It’s time to set the record straight about hearing aids. Hearing technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and hearing loss is poorly understood. As a result, we find there are many misconceptions about hearing aids that are either outdated or completely untrue. As hearing health professionals, we feel compelled to debunk some of these common myths.
1: Hearing Aids Are for Old People
This stigma is untrue and keeps many people from considering that they need help. It is true that presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is the most common type of hearing loss, but ultimately, hearing loss can affect anyone at any age. In fact, hearing loss is on the rise among young adults and teens.
2: Hearing Aids Are Only for People Who Are Deaf or Have Severe Hearing Loss
There are different degrees of hearing loss: mild, moderate, severe or profound. A hearing test will diagnose the degree. Contrary to what you may believe, even mild and moderate cases of hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. They can strengthen your communication abilities and lessen the cognitive load of listening, as well as slow the progression of hearing loss.
3: Hearing Aids are Large and Uncomfortable
One of the biggest advancements in hearing technology is in design. While hearing aids of old may have been blocky and heavy, modern hearing aids are sleek and discreet, with some fitting entirely in the ear canal, rendering them almost invisible, and others resting snugly behind the ear, hidden from view. Manufacturers prioritize designing comfortable, discreet devices for patients.
4: Hearing Aids Just Make Everything Louder
Modern hearing aids, especially prescription hearing aids (more on these in a minute), are attuned to your hearing needs and amplify the pitches that you struggle to hear. They use sophisticated digital processors to filter sounds, and from there they amplify only the pitches you need help with and even suppress—not amplify—distracting background noise.
5: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Just as Good as Prescription Hearing Aids
An audiologist programs prescription hearing aids to meet your exact hearing needs. If you have high-frequency hearing loss, they’ll amplify the high pitches; if you have cookie-bite hearing loss, they’ll amplify the mid-range pitches, and so on. Prescription hearing aids will also have the power levels you need to get the amplification necessary to hear those pitches.
Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids can help some people, but they lack the customization abilities of prescription hearing aids. It would be like using drugstore reading glasses as your primary vision aid.
Why It Matters
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for myths and stigmas like the above to discourage people who need help with their hearing from seeking help. But delaying hearing loss treatment can have significant ripple effects on your overall quality of life, from physical health to mental health to social connection to personal independence.
We feel strongly about helping people who need it. If you’re ready to get help with your hearing, contact us at Waterville Audiology today to make an appointment.