Ever ask yourself “what would it truly be like to use hearing aids”? What would your good friend say if you asked candid questions about what it sounds like, what it feels like, and how they actually feel about wearing one? 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 a summary of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Sometimes Have Feedback
No, not the type you might get 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.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly maintained. If you’re experiencing it, the earmold may not be correctly fitted or you need to replace it.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that identifies feedback and stops it in its tracks.
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 feel like you’re eating alone. It’s nearly impossible to follow the conversations. You may find yourself sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But hearing aids today have some pretty advanced technology that can drown out background noise. The voices of your family and the restaurant staff become crystal clear.
3. It Gets a Little Sticky at Times
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 wash it out. If you get an eyelash in your eye, you produce tears to flush your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s hardly surprising that people who wear hearing aids often get to deal with wax buildup. 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. When somebody develops hearing loss, it very gradually begins to affect brain function if they don’t have it treated quickly.
Fully understanding spoken language is one of the first things to go. Then memory, learning new things, and solving problems become challenging.
This brain atrophy can be stopped in its tracks by wearing hearing aids as soon as you can. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can decrease mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP showed that 80% of people had improved cognitive function after managing their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Many individuals simply hate managing those little button batteries. And they seem to run out of juice 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 particulars of a story.
But many of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be easily resolved. You can substantially extend battery life by implementing the right methods. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, you can purchase a pair of rechargeable hearing aids which are available now. Just place it on the charger when you go to bed. Put it back on in the morning. There are also solar-powered hearing aid docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Have a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is rather advanced. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely 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 pair of hearing aids for six months or more will tell you that it’s worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to use hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, call us.
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html