When it comes to hearing health, many of us fail to notice the signs of hearing loss because it happens so gradually. In fact, the most common way to find out that you have hearing loss is when someone tells you about it. They might say that you keep missing their calls, or they might find it strange that you’ve suddenly started asking them to repeat themselves during conversations.
But whatever the cause of your hearing loss, it’s a good idea to speak with a hearing specialist so that you can measure the level of your condition and also seek treatment options.
The most common way to deal with hearing loss is to use hearing aids, but these often come with misconceptions due to a lack of understanding about them. They’re usually seen as these big and ugly devices that sit on your ear, but the reality is that they’re a lot more sophisticated than they used to be.
So without further ado, let’s tackle some of the most common misconceptions around hearing aids that stop us from trying them when we have hearing loss.
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“Only old people need to wear hearing aids.”
This just isn’t true. Hearing loss is certainly a condition that affects the elderly more than adults and children, but that doesn’t mean hearing loss is exclusive to seniors. Anyone can experience hearing loss and the sooner you decide to treat it, the less of an impact it’ll have on your life in the future. It’ll slow down the rate that your hearing deteriorates, and it’ll give you more time to adapt to life with hearing aids.
“Hearing aids are bulky, heavy, and hard to use.”
In the past, this may have been true. But recent technological advances have made hearing aids a lot easier to use in conjunction with modern devices like smartphones. Hearing aids are also a lot smaller these days, making them lighter and easier to fit into your ear.
They can also be surprisingly discreet if you’re willing to use in-ear options that sit in your ear canal instead of over your ear. If you’re looking for a certain type of hearing aid to suit your needs or lifestyle choices, then it’s best to consult a hearing aid specialist so that they can help you choose the right product for your needs.
“Buying hearing aids online can save you money.”
There’s no denying that buying online hearing aids could potentially save you money, but when you consider hearing aids as a complete package as a health aid, then it’s usually better to speak with a professional audiologist instead of just getting hearing aids online.
They’ll make sure that the hearing aids are tailored for you, it’ll be a local place to get all types of hearing aid repairs, and you’ll have someone to speak with about your hearing aids and how you’re getting along with them. So while you could save a bit of money getting them online, we highly recommend that you seek a certified expert instead.