Ever ask yourself “what would it truly be like to wear hearing aids”? What would your good friend say if you asked honest questions about what hearing aids sound like, what it feels like, and how they really feel about wearing one? 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. At Times You Get Feedback
No, not the type you might get on a work evaluation. When a microphone and a speaker detect each other’s signal, they interfere with each other resulting in a high-pitched screeching sound. Even modern microphone and speaker systems can have sound loops created.
We’ve all heard this type of feedback right before somebody starts talking into a microphone.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly maintained. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Feedback can be removed, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback suppression system.
2. Conversations Are Easier to Hear in a Loud Setting
If you suffer from neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a noisy restaurant can seem like you’re eating by yourself. Conversations are virtually impossible to follow. You may wind up sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But modern hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. The voices of your family and the restaurant 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 too spicy hot, you produce more saliva to rinse it out. If you get something in your eye, you generate tears to flush your eye. Your ears have their own way of removing a nuisance.
Earwax production.
So it’s hardly surprising that those who wear hearing aids often get to manage the buildup of earwax. It’s just wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We can help you learn how.)
Then you’ll simply 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. If somebody starts to develop hearing loss it will slowly affect brain function as it progresses.
One of the first things you lose is the ability to comprehend the spoken language. Solving problems, learning new things, and memory will then become challenging.
Getting hearing aids sooner than later helps stop this brain atrophy. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. In fact, 80% of individuals had improved cognitive function, according to a study carried out by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. You Need to Replace The Batteries
Those tiny button batteries can be a little challenging to deal with. 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 details of a story.
But most of the perceived challenges with these batteries can be easily resolved. You can substantially extend battery life by implementing the correct strategies. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, nowadays you can purchase hearing aids that are rechargeable. 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 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 hearing aids is quite sophisticated. It’s a lot simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But getting used to your new hearing aids will definitely take a little time.
It gradually improves as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and your hearing aids throughout this transition.
People who have stayed the course and worn their hearing aids for six months or more usually 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 find out for yourself?
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html