Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to use hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you’re wearing one, 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 really want to know what hearing aids are like, you should come in for a demo, but for now, keep reading for an outline of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Sometimes Have Feedback
This isn’t the type of feedback that you get when someone 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 whistling 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 starts talking.
Even though this can be uncomfortable, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You may 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. You Can Hear Conversations in a Noisy Restaurant
If you have untreated hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can seem like you’re eating alone. Conversations are virtually impossible to follow. Most of the evening, you might end up just nodding and smiling.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking capability for background sound. 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 shouldn’t be there. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you produce more saliva to rinse it out. You will generate tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears also possess a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s hardly surprising that individuals who wear hearing aids often get to deal with the buildup of earwax. Fortunately, it’s just wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We can help you learn how.)
Once you’re done the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If someone starts to develop hearing loss it will slowly impact cognitive function as it progresses.
Accurately understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Solving problems, learning new things, and memory will then become challenging.
This brain atrophy can be stopped in its tracks by using hearing aids sooner than later. They re-train your brain. Research shows that they can slow down cognitive decline and even reverse it. In fact, one study conducted by AARP revealed that 80% of people had increased cognitive function after managing their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Many individuals simply hate dealing with those little button batteries. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to lose power, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily solved. There are methods you can use to substantially 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 nowadays. When you go to bed, just dock them on the charging unit. Put it back on in the morning. 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 Have a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have advanced technology. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But getting used to your new hearing aids will certainly take some time.
The longer and more consistently you use hearing aids the better it gets. Throughout this adjustment time, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anyone who’s been wearing a set of hearing aids for six months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to wear hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, call us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html