Ever ask yourself “what would it truly be like to use hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you have one on, 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 demonstration, but for now, keep reading for an outline of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Get Feedback
This isn’t the kind of feedback that you get when someone tells you how they feel about your results. When a microphone and a speaker detect each other’s signal, they interfere with each other creating a high-pitched screeching sound. It causes a sound loop that even modern speakers like those in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
We’ve all heard this kind of feedback just before someone begins talking into a microphone.
Although this can be uncomfortable, when hearing aids are properly tuned, it’s rare. If you’re experiencing it, the earmold might not be correctly fitted or you need to replace it.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback cancellation system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Noisy Restaurant
Going to a restaurant with the family can seem like eating dinner by yourself if you have neglected hearing loss. Conversations are virtually impossible to follow. You may wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding most of the night.
But modern hearing aids have the advanced noise blocking capability for background sound. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.
3. At Times it Gets a Little Sticky
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 generate tears to wash your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
They create extra wax.
Because of this, earwax accumulation can occasionally be an issue for individuals who wear hearing aids. It’s only wax, thankfully, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Once you’re finished the cleaning you’re quickly back in business.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If somebody begins developing hearing loss it will slowly impact brain function as it progresses.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to understand what people are saying. Solving problems, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
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 mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP revealed that 80% of individuals had increased cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.
5. You Need to Replace The Batteries
Those little button batteries can be a bit difficult to deal with. And they seem to die at the worst times, like when you’re about to hear “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy details of a story.
But most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily resolved. There are methods you can use to significantly extend battery life. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, you can buy 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. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Nowadays, hearing aids have sophisticated technology. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will certainly take a little time.
It gradually gets better as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Throughout this adjustment period, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Anybody who’s been using 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 find out, contact us.
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html