10 Common Misconceptions about Hearing Aids Debunked

There are many misconceptions about hearing aids that you might have come across when researching them. But you only need to read the great things people have to say to understand most of them aren’t true. So, here are some of the most common that you need to be aware of.

Calls Produce Feedback

Advancements in hearing aid technology have eliminated feedback, which is great considering the smartphone world in which we live. Today, hearing aids don’t produce feedback when using electronic devices, so you can make as many calls and play as many games as you like.

Home Testing is Impossible

An audiologist can help you adjust your hearing aid when you have it fitted, and this is essential for understanding the severity of your loss. But only can really test and configure your hearing aid in your natural environment. This is because there are lots of other sounds in your home or workplace that aren’t there in the quiet of a professional medical clinic. Therefore, it is vital that you learn to become familiar with your device and the sounds around you on a daily basis.

A Hearing Aid Doesn’t Help Tinnitus

While a hearing aid cannot get rid of tinnitus, there are devices that can vastly reduce your ear’s ability to hear it. They emit sounds on all the frequencies that your ear can hear and attenuate the sounds. Hearing aids help lessen the symptoms of tinnitus, with a masking feature.

Environmental Sounds are Louder

Today, hearing aids are much more controllable, and some have several settings. Modern models are designed to be comfortable to wear both for your physical ear shape and the comfort of what and how you hear. Today, you can adjust the volume much like how you can turn the sound of your TV up and down. There are also models that allow you to adjust individual frequencies to effectively tune out certain sounds.

Hearing Aids Whistle

Older devices did not process output signals very well, and this produced a whistling sound in your ear. Fortunately, these devices are long gone, and any unpleasant sounds or whistling can be easily removed with modern hearing aids. Modern devices actually come with feedback control, which allows you to remove the effects of feedback.

You Only Need One for Both Ears

Spatial sound awareness allows you to move around in relative safety because the brain processes audio in a way it knows the direction from where it is coming. However, this is reduced when you have hearing loss in both ears. Using two hearing aids help your brain localize the sounds in your environment so you know where they are coming from and can move safely as you go about your day.

Devices are Bulky

Hearing aids have long had a reputation for being bulky and ugly. But this is no longer the case. This is because they are a lot smaller than they used to be. Yet they are also made from materials such as clear plastic and are so small that you really need to look to see them.

Only the Elderly Need Them

This is perhaps the biggest misconception that most people have about hearing loss. Hearing loss does indeed affect mostly older people and usually begins in your 40s. However, people of all ages can begin to lose hearing for several reasons. This includes hobbies, lifestyle and genetics. Hearing loss is often slow and progressive, and you may not even realize it has happened until it begins to affect your life.

Hearing is Restored Right Away

Hearing aids will immediately begin to help you hear. However, your device needs to be attuned and adjusted to your specific case out of the box. This is because the sounds are processed by the device and your brain differently. Therefore, it takes some time to get used to it and to get the right settings.

You Don’t Need One

Almost everyone thinks they don’t need a hearing aid at first. But there are some things you need to look out for, such as muffled TV audio, missing what people are saying and not hearing high-pitched sounds properly. It can be hard to admit you need a hearing aid because it is a big decision to get one. However, your hearing loss will decline further if you don’t schedule an audiologist visit when you suspect you have hearing loss.

If you feel you need a hearing aid or feel a hearing test is necessary, you can learn more about at Audiologists Hearing Center. Call us today at (952) 206-4101. We can’t wait to hear from you.