Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are truly like? 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 truly want to know what hearing aids are like, you need to come in for a demo, but for now, continue reading for an outline of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
No, not the type you may receive on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a high-pitched noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound produced by the speaker. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have sound loops created.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium just before the principal starts talking.
Even 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 continues happening.
Feedback can be removed, in some more advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. You Can Hear Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
If you suffer from untreated hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a noisy restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. It’s virtually impossible to keep up with the conversations. You may wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But today’s hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking capability for background sound. They bring the voices of your children and the wait staff into crystal clarity.
3. It Gets a Bit Sticky at Times
When something isn’t right, your body has a way of reacting to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you produce more saliva to rinse it out. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.
Earwax production.
Because of this, earwax accumulation can sometimes be an issue for people who use hearing aids. Luckily, it’s only wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We’ll teach you how.)
Then you’ll just put that hearing aid back in and begin enjoying your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
You might be surprised by this one. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will slowly affect cognitive function as it progresses.
Accurately understanding what people are saying is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and problem-solving become a difficulty.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by getting hearing aids as soon as you can. They re-train your brain. They can slow and even reverse cognitive decline according to many studies. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of individuals had improved 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 die, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily solved. You can greatly extend battery life by employing the right methods. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, currently you can buy rechargeable hearing aids. Just dock it on the charger when you go to bed. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid when you’re camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Have a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is quite advanced. It’s not as hard as learning to operate a new computer. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will certainly take a little 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.
Anybody who’s been wearing a set of hearing aids for 6 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 find out, contact us.
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html