About 17% of U.S. adults suffer from hearing loss, yet only 20% of those people seek treatment such as hearing aids. Even though hearing aids are a popular solution for multiple types of hearing loss, many people harbor negative feelings towards them, mainly due to false information.
In hopes of raising awareness and providing accurate information, we’d like to debunk the following common hearing aid myths:
- delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t a big deal
- my hearing loss isn’t that bad, so I don’t need a hearing aid
- your “good ear” will compensate for single-sided deafness
- wearing two hearing aids is unnecessary
- hearing aids allow people to hear perfectly
Hearing loss is commonly associated with aging and elders, so many sufferers think they can put off their hearing loss treatment for later. Unfortunately, doing so only makes the problem worse regardless of how mild it may be. Not only will your hearing decline if your hearing loss goes untreated, you also increase the chances of further medical issues like cognitive decline. Even if you feel your hearing loss is not severe, getting your hearing tested by an audiologist and starting treatment as soon as possible is the best long-term solution.
If you are suffering from unilateral hearing loss and believe your “good ear” will compensate for the hearing loss in the other, you are also contributing to the issue. Only hearing well in one ear leads to difficulty of certain sounds, struggling to know where sound is coming from, or not understanding speech when there is background noise. Even though your hearing loss seemingly only affects one ear, your audiologist may still recommend wearing two hearing aids. Humans naturally have binaural hearing, which is why having two hearing aids will provide the best, and most natural sounds.
Although hearing aids are extremely beneficial for many hearing loss patients, it is important for patients to understand what they provide. Hearing loss is irreversible so while hearing aids help improve hearing loss, they do not completely “cure” or restore hearing. Instead, they are custom-fit to meet your hearing needs and amplify sounds so you can hear better.
Now that you have correct information about hearing loss and hearing aids, it’s time to take control of your hearing health! If you are experiencing symptoms of hearing loss or have questions about hearing aids, contact New Generation Hearing Centers for a free consultation.