Hearing Aids
Myths and Facts
Myth: Hearing aids restore hearing to normal just as an eyeglass prescription can restore vision to "20/20".
Fact: Hearing aids do not restore hearing to "normal". Just as eyeglasses do not "cure" your vision problem, hearing aids do not "cure" your hearing loss. Like eyeglasses, hearing aids provide benefit and improvement. They can improve your hearing and listening abilities and they can substantially improve your quality of life.
Myth: You can save money by buying hearing aids on-line or by mail order.
Fact: Beware of mail order or on-line hearing aid sales. By working with an audiologist, you are purchasing professional care and service including appropriate evaluation, referral for medical treatment if and when necessary, instruction in how to use the hearing aid, follow-up care and support, repair services, and rehabilitation services.
Myth: A hearing aid will damage your hearing.
Fact: A properly fitted and maintained hearing aid will not damage your hearing.
Myth: Your hearing loss is not bad enough for a hearing aid.
Fact: Everyone's hearing loss and listening needs are different. By working with your audiologist, you can determine how much a hearing aid will improve your hearing.
Myth: Your hearing loss is not bad enough for two hearing aids.
Fact: We normally hear with two ears. Binaural hearing helps us localize sounds, assists us in noisy settings, and provides natural sound quality. Most people with hearing loss in both ears can understand better with two aids than with one.
Myth: The invisible hearing aids worn in the ear are the best hearing aids to purchase.
Fact: There are several styles of hearing aids and all are "state-of-the-art." What is most important is that you purchase a hearing aid that accommodates your hearing loss and your listening needs. Just because your friend uses a particular hearing aid style does not mean you have to use that style. Your friend's style of hearing aid may be a totally inappropriate prescription for your needs.
Self Test
The following questions will help you determine if you have
a hearing loss and need to have your hearing evaluated:
- Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
- Do you hear better on one ear than the other
when you are on the telephone? - Do you have trouble following the conversation with two or more people are talking at the same time?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
- Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
- Do you have trouble hearing in restaurants?
- Do you have dizziness, pain, or ringing in your ears?
- Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
- Do family members or co-workers remark about you missing what has been said?
- Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond
inappropriately? - Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
- Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?
If you have answered yes to more than two of these questions, you should have your hearing tested by a certified audiologist.