that identifies feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
Going to a restaurant with the family can seem like eating dinner alone if you have neglected hearing loss. Conversations are nearly impossible to follow. Most of the evening, you may find yourself just nodding and smiling.
But hearing aids today have some pretty advanced technology that can drown out background noise. They bring the voices of your children and the wait staff into crystal clearness.
3. At Times it Gets a Bit Sticky
Your body has a way of telling you when something shouldn’t be there. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you produce more saliva to wash it out. If you get something in your eye, you generate tears to flush your eye. Your ears also possess a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s not surprising that those who wear hearing aids frequently get to manage wax buildup. It’s just wax, luckily, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We’ll show you how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
This one might surprise you. When a person has hearing loss, it very slowly starts to impact cognitive function if they don’t get it treated as soon as possible.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become difficult.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by using hearing aids sooner than later. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, 80% of people had improved cognitive function, according to a study conducted by the AARP, after wearing hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Those tiny button batteries can be a bit difficult to deal with. 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 details of a story.
But simple solutions exist to reduce much of this perceived battery hassle. There are strategies you can use to significantly increase battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, you can purchase a set of rechargeable hearing aids which are available now. Just put it on the charger when you go to bed. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid when you’re fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It isn’t as difficult as learning to use a new computer. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take a little time.
It gradually gets better as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Throughout this adjustment time, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anybody who’s been using 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 find out, call us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html
