Ever ask yourself “what would it really be like to wear 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 demonstration, 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 sound that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. It creates a sound loop that even modern speakers like those in hearing aids don’t know what to do with.
We’ve all heard this kind of feedback just before someone begins speaking into a microphone.
While this may sound terrible, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is correctly tuned. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this continues happening.
Some advanced hearing aids have a feedback cancellation system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Follow in a Noisy Setting
Going to a restaurant with the family can feel like eating dinner alone if you have neglected hearing loss. It’s nearly impossible to follow the conversations. You may end up sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But hearing aids nowadays have some really advanced technology that can drown out background noise. The voices of your family and the restaurant staff become crystal clear.
3. Sometimes it Gets a Bit Sticky
Your body has a way of telling you when something doesn’t belong. If you eat something too spicy hot, you produce more saliva to rinse it out. If you get something in your eye, you produce tears to wash your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
Earwax production.
So it’s no surprise that people who wear hearing aids often get to deal with wax buildup. Luckily, it’s only wax and it’s not a problem to clean the hearing aids. (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
This one might surprise you. When somebody develops hearing loss, it very slowly begins to affect brain function if they don’t have it treated as soon as possible.
One of the first things to go is the ability to comprehend the spoken language. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps slow this brain atrophy. They re-train your brain. Research shows that they can decrease mental decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of people had increased mental function, according to a study conducted by the AARP, after wearing hearing aids to manage their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Those little button batteries can be a bit challenging to manage. And these batteries seem to pick the worst time to lose power, like when you’re expecting a call from your doctor.
But many of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily solved. 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 choose a set of rechargeable hearing aids which are available nowadays. Just dock it on the charger at night. In the morning, simply put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid when you’re fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It’s a lot simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will certainly take some time.
It gradually gets better as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
People who have stayed the course and used their hearing aids for six months or more usually will say it’s all worth it.
Only actually using 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