Ever ask yourself “what would it really be like to use hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you’re wearing one, what does it 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, keep reading for an outline of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Sometimes Have Feedback
This isn’t the kind of feedback that you get when somebody tells you how they feel about your performance. When a microphone and a speaker pick up each other’s signal, they interfere with each other creating a high-pitched whistling sound. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have sound loops created.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal speaks.
Though this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are properly 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 advanced hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
If you suffer from neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a noisy restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the conversations. You might end up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But hearing aids nowadays have some pretty sophisticated technology that can cancel out background noise. They bring the voices of your family and the servers into crystal clarity.
3. Sometimes it Gets a Bit Sticky
When something is not right, your body has a way of reacting to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to rinse it out. You will generate tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.
They produce extra wax.
As a result of this, earwax buildup can occasionally be an issue for individuals who wear hearing aids. It’s only wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We’ll show 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. When somebody has hearing loss, it very gradually begins to affect cognitive function if they don’t get it treated as soon as possible.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to comprehend what people are saying. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become challenging.
This brain atrophy can be stopped in its tracks by wearing hearing aids sooner than later. They re-train your brain. They can decrease and even reverse cognitive decline according to numerous studies. In fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of individuals had increased cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those little button batteries can be a little difficult to manage. And these batteries seem to choose the worst time to lose power, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But simple solutions exist to alleviate much of this perceived battery trouble. There are methods you can use to significantly extend battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.
Or, today you can buy hearing aids that are rechargeable. At night, just put them on the charging unit. In the morning, simply put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have advanced technology. It’s not as hard as learning to use a new computer. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to get used to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
It steadily improves as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Throughout this adjustment time, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anyone who’s been using 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 use hearing aids. Isn’t it time to learn for yourself?
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html