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Ask the Audiologist

Hearing Aids: Myth versus Fact

By Ali Carmichael, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

For some people hearing aids and hearing loss may seem like taboo topic of conversation. Here, at Audiology Consultants, we want to shed some light on some Hearing and Hearing Aid related myths.

MYTH: Hearing Aids Constantly Squeal

FACT: When many people think about hearing aids, they think about the devices their parents or grandparents wore. The technology in hearing aids have come a very long way in the last five to ten years to help better control feedback or squealing. Squealing occurs when sound leaks out of the ear canal and is caught by the hearing aid to be amplified again. With a properly fit hearing aid, feedback should not occur. If it does, it is a good idea to speak with your audiologist so they know to make the appropriate adjustments.

MYTH: Hearing Aids Make Everything Louder

FACT: After you have a hearing test and decide to move forward with hearing aids, you and your audiologist will work together to make sure hearing aids provide appropriate and comfortable sound. An audiologist is specially trained to program hearing aids based on your specific hearing test results. They will customize your programming and give access to the specific sound areas you are missing out on. Of course, there might be an adjustment period that may vary from person to person. Imagine sitting in a dark room. If someone suddenly turns on the lights, it will take time for your eyes to adjust. With new hearing aids, your brain needs time to process the new sounds you are hearing. If everything is too loud, communicate to your audiologist that you need additional time to adjust or adjustments to your programs.

MYTH: I Can Put Off Treatment

FACT: The phrase “if you don’t use it you lose it” is often associated with the treatment of hearing loss. Auditory deprivation, or going without optimal hearing for long periods, is more likely to occur the longer treatment is put off. In the case of auditory deprivation the ability to recognize speech decreases over time due to the lack of auditory stimulation. This is a big concern because once that ability to understand speech starts to decrease it is very difficult for the brain to relearn those processes.

MYTH: Hearing Aids Make your Hearing Worse

FACT: This myth stems from people that wear their hearing aids regularly but then struggle to hear when they forget to wear them for a day. In the opposite way of the previous myth, your brain has now become accustomed to hearing a full range of sounds through amplification and you have adjusted to a reduction in listening effort. It is not that your hearing has suddenly gotten worse. But, rather, you are not acclimated to hearing without amplification as you were before hearing aids.

MYTH: I Only Need One Hearing Aid

FACT: Many research studies have shown the benefits of binaural amplification, or the use of two hearing aids. These benefits include: better overall speech clarity, better localization (being able to tell sense of direction of sounds), stronger ability to understand speech in background noise, and more.

MYTH: Hearing Loss Is Normal For My Age

FACT: Although many people’s hearing loss progresses with age, hearing loss and age are not automatically related. According to the Cleveland Clinic only 1 in 3 adults over 65 and 1 in 2 adults over 75 have presbycusis (age related hearing loss). While that number may seem high, the most common cause of hearing loss is actually due to noise exposure without hearing protection (such as working around loud machinery or loud recreational activities). It is important to remember that even though hearing loss is common in old age, treatment of the hearing loss is still important. Many studies have shown the importance of early amplification and how it can help to maintain good word understanding, reduce listening fatigue, and provide quicker adjustment to hearing aids.

MYTH: Hearing Aids Will Make Me Look Old

FACT: Hearing aid manufacturers are constantly improving the overall appearance and style of hearing aids to make them more visually appealing. Over time hearing aids have gotten smaller and smaller while adding more advanced features such as rechargeable batteries and bluetooth streaming. While we associate hearing aids with people over 65 there are many younger individuals receiving treatment for hearing loss due to various reasons including: genetic factors, viral infections attacking the hearing system, chronic ear infections, noise exposure, or trauma to the ear.

If any of these myths have crossed your mind or you are interested in more information, please reach out to your local audiologist. They will be happy to educate you further on the topics of hearing loss treatment and prevention.

Ali Carmichael is an audiologist at Audiology Consultants, P.C.  For more information, call 800-404-7712 or visit audiologyconsultants.com to learn more about our four store locations in Moline, IL, Geneseo, IL, Muscatine, IA, and Davenport, IA.