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Two women talking about what hearing aids are really like while having coffee at a table.

Ever wish you could get the inside skinny 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? Here’s a description of what hearing aids are like, but if you really want to know, come see us for a demonstration.

1. Hearing Aids Occasionally Have Feedback

This isn’t the kind of feedback that you get when somebody tells you how what they think about your results. “Feedback “ is a whistling noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. It causes a sound loop that even modern speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.

We’ve all heard this type of feedback right before someone begins speaking into a microphone.

Even though this can be uncomfortable, when hearing aids are properly tuned, it’s rare. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.

Some state-of-the-art hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that identifies feedback and stops it in its tracks.

2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Loud Restaurant

If you suffer from neglected 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. Most of the night, you may wind up just nodding and smiling.

But hearing aids nowadays have some really sophisticated technology that can drown out background noise. The voices of your family and the wait staff become crystal clear.

3. At Times it Gets a Bit Sticky

When something is not right, your body has a way of responding to it. Your body will create saliva if you eat something too spicy. You will produce tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.

They create extra wax.

Due to this, earwax accumulation can occasionally be a problem for people who wear hearing aids. Fortunately, it’s just wax and it’s not a problem to clean the hearing aids. (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 may 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 you lose. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become difficult.

Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps stop this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. They can decrease and even reverse cognitive decline according to many studies. As a matter of fact, one study reported by AARP revealed that 80% of individuals had improved cognitive function after treating their hearing loss.

5. You Need to Replace The Batteries

Those tiny button batteries can be somewhat challenging to manage. And these batteries seem to pick the worst time to die, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.

But most of the perceived difficulties with these batteries can be quickly resolved. There are strategies you can use to greatly increase battery life. It’s not hard to bring an extra set because these batteries are inexpensive and small.

Or, currently you can purchase rechargeable hearing aids. Just put it on the charger when you go to bed. In the morning, just put them back on. You can even get some hearing aids with solar-powered charging docs so they will be available to you even if you are hiking or camping.

6. There’s a Learning Curve

The technology of modern hearing aids is quite advanced. It isn’t as hard as learning to operate a new computer. But it definitely takes a little time for your brain to adjust to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.

It progressively improves as you keep wearing your hearing aids. During this adjustment time, 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 use hearing aids. If you want to figure it out, give us a call.

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment



References

https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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