If you have not found a hearing aid that works for your needs, do not give up. There are many different types of hearing aids available on the market that can allow you to better your hearing. Consumer Reports performed a study that followed a dozen people who experienced hearing loss for six months. The study showed them as they shopped for hearing aids and how they performed. It also conducted a national survey of those who had bought a hearing aid within the last 3 years. The study also tested 44 different hearing aid models. The results of the study found that it is not so much about the hearing aid not functioning correctly, it is that people do not understand the adapting that they need to do to experience better hearing. It is also noted that people who use hearing aids may need to adjust their expectations because hearing aids do not fully restore normal hearing. They are just intended to improve it.
Hearing loss can be caused by a wide variety of different things. Almost everyone undergoes a small level of hearing loss due to age. This is simply due to use throughout life. This wear and tear on the ear can be sped up in cases where a person consistently hears incredibly loud noises. People who work near jet planes or at rock concerts need to take special care that they aren’t injuring their ears.
Medically, there are several causes of hearing loss as well. People who suffer from various infections like measles or the mumps can end up suffering from hearing loss. The same can be said for those dealing with Diabetes. There are also conductive hearing losses which can occur during to problems with the physical structure of the ear. This can include overt wax buildup, dislocation of the middle ear, objects in the ear canal, growths, tumors and other obstructive causes.
If you are experiencing hearing loss you will need to meet with your doctor so that you can get your hearing tested. Your doctor may send you to a specialist such as an Otolaryngologist or audiologist to find out more about your hearing loss and what is causing it. Your doctor will then want to make sure that you get the right hearing aid and will fit it properly. The doctor will then test you wearing the hearing aid and you will learn how to use it effectively. You may require follow-up visits to continue to check in on your hearing.
One of the main ways that people with certain types of hearing loss can help to improve their hearing is to practice. If you want your hearing aids to help perform their best, you will need to practice using them in a variety of different settings including in loud areas, public places, watching TV, outside and in quiet conversations. When practicing you should write down what situations you are experiencing the most difficulty hearing and bring your results back to your hearing aid specialist. They may be able to adjust the settings to improve how well your hearing aids work for you in certain environments.
