Hearing Loss Misconceptions
If I had a hearing loss, I certainly would know about it.
Not necessarily.
Often a hearing loss develops slowly and subtly. Our own built-in
defenses may make it difficult for us to determine whether we
have a hearing loss or not. Hearing loss is usually gradual in
onset and we compensate by lip reading and asking others to repeat
themselves. Many times we adjust and get used to it as it is happening
to us. Amazingly, people usually wait about 7 years before doing something
about their hearing loss. A simple hearing test would determine if a hearing
loss exists and to what degree.
Everyone mumbles when they talk to me.
Some people do mumble. But
if you think ALL people mumble then it's time to accept that
it’s
your hearing and not everyone else's mumbling. The complaint
of people mumbling is one of the most common complaints of
people with hearing loss.
When someone is hearing impaired, that just
means sounds aren't loud enough.
That's just part of it. Perhaps
that person may have trouble hearing in crowds or in group conversations.
Perhaps they hear but don't always understand what is being said.
Words may seem to be jumbled or just run together. These are
but a few symptoms. Click here for more symptoms of hearing loss.
I've
heard that my type of hearing loss can't be helped.
Nearly 95%
of individuals with hearing loss can be helped through amplification.
Now there is hope for those who have been told they couldn't
be helped. New technologies emerge every year, so you may now
be able to be helped when just a few years ago you were told
you couldn't. One of the most significant changes has been the ability
of people with high frequency hearing loss to use open-fit
hearing aids.
These devices are very tiny, fit on top of the ear, and provide a clear
transparent type of amplification to make speech clearer.
If I had a hearing loss, my physician would have told me.
This may not
be the case. Unfortunately, very few physicians routinely screen
for hearing loss during a physical or ask their patients about it. And
since most visits are in the quiet of an office visit, it may be virtually
impossible for your doctor to recognize your difficulty with hearing.
Hearing
aids will restore my hearing to normal.
Hearing aids are designed
to aid a person's hearing that they still have intact. It is
crucial to have realistic expectations as to what hearing aids
can and cannot accomplish. Hearing aids cannot restore hearing
nor can they cure your hearing problem. They can, however, help
you get the most out of what you have remaining and are extremely successful
at restoring a person’s
communication ability. Hearing aids may need to be supplemented
by auditory training and there are some newer computer based
home-programs that can be used.
Hearing
aids totally eliminate distracting background noise
Understanding
speech in a noisy environment has always been difficult for people.
This is even more pronounced when you have hearing loss. How
much difficulty will vary depending upon each individual's hearing
loss and the hearing aids being used. Overall benefit may depend
on proper fit, frequency of use, type of digital processing, use of directional
microphones, auditory rehabilitation, the severity of the loss,
and the accuracy of the patient evaluation. With this in mind,
there are definitely ways to make background noise more tolerable, but
it is impossible to eliminate it.
Hearing aids
are large and ugly.
Most people therefore don't want to wear
them. This couldn’t
be farther from the truth. Most people aren't aware of the
latest technological advances that have been made in hearing
aids. For many people, the mini open-fit hearing aids blend in discreetly
with hair and skin color and are appropriate for most hearing
loss. They're also so technically advanced that for many first-time
users, they never have to touch or adjust the hearing aids once
they are worn.
Wearing a hearing
aid is a sign you're getting old.
Although hearing loss is more
common in older adults, many middle age and younger people are
affected as well. There are many determining factors beyond just
age. Statistics indicate that of the 30 million people with hearing loss
in the United States there are close to 8 million people in the United
States between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss. Remember, the
behaviors of someone with hearing loss are more noticeable than wearing
a hearing aid.
Hearing aids are just too
expensive.
Let’s
break down the cost of owning a set of hearing aids. People
usually spend between $4,000 and $6,000 on a pair of good hearing
aids. They usually last about 5 years or 1,825 days. The typical
person wears their hearing aids about 12-14 hours per day. So
for about $2.20 - $3.30 per day, hearing aids can help re-store your ability
to watch TV, be more productive at work, help with your personal relationships,
enjoy the outdoors, and generally improve quality of life. When
it comes to that, can you really put a price on enjoying life?
Hearing Loss
