Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to wear hearing aids”? 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 demonstration, but for now, continue reading for a summary of what you can expect.
1. Hearing Aids Sometimes Get Feedback
No, not the kind you may receive on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a whistling sound that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound produced by the speaker. It produces a sound loop that even advanced speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
We’ve all heard this type of feedback right before someone starts talking into a microphone.
Although this can be unpleasant, when hearing aids are correctly tuned, it’s rare. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback suppression system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. You Can Hear Conversations in a Loud Restaurant
If you have neglected hearing loss, eating dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. Conversations are almost impossible to follow. You may wind up sitting there, smiling and nodding 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 wait staff become crystal clear.
3. It Gets a Bit Sticky at Times
When something is not 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. You will produce tears if something gets into your eye. Your ears have their own way of getting rid of a nuisance.
They make extra wax.
As a result of this, earwax accumulation can sometimes be a problem for individuals who use hearing aids. Thankfully, it’s just wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We’ll teach you how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and begin enjoying your hearing again.
4. There Are Benefits For Your Brain
You might be surprised by this one. If somebody begins developing hearing loss it will slowly impact cognitive function as it progresses.
One of the first things to go is the ability to understand what people are saying. Solving problems, learning new things, and memory will then become difficult.
Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps slow this brain atrophy. Your brain gets re-trained. They can slow and even reverse mental decline according to numerous studies. In fact, 80% of people had increased mental function, according to a study carried out by the AARP, after using hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Have to be Replaced
Those tiny button batteries can be a bit challenging to manage. And they seem to die at the worst times, like when you’re about to find out “whodunnit” in a mystery movie, or just as your friend is telling you the juicy details of a story.
But simple solutions exist to alleviate much of this perceived battery trouble. You can significantly extend battery life by implementing the right strategies. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, nowadays 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 docks so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
The technology of modern hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It isn’t as hard as learning to use a new computer. But getting used to your new hearing aids will definitely take a little time.
It progressively gets better as you continue to wear your hearing aids. During this adjustment time, try to be patient with yourself and your new hearing aids.
Individuals who have stayed the course and worn their hearing aids for six months or more typically will say it’s all worth it.
Only actually wearing hearing aids can give you the experiencing of what they’re really like. 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