How Will Wearing Hearing Aids Change Your Life?

There are a few different types of hearing aids to choose from, after your audiometry test, your audiologist will discuss your options. Your audiologist may recommend any one of the following types of hearing aids:

• In the ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids fit directly inside the ear, rather than behind the ear. These hearing aids are often praised for their excellent sound and amplification quality. ITE hearing aids are very powerful and usually recommended for those with severe hearing loss. These operate using two microphones which explains the superb sound capabilities.
• In the canal (ITC): ITC hearing aids are even smaller than ITE types. These are positioned deeper inside the ear, right inside the canal. ITC hearing aids have both volume controls and directional microphones. These are useful for moderate hearing loss, and the batteries do not last quite as long. ITC are also known for their great sound quality.
• Behind the ear (BTE): BTE hearing aids are the least discreet; these are placed behind the ear instead of inside. Having said this, modern BTE are designed to be both compact and small. These have larger batteries and consequently have the longest battery life.

All three types of hearing aids work in a similar way using a speaker, amplifier and a microphone. The sound signal is received through the microphone, and then the hearing aid turns sound waves into electrical signals. The signals are transferred to an amplifier and then delivered to the ear using a speaker. Other solutions for hearing loss include cochlear implants or bone-anchored hearing systems. Unlike conventional hearing aids, these both require surgical placement by a trained audiologist.

What are the first signs of hearing loss?

Hearing loss is often a gradual condition. Here are a few signs which you can look out for early on:

• Struggling to hear in crowds, especially when there’s lots of background noise.
• You put your devices on a high volume so that you can listen to them.
• Experiencing tinnitus signs such as a ringing or buzzing in your ears.
• Misunderstanding people and hearing the wrong words.
• Needing to really concentrate to hear what someone is saying.

How will hearing aids change your life?

With so many benefits to offer, the right hearing aid can really change your life. There are many advantages to wearing a hearing aid, including:

Continue your activities as normal

When you experience hearing loss, activities that you used to take for granted become more difficult. Whether it’s talking on the phone, watching TV or conversing with friends, a hearing aid allows you to continue your daily activities as normal. Hearing loss shouldn’t mean that you have to miss out on the things you love doing, and with the right hearing aid, there’s no reason that you have to!

Improved wellbeing

Hearing loss can be a stressful experience, and stressful experiences can cause anxiety. When stress is left unchecked, it can have serious consequences on both your mental and physical health. When you use a hearing aid, you can improve your hearing and enhance your wellbeing at the same time. With the right hearing aid, you’ll no longer need to worry so much about your hearing loss symptoms.

Social benefits & personal development

When you struggle to understand speech, this can affect both your family and workplace relationships. Using a hearing aid can help you to hear with more clarity, improving your social life and workplace interactions. Hearing loss can knock your confidence, but with a hearing aid, you can regain some of that confidence and improve your lifestyle.

Link to other health conditions

Research suggests that there is a link between hearing loss and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. By using a hearing aid, you can keep your cognitive health strong and therefore reduce your chances of developing such conditions. As we age, it’s important to look after our cognitive health as much as we can.

Quality Hearing Aid Center

At Quality Hearing & Audiology Center, we provide many different hearing care services. We offer tinnitus treatment options, hearing aid fitting, repair and maintenance, hearing tests, speech mapping and earwax removal. As well as hearing aids, we offer plenty of hearing protection products. To find out more about our services reach out to us at Quality Hearing & Audiology Center at (816) 205-7220.