Top 5 myths about hearing aids

(ARA) - Hearing aids have been proved to improve the quality of life of people around the world. Still, only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually purchases one. Consider the myths, and the facts, surrounding this tiny, yet amazing, technology.

Myth No. 1: Hearing aids are only for the elderly.

True, a gradual loss of hearing often occurs as people grow older. Age, however, is only one of many factors that contribute to hearing loss. Most experts agree that it is the experiences your ears have, rather than the age of them, that affect their functionality the most. Exposure to loud noises over time can be a huge factor in hearing loss. Each time your ears are exposed to a noise, the individual cells within the cochlea are prone to damage. Stress can also cause incremental damage to these cells. Recent studies have also linked some medications, such as antidepressants, to hearing loss.

Myth No. 2: If I needed a hearing aid, I would know it.

A common response of those reluctant to purchase hearing aids is that they can manage just fine without one. Many do not realize the extent to which their lives are affected by hearing loss. Just like anything else that gradually happens over time, you may not have an accurate perception of just how poorly you are able to hear sounds. There is also a misconception about what constitutes hearing loss. It is not just that you lose your ability to hear at certain volumes. Hearing loss also includes difficulty hearing particular pitches or frequencies. Trouble understanding children or women's voices, for example, may be a preliminary sign of hearing loss.

Myth No. 3: Hearing aids can restore my hearing to normal.

Hearing aids will not return your ability to hear, but rather, amplify the sounds you are unable to hear. In doing so, hearing aids will undoubtedly introduce you to a new world of sounds that will take some getting used to. View your hearing aid like a bicycle. It will take some time to learn how to use it properly. The audio and physical experience will take some getting used to. Many people even think their own voice sounds strange. But over time your listening skills will adapt to the amplification.

Myth No. 4: Hearing aids are large and uncomfortable.

A lot has changed about hearing aids since they were invented over a century ago. Many people have not seen the latest technological advances and designs that make hearing aids nearly invisible. "Completely-in-the-Canal" (CIC) instruments are available for many hearing losses, and these amazingly small hearing aids are so technologically advanced that they've made most old-fashioned hearing aids obsolete. Miracle-Ear offers a "nearly invisible" model that is virtually unnoticeable.

Myth No. 5: It's too expensive to get a really good hearing aid.

Hearing tests are free. The very best hearing aids available are well within the reach of most people. Any way you look at it, a hearing aid could be the best investment you can make.

Courtesy of ARAcontent