While hearing aids have helped millions of people around the world improve their hearing experience and quality of life, there are still some misconceptions about them. Don’t let these common myths keep you or someone you care about from getting help to overcome hearing loss.
Common Myths and Reasons for Resisting Hearing Aids
-
“I’ve heard hearing aids are more trouble than they’re worth.”
-
The truth: Everyone’s experience is different. Your friend or your brother or your co-worker may not have gotten the results they expected, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a good solution out there for you. Old analog technology presented problems for many people, boosting all sounds without prioritizing speech. But today’s advanced digital technology has resolved many complaints about hearing aid performance, comfort and functionality have been completely resolved.
-
“They’re too expensive.”
-
The truth: It’s true that hearing aids are a significant investment, and lack of insurance reimbursement can be a barrier. But given the improvement they make in quality of life, productivity and earning potential on the job, the money spent can be more than worth it. Prices vary among hearing styles, models and providers, so it pays to discuss all your options with a trained hearing professional.
See the financial impact of hearing loss
See financing options
-
“They’ll make me look old!”
-
The truth: In the past, the idea of wearing hearing aids was like admitting old age — a concept many find hard to accept in our youth-loving culture. This perception is changing as more baby boomers seek help for hearing at a younger age.
Today’s new hearing aid styles and colors are smaller and more discreet than ever before, with many models designed to be invisible when worn. Manufacturers make hearing aids in a wide palette of colors to either blend with hair and skin tones or to stand out as fashionably-colored electronic communications accessories similar to Bluetooth® phone accessories. The bottom line is that hearing loss is much more obvious than your hearing aids will ever be, and accepting the help that today’s advanced devices offer can keep you as young as you feel.
-
“They’re hard to use.”
-
The truth: While today’s hearing aids are more advanced than ever before, they are actually easier to use. They can be programmed to your hearing preferences for different environments and will automatically adjust, so you can move from one environment to another without manually changing your settings. Whether you’re in a large group, an intimate conversation, or an outdoor setting, you’re appropriately tuned in. For those who want manual control, new features like touch technology can make it easy by doing away with cumbersome buttons and knobs.
-
“They make background noise too loud.”
-
The truth: Amplified background noise used to be a primary complaint among hearing aid wearers. That’s because analog hearing aids amplified all sounds equally, making background noises uncomfortably loud.
Today, digital signal processing, directional microphones and noise cancellation features designed to distinguish speech from noise work much harder to amplify the sounds you want to hear and decrease the volume on background noise. Some hearing aid manufacturers offer aggressive noise suppression features—that do not degrade speech quality or understanding—to improve your ability to hear speech in noisy environments.
See top digital hearing aid features
-
“They make that annoying whistling noise.”
-
The truth: Hearing aids now feature sophisticated technology that virtually eliminates annoying high-pitched screeching or whistling commonly known as feedback. Audible feedback occurs when the output of the receiver leaks out of the ear canal and enters the microphone of the hearing aid, where it is re-amplified along with all the other sounds entering the microphone. Digital signal processing effectively minimizes or eliminates high-pitched feedback before it happens by recognizing and canceling feedback instantaneously.
Other causes of feedback: When something gets too close to the vent in a hearing aid—like a hand, a lock of hair, a hat or a hug—it blocks the sound coming out of the vent and sends it back to the microphone. A hearing aid that fits improperly, has faulty components or needs adjustments can cause feedback problems. Earwax in the ear canal will also cause feedback if sound bounces off the earwax and back into the hearing aid microphone.
Read more about feedback cancellation in top features
-
“My hearing isn’t that bad.”
-
The truth: Because hearing loss often happens gradually, many people don’t notice how bad it has gotten. If you’re constantly asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV volume, or misunderstanding conversations around you, it might be time to seek help. Evidence shows that early intervention is more effective. If you wait too long, your brain may begin to lose the ability to recognize and process speech. You may also exhibit signs of memory loss and a diminished ability to multitask.
Finding this information helpful?
Create My Saved Files to save and share facts, figures, and personal survey results.
Get Started Today »