While more than 48 million Americans experience hearing loss, only 20 of those who could benefit from a hearing aid actually use one. This may be because of the abundance of misinformation being passed around as fact.
Below is a breakdown of hearing aid facts as well as those that are just plain fiction.
Fiction: My Hearing Loss Can’t Be Treated
Many are told that there is no treatment for hearing loss. While most cases of hearing loss are irreversible, that does not mean there is nothing that can done to improve your hearing.
According to the Better Hearing Institute, 95 percent of Americans with hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. The digital hearing aids available today can provide amplification for a wide range of hearing loss, from mild to severe.
Fiction: Someone Would Tell Me if I Needed Hearing Aids
When you go in for your yearly physical exam, it is natural to assume your primary care physician reviews every aspect of your health. But it turns out, only 23 percent of adults reported that they had a hearing screening during their most recently physical. That means many patients with hearing loss have no idea they are missing out on sounds.
Fiction: Hearing Aids Are Too Complicated
While hearing aids are complex electronic devices, they are still user friendly. These devices should be worn every day and are designed to seamlessly integrate into your life.
Hearing aids are able to automatically distinguish speech from noise, determine sound direction and even adjust to fit your sound environment. Once your hearing aid has been programmed and fit to your ear, there is nothing left for you to do but clean the device and keep it safe.
Fiction: Hearing Aids Will Make Me Look Old
Hearing aids have a long history of being bulky and unattractive, but not anymore. Today’s hearing aids are designed with style in mind and are smaller and more discreet than ever before. Some sit deep in your ear canal, making them practically invisible.
In addition, wearing communication, health and monitoring devices is extremely common. According to the Pew Research Center, about one in five American adults wears a smart watch or wearable fitness tracker as of January 2020.
To learn more about the benefits of hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, contact North Alabama ENT today.