Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to wear 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 really feel about wearing one? Here’s a description of what hearing aids are like, but if you truly want to know, come in for a demo.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Have Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when somebody tells you how they feel about your performance. When a microphone and a speaker detect each other’s signal, they interfere with each other creating a high-pitched screeching sound. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have a sound loop created.
They may squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal speaks.
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 continues happening.
Feedback can be eliminated, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback suppression system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Noisy Setting
Going to a restaurant with the family can seem like eating dinner by yourself if you have untreated hearing loss. Conversations are virtually impossible to keep up with. You may end up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But modern hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. They bring the voices of your family and the servers into crystal clarity.
3. At Times it Gets a Little Sticky
Your body has a way of letting you know when something doesn’t belong. Your body will produce saliva if you eat something overly spicy. You will produce 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 occasionally be an issue for people who use hearing aids. It’s just wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and begin relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
You may be surprised by this one. When somebody develops hearing loss, it very slowly begins to impact brain function if they don’t get it treated quickly.
Fully understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and solving problems become a difficulty.
Getting hearing aids as soon as possible helps stop this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. Research shows that they can decrease cognitive decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of individuals had increased mental 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
Those little button batteries can be a little difficult to deal with. And they seem to run out of juice 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 details of a story.
But simple solutions exist to decrease much of this perceived battery trouble. You can substantially extend 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, today you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. When you go to bed, simply put them on the charging unit. In the morning, just put them back on. You can even get some hearing aids that have solar-powered charging docs so they will be available to you even if you are camping or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
Today, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It isn’t as difficult as learning to operate a new computer. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take some time.
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.
People who have stayed the course and worn their hearing aids for six months or more usually will say it’s all worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to wear hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, give us a call.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html
