Ever wish you could get the inside scoop on what hearing aids are really like? 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 need to come in for a demonstration, but for now, keep reading for a summary of what you can expect.
1. Occasionally You Get Feedback
No, not the kind you may get on a work evaluation. “Feedback “ is a whistling noise that a speaker makes when its microphone picks up the sound coming from the speaker. It causes a sound loop that even modern speakers like the ones in hearing aids don’t know how to handle.
They might squeal like a speaker in the school auditorium right before the principal speaks.
While this might sound mortifying, and it is unpleasant, it is rare when a hearing aid is properly tuned. You might need to re-fit or replace the earmolds if this keeps happening.
Feedback can be eliminated, in some more sophisticated hearing aids, by a built-in feedback cancellation system.
2. You Can Follow Conversations in a Noisy Restaurant
If you have neglected hearing loss, having dinner with your family or friends in a loud restaurant can feel like you’re eating by yourself. Conversations are nearly impossible to follow. You might find yourself sitting there, nodding and smiling most of the night.
But modern hearing aids have the advanced ability to block out background noise. They bring the voices of your family and the servers into crystal clearness.
3. At Times it Gets a Little Sticky
When something is not right, your body has a way of reacting to it. If you eat something overly spicy hot, you secrete more saliva to rinse it out. You will produce tears if something gets in your eye. Your ears have their own way of eliminating a nuisance.
They produce extra wax.
So it’s hardly surprising that individuals who wear hearing aids frequently get to manage the buildup of earwax. It’s just wax, fortunately, so cleaning it isn’t an issue. (We’ll show you how.)
Then you’ll simply put that hearing aid back in and start relishing your hearing again.
4. Your Brain Will Also Get The Benefit
This one may surprise you. When somebody has hearing loss, it very slowly begins to affect brain function if they don’t get it treated quickly.
One of the first things to go is the ability to understand the spoken language. Problem solving, learning new things, and memory will then become a big challenge.
This brain atrophy can be slowed by using hearing aids sooner than later. They re-train your brain. Studies show that they can decrease mental decline and even reverse it. As a matter of fact, 80% of individuals had improved brain function, according to research conducted by the AARP, after using hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.
5. You Have to Replace The Batteries
Those little button batteries can be a little challenging to manage. And these batteries seem to pick the worst time to die, like when you’re waiting for a call from your doctor.
But simple solutions exist to decrease much of this perceived battery hassle. You can substantially increase 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, today you can buy hearing aids that are rechargeable. At night, simply put them on the charger. In the morning, simply put them back on. There are also solar-powered hearing aid chargers so you can even recharge your hearing aid while out fishing. camping, or hiking.
6. You Will Experience a Learning Curve
The technology of modern-day hearing aids is rather sophisticated. It isn’t as hard as learning to operate a new computer. But it certainly takes a little time for your brain to adapt to new hearing aids and to get the settings right.
The longer and more regularly you wear hearing aids the better it gets. Try to be patient with yourself and the hearing aids throughout this transition.
Individuals who have stayed the course and used their hearing aids for six months or more usually will say it’s all worth it.
This is what it’s actually like to use hearing aids. Isn’t it time to find out for yourself?
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References
https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html