Hearing aids are just noise!

We’ve all seen a disgruntled loved one rip their hearing aids out and slam them in a drawer out of frustration. “It’s just noise and everything is too loud,” they scream. Fear not, current hearing aid technology is digital and programmed to your unique hearing needs. Algorithms are designed to constantly analyze and filter the specific environments you frequent to always provide you the best signal-to-noise ratio, boosting your speech understanding while minimizing irritating background noise. We understand that audiology is both an art and a science, so we take time and careful consideration to tweak gain measurements for optimized hearing comfort. Static robust noise is from hearing aids of the past!

You lose hearing when you’re old

Although presbyacusis, known as age-related hearing loss, is a typical bother that would bring you into your office, let’s remove the stigma that hearing aids = being old. Many people are born with hearing loss and there is a whole pediatric audiology specialty. Furthermore, hearing loss due to age can actually begin as early as our 20s!Trauma, medications and noise exposure are just a few other examples of a reason you may become a hearing aid candidate. You know what does make you look old? NOT addressing your hearing needs and missing out on the punchline of a joke, unintentionally ignoring a waitress asking for your order, or misinterpreting your grandchild’s cry at the playground. I promise, you are not only helping your self, but you will bring joy and quality moments to everyone you encounter when you take care of your hearing!

Hearing aids are ugly

Some of us may remember the big boxy body aids that were worn decades ago, and the huge unattractive never-matched-skin-tone-beige hearing aids. However, with trendy earbuds and headset accessories on every corner, it seems everyone has something in their ears these days! So embrace the sleek style and fashionable colors and uncover the joy in today’s hearing aid market!

My hearing loss is no one else’s problem

You may want to suffer in silence, or face your degrading hearing all on your own, but I promise you that your friends and family want to support you. Hearing loss very much affects your whole social group’s quality of life, and can be frustrating for everyone around you. Don’t turn into the local curmudgeon when there is an exciting way to be an active party participant again!

It’s just hearing loss and it only affects my ability to hear

Unfortunately, there is a lot of research out there showing links between hearing loss, dementia, and other forms of cognitive decline. It’s true that if you don’t “use it you lose it”, and it is important to stimulate your auditory pathways through appropriate forms of amplification to keep those neurons firing! Just like moving your body to stay fit and limber, you need to work your brain to stay sharp… and hearing is a crucial part of mental health! There are a lot of other comorbidities associated with hearing loss as well, such as balance, safety, and localization. Since your inner ear has two functions – hearing and balance – you could be at a greater risk of fall if you have hearing loss. If your hearing loss is asymmetric, meaning different between the ears, you could have issues localizing sounds which is a big safety issue (which direction is that ambulance coming from, or where is that endangered cry located?). These are just a few examples of how your quality of life AND safety are affected by hearing loss

So….. was this helpful in uncovering some truths regarding your ears, hearing aids, and more?

If you are experiencing hearing loss or issues, please contact our office and schedule a free hearing evaluation. Call us (630) 357-5287, or email us at info@napervillehearing.com.