Questions & Answers with Lucid Hearing Experts
Whether you were born with some measure of hearing loss, or it’s happened over time, if you’re thinking about getting hearing aids to improve your hearing and quality of life, following is a Q & A all about hearing aids and what you should know as you embark on your journey to improved hearing health. Many thanks to our Lucid Hearing experts who contributed to this blog post and took time to provide their insights and knowledge.
Getting the Answers You Need
1. How do I know if I need hearing aids? If you feel as though you are missing things around you, it sounds like people are mumbling, or others are commenting that you’re not hearing them, you may have hearing loss. Your best course of action is to have a complete hearing test to learn if a hearing loss exists, and if it does, to what degree (mild? moderate? severe?).
2. Why is it so important for a person to get their hearing tested and get help sooner rather than later if they suspect they have hearing loss? The sooner you get help for your hearing loss, the easier it is for your brain to acclimate to the sounds you’ve been missing. Over time, if hearing loss is not corrected, you can acquire auditory deprivation, which you can think of as your brain “forgetting” what certain sounds are. Because of this, if hearing loss goes untreated, our brain’s ability to recognize and understand speech usually becomes worse over time.
3. If I have mild hearing loss, can I use the new over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids? Yes. Over-the-counter hearing aids are right for you if you perceive that you have mild to moderate hearing loss.
4. How do I know if OTC hearing aids will work for me? To accurately determine whether OTC hearing aids will work well for you, make an appointment to see a hearing specialist. They can perform a hearing test and measure your exact level of hearing loss. If you have perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, OTC hearing aids could be the perfect solution to meet your hearing and lifestyle needs.
Learning More
5. Why do specialists still recommend getting a hearing test if you don’t need one to get OTC hearing aids? The only way to accurately determine what type and extent of hearing loss you have is to get a complete hearing evaluation. Based on your results, the hearing specialist can guide you on the selection of your hearing aids to be sure they meet your hearing needs, that they fit perfectly, and that they suit your wishes for style and design. During the evaluation process, the hearing specialist will also look for red flags or areas of concern regarding your hearing for which you may need to see a medical professional.
6. How can I help a parent who has severe hearing loss, but isn’t very enthusiastic about getting hearing aids? The first step is to encourage them to get a comprehensive hearing evaluation to assess their degree of hearing loss, plus eliminate any concerns or other issues aside from “normal” hearing loss. You may also consider getting into the hearing booth yourself to demonstrate how easy and painless getting a hearing test is. Plus, with today’s advanced technology resulting in ready-made hearing devices that will meet most anyone’s hearing needs, your parent can try out the recommended hearing aids on the spot to begin to experience the benefits immediately.
7. I think I have mild hearing loss, but the thought of getting hearing aids makes me feel old. I’m only in my early 50s. Do I really need them? If you suspect that you have hearing loss, getting tested and securing help early is critical. If you do need them, wearing hearing aids allows you to preserve your speech understanding, maintains your safety by allowing you to hear sounds around you, and restores the quality of your life. Almost everyone of all ages wears devices of some kind in their ears these days, so the stigma associated with wearing hearing aids is definitely waning. Additionally, there are styles today that are so discreet, it simply looks like you’re wearing earbuds for listening enjoyment.
Be Informed
8. How do hearing aids work? Hearing aids have four main components: a microphone, a processor, an amplifier, and a speaker. They collect sound in the microphone, process the frequency levels of the sound, and then determine how much it needs to amplify based on your hearing loss (for those with prescription hearing aids). The hearing aids will amplify the sound as needed and push the sound out via the speakers. Lucid Hearing’s over-the-counter hearing aids are designed with four proprietary programs created to support the majority of individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. These proprietary programs are based on extensive research performed using nearly 90,000 audiograms, which results in these devices’ ability to deliver high performance and quality.
9. Will hearing aids restore my hearing back to normal, or is hearing loss permanent? A hearing aid can benefit many people with hearing loss. However, you should know it will not restore normal hearing, and you may still have some difficulty hearing over noise. Further, a hearing aid will not prevent or improve a medical condition that causes hearing loss.
10. Do I need to clean my hearing aids? If so, how do I do that and how often? Yes, hearing aids require regular cleaning to maintain good performance. Always follow your user manual for specific cleaning instructions for that type of hearing aid model.
More Helpful Insights
11. How long do hearing aids last? This depends on various factors like type of hearing loss and the care/maintenance of the hearing aids. The average life of hearing aids is typically around 4 to 5 years.
12. Is it easy to get used to wearing hearing aids? Some people find the adjustment to hearing aids very easy, and others will say it took them a while to get used it. One of the best ways to adjust to your new hearing aids is to wear them all day, every day. This helps you to get accustomed to the devices more quickly.
13. Can I get by with just wearing one hearing aid? If you have a hearing loss in both ears, it is always recommended you wear two hearing aids to increase your ability to understand speech, to accurately hear where sounds are coming from and to keep your hearing balanced.
14. How long does it take to get a hearing test, and how long does it take to get the results? A full comprehensive hearing test can be completed in about 45 to 60 minutes, and you will get the results immediately. Lucid Hearing has more than 500 hearing centers across the country. You can typically get your hearing aids on the spot based on your results and desired style. Schedule your hearing test today.
Source: Lucid Hearing Product Experts