When it comes to hearing loss and hearing aids, there are a number of questions that people may be hesitant to ask simply because they don’t know enough about how hearing works or what options are available to help them hear better.
Here we address 8 common questions that you or someone you love may be wondering about when it comes to hearing.
If my hearing loss keeps getting worse, will I eventually go deaf?
Medical professionals say “probably not,” especially if your hearing loss has been diagnosed as sensorineural. While this type of hearing loss is typically progressive and can get worse over time, most cases will hit a plateau where hearing thresholds will remain mostly steady.
Only a hearing evaluation by a qualified hearing care professional can determine what type of hearing loss you have and how severe it is. It’s also important to know that, much like an unused muscle, your auditory system can atrophy. Although your brain naturally shrinks with age, research by scientists at John Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found the process was fast tracked in older adults with untreated hearing loss, especially in the areas related to sound and speech. That means that if your hearing healthcare professional recommends hearing aids to treat your loss, start wearing them as soon as possible.
Will a hearing aid restore my hearing?
Most Americans with hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. Medical treatments and surgical procedures are helpful for only five percent of adults with hearing loss. Hearing aids cannot cure hearing loss, but they can help you hear better again.
Hearing is a complex process that starts with the ears and ends in the brain where information is received, stored and “decoded” into something we understand. When you add hearing aids to boost hearing, the brain suddenly registers long-lost sounds. Adjusting to amplification requires time, endurance and patience. You are essentially retraining your brain to interpret sounds, focus on some and filter others out – just as you did naturally when your hearing was normal.
Hearing aids can improve your ability to hear and communicate with the world around you, but they cannot “cure” your hearing loss – just as glasses do not “cure” your nearsightedness or farsightedness. They are tools to help you manage the problem and can contribute significantly to an improved quality of life.
How do hearing aids actually work?
In its most simple form, think of hearing aids as a miniature public-address system with four basic components:
- Microphone
- Amplifier
- Speaker (receiver)
- Power supply (batteries)
Microphones and receivers are transducers, meaning they convert energy from one form to another. The microphone gathers acoustic energy (sound) and converts it into an electrical signal. The receiver gathers electrical signals from the amplifier and converts them back into acoustic energy (sound).
Located between the microphone and receiver, the amplifier increases the amplitude of the signal supplied by the microphone before transmitting it to the receiver, which sends it to your inner ear.
Do I really need two hearing aids?
If you’ve had your hearing evaluated by a qualified hearing professional and they have recommended two hearing aids as treatment, then the answer is “yes.” Here’s why:
- Your brain depends on both ears to determine where sounds are coming from (localization). Since most hearing loss involves both ears (bilateral), wearing two hearing aids gives your brain the information it needs so you won’t have to strain so hard to hear. That leaves you more energy to enjoy life.
- Believe it or not, your left and right ears were not created equal. According to research conducted by scientists at UCLA and the University of Arizona, the left side is more sensitive to music and singing, while the right ear is partial to the spoken word. Amplifying both ears helps you enjoy all of the noisy nuances of the world around you.
Is there an adjustment period to wearing hearing aids?
It can take some time for you to get accustomed to your hearing aids and to really get the most out of them. You will notice small changes right from the start, but it’s important to be patient. If you have questions or concerns about your progress, be sure to call your hearing professional for help. Hearing aids often need to be adjusted several times during the trial period.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind to help you get the most out of your hearing aids:
- Be realistic.
Remember that your hearing loss has been gradual; over the years you have lost the ability to hear certain sounds in the speech spectrum and normal sounds of the environment, such as traffic and wind noise, the hum of machinery and other background noises.
- Practice.
When you begin to wear hearing aids, these sounds will be restored but your brain will need practice and reeducation in order to selectively focus on and filter sounds. Some sounds may even startle you at first. Know that your brain will acclimate to these sounds again over time.
- Be patient.
It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Wear them as much as possible at first to become more skilled at recognizing sound direction and to learn which hearing aid settings work best for you in different situations.
- Rest.
The adjustment period may be tiresome. It’s a lot like retraining a muscle that has not been used in a while. But the benefits will be worth it after you’ve made the adjustment.
Can I skip hearing aids and just get a cochlear implant?
That depends. If your hearing loss is so severe that hearing aids can’t correct the loss, then you might be a candidate for a cochlear implant — but they aren’t a solution for everyone. Implanting a cochlear device is an invasive surgical procedure that involves cutting through bones of the skull and inserting an array of electrodes inside the tiny inner ear organ called the cochlea.
Implants are most commonly performed in children born without hearing. Adults who have already tried hearing aids and do not get benefit from wearing them or those who essentially have no hearing left can also be candidates.
The good news? Hearing aids don’t require surgery and for those with mild, moderate and even severe to profound losses, it’s still the best treatment available – no surgery required!
Are there any natural remedies for hearing loss?
Unfortunately, despite what you might read on the internet or social media, the answer is “no.” That’s because the delicate hair cells of the inner ear which are responsible for translating the noise your outer ears collect into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret, do not regenerate. Once they have been damaged — from exposure to excessive noise, illness or ototoxic medications — you lose the ability to hear permanently. While some promising advances have been made, science is still many years, if not decades, away from a way to regenerate hair cells.
Are there some simple things I can do to help protect my hearing?
- Protect your hearing from excessive noise louder than 85 decibels, such as concerts, fireworks and other explosions, outdoor lawn equipment, and loud power tools. Wear protective hearing gear whenever you know you’ll be in a noisy situation. Turn down the volume on personal electronic devices, the television and car radio.
- Don’t put anything into your ear canal that might puncture your eardrum. For the most part, ears are self-cleaning and only require gentle washing with a warm, soapy cloth. Ask a medical professional for help if sound is muffled and you think there is an obstruction in your ear canal.
- Be proactive about getting your hearing checked, especially if you are over 50. A hearing screening with a trained hearing healthcare professional can answer questions about your hearing loss and customize a plan to keep you hearing your best.
If you are someone you love is experiencing hearing loss, click here to request an appointment with one of our Audiologist for a hearing screening today!