Ever ask yourself “what would it actually be like to use hearing aids”? How does a hearing aid feel when you have one on, 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 should 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 might get on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a whistling noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound produced by 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 type of feedback right before someone starts talking into a microphone.
While this might sound terrible, and it is uncomfortable, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly tuned. You may need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Some state-of-the-art hearing aids have a feedback cancellation system that recognizes feedback and stops it in its tracks.
2. You Can Hear Conversations in a Noisy Restaurant
If you have neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a noisy restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the conversations. Most of the evening, you might wind up just nodding and smiling.
But hearing aids nowadays have some pretty sophisticated technology that can cancel out background noise. The voices of your family and the restaurant staff become crystal clear.
3. It Gets a Little Sticky at Times
Your body has a way of telling you when something shouldn’t be there. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to rinse it out. You will generate tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears also have a defense system of their own.
They make extra wax.
As a result of this, earwax buildup can occasionally be an issue for individuals who use hearing aids. Luckily, it’s only wax and it’s not a big deal to clean the hearing aids. (We can help you learn how.)
Once you’re finished the cleaning you’re quickly back to good hearing.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one might surprise you. If someone begins developing hearing loss it will gradually affect 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 a big challenge.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by getting hearing aids sooner than later. Your brain gets re-trained. Research shows that they can slow down mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, 80% of individuals had increased brain function, according to a study conducted by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. The Batteries Need to be Replaced
Many individuals simply hate managing those tiny button batteries. And they seem to die 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 particulars of a story.
But simple solutions exist to decrease much of this perceived battery hassle. You can substantially increase battery life by using the proper methods. The batteries are small and inexpensive, so it’s easy to carry an extra set in your wallet.
Or, you can buy a set of rechargeable hearing aids which are available nowadays. Just put 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 while out camping, fishing, or hiking.
6. There’s a Learning Curve
Today, hearing aids have advanced technology. It’s much simpler than learning to use a computer for the first time. But adjusting to your new hearing aids will definitely take a little time.
It progressively gets better as you keep wearing your hearing aids. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Anybody who’s been wearing a pair of hearing aids for 6 months or more will tell you that it’s 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?
References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html