Have you been wondering about hearing loss? People often put off addressing it for years despite issues connecting to the people in their everyday life at home and work. However, with education and better understanding we believe that you’ll feel more confident in understanding when it is time to act around hearing loss. We believe that there are no stupid questions—so ask away! The more you understand about hearing loss the more confident you’ll feel to seek the treatment and support you need to hear better in every aspect of your life.
Is there a cure for hearing loss?
The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural which is caused by damage to your inner ear, interrupting the signal of sound from your ears to your brain. Sensorineural hearing loss makes up 90 percent of all cases and is irreversible. The good news is that hearing aids can help. These tiny digital devices can be programmed to amplify the sounds you need to hear based on your latest hearing exam providing you with greater ease in communication, more understanding in your relationships, at work, and at play.
When will I start to hear better?
If you are trying hearing aids for the first time you may think that they will work like prescription eyeglasses. However, it will take your brain a moment to adjust to a life with hearing aids. While prescription eyeglasses will correct your vision immediately, your brain must reacquaint itself to hearing sounds it may have been missing for years. At first even the sound of your own voice or chewing may seem unnaturally loud. Give yourself some time to get used to hearing aids. At first wear them for a few hours at home and gradually work up to wearing them all the time in about two weeks.
Are hearing aids comfortable?
Ideally you will be wearing your hearing aids from the moment you wake up, till the time you rest again, only to be removed when bathing or swimming. This means that you will always be poised and ready for any sounds that come your way. Because you will be wearing your hearing aids nearly during nearly all of your waking hours, they have to have a comfortable fit. It can take time to fit the best fit for the best comfort and sound quality. That is why we encourage you to attend follow up visits to fine tune your fit and hearing aid programing. We are available online and in person to help you find the best fit for optimal comfort in hearing enhancement.
Do hearing aids give me perfect hearing?
Hearing aids lead the way in digital micro processing allowing us to tailor your hearing aid programing for your specific needs based on a wide range of hearing testing. This includes tests to determine your hearing threshold (the quietest sounds you can hear) and your ability to separate sound and speech in noise. Even with hearing aids, it may take extra focus to hear the noise. While we offer noise suppression features as well as directional microphones to help you follow a speaker in a crowd, it still will require extra focus at times to follow conversations. Fortunately, we have lots of experience, advice, and tips to help you and your loved ones communicate with greater ease.
What types of hearing aids are there, and which ones are best for you?
There are a lot of different styles of hearing aids for a wide range of needs around usage, amplification, and function. Here are some of the most common features with their most common benefits and downsides.
There are four main categories:
- In-the-ear (ITE): These custom molded hearing aids fit completely in the outer ear and are popular for providing comfort, power and a more discreet hearing aid experience.
- Behind the ear (BTE): This popular style is worn over the ear canal with a large portion behind the ear. Popular for providing power and accessibility for those with dexterity or vision issues, these are the go-to style for functionality and ease of use.
- In-the-canal (ITC): These are custom fit to fill inside the ear canal that allows sound to reach the eardrum and imitate natural hearing.
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC): This tiny hearing aid is popular for being so discreet no one will notice you are wearing them.
How long will hearing aids last?
Hearing aids do a lot of work every day; from the moment you wake up till the time you rest. This means they can get worn out over time. Most hearing aids last three to seven years. If you suspect it is time to update your hearing aids, don’t hesitate to contact us today to set up a hearing exam today.