Ever wish you could get the inside skinny on what hearing aids are really like? How does a hearing aid feel when you have one on, what is the 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 should come in for a demo, but for now, continue reading for an explanation of what you can expect.
1. At Times You Get Feedback
No, not the type you may get on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a high-pitched noise 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.
We’ve all heard this type of feedback right before someone begins speaking into a microphone.
Though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps 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
If you suffer from neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can seem like you’re eating alone. Conversations are almost impossible to follow. Most of the night, you may end up just nodding and smiling.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. They bring the voices of your children and the servers 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. Your body will create saliva if you eat something too spicy. You will make tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
They generate extra wax.
So it’s no surprise that people who wear hearing aids often get to manage wax buildup. It’s only wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We’ll show you how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back in business.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one may surprise you. If somebody begins developing hearing loss it will gradually impact cognitive function as it progresses.
One of the first things to go is the ability to comprehend the spoken language. Solving problems, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by wearing hearing aids as soon as you can. Your brain gets re-trained. Studies show that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. In fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of people had increased cognitive function after managing their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Need to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a little challenging to deal with. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to die, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But straight forward solutions exist to reduce much of this perceived battery trouble. There are methods you can use to significantly increase battery life. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, you can choose a set of rechargeable hearing aids which are available nowadays. Just put it on the charger at night. Put it back on in the morning. You can even get some hearing aids that have solar-powered chargers so you can charge them even if you are hiking or camping.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It’s much easier than learning to use a computer for the first time. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to adapt to new hearing aids and to get the configurations right.
The longer and more routinely you wear hearing aids the better it gets. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Anybody who’s been using a pair of hearing aids for 6 months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
Only actually using hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. If you want to figure it out, give us a call.
Call Today to Set Up an Appointment
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html