4 Common Myths About Hearing Loss

It is not a secret that the prevalence of hearing loss in the United States is on the rise. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, there are approximately 48 million people in the United States who experience some form of hearing loss. As the number of people who need hearing aids grows, an increasing number of people are looking for information about hearing aids.

It’s unfortunate that there is a lot of misinformation floating around about hearing aids, but you can find it online. This article on my blog will debunk four common misconceptions that individuals have regarding hearing aids.

Hearing Aids Can Make Natural Sounds Mechanical

This is probably the misconception about hearing aids that is held by the greatest number of people. It’s a common misconception that wearing hearing aids will make your voice sound mechanical and unnatural. On the contrary, this is true! In point of fact, modern hearing aids are designed to amplify any and all sounds that are normally audible to us. This ensures that they won’t alter the sound of your voice to make it sound fake or robotic.

In addition, many modern hearing aids come equipped with specialized features that can help block out ambient noise. Some hearing aids, for instance, are equipped with directional microphones that zero in on the sounds that the wearer wants to hear while simultaneously decreasing the volume of the ambient noise. Don’t be concerned, as no one in your circle of friends or family will be able to tell that you’re sporting a hearing aid!

I Won’t Be Able to Participate In Any of My Favorite Activities

People are concerned that if they purchase hearing aids, they will no longer be able to engage in the activities that bring them the most joy. This is yet another fabrication! In point of fact, modern hearing aids are designed to be extremely versatile and can be put to a wide variety of applications. For instance, there are many different kinds of hearing aids that are specifically designed for athletes.

Because these hearing aids are designed to be water-resistant, you can wear them while engaging in activities such as swimming or playing sports. Hearing aids come in a wide variety of styles and models, and each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Don’t worry about it; the fact that you wear a hearing aid does not mean that you have to give up doing the things that you enjoy the most.

Hearing Aids Are Cumbersome and Uncomfortable Devices

Hearing aids used to be notoriously cumbersome, uncomfortable and in some cases even painful to wear. Those days are thankfully long gone. The majority of modern electronics are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, lightweight and unobtrusive in their operation. In addition to this, they are very efficient while simultaneously providing a high level of comfort. Hearing aids are available in a wide variety of styles, so it should not be difficult for you to locate one that is suitable for your requirements if you take the time to investigate these options.

Hearing Aids Aren’t for Me

It is much more convenient to ignore a hearing loss in some frequency ranges but not in others. Having even a slight hearing loss, however, can have a negative impact on your cognitive ability, career and home life, as well as your social life. Hearing loss can be cured, and the patient’s brain will be able to retrain itself to hear normally as a result of the brain’s neuroplasticity.

Hearing aid users have been shown to have improved attitudes and moods, increased independence and freedom, improved communication skills and increased involvement in social activities.

Your hearing loss will become more difficult to treat the longer you wait to get treatment for it. Your brain will stop recognizing sounds once its auditory system is no longer stimulated, which will cause it to lose this ability. Because of this, people who have hearing loss but put off getting hearing aids may discover that the devices do not help as much as they could have otherwise.

The days are long gone when one could only choose between a limited number of hearing styles using a limited color palette. The technology behind hearing aids has come a long way in recent years, and as a result, patients now have access to a diverse selection of covert models, including those with a receiver in the canal and those that are nearly undetectable.

Hearing aids, despite their ability to amplify sounds, have superior sound processing and noise reduction technologies that are designed to adapt to the environment in which the wearer is situated. Your hearing aids can provide adequate amplification to allow you to enjoy a variety of activities comfortably, whether you’re at a loud outdoor music festival or simply observing TV at home. This will allow you to make the most of your time.

If you would like to know more contact Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids at (605) 610-3466.