Hearing Aids FAQ

Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by lawn/farm equipment, concerts, sporting events, firework shows, hair dryers, and firearms. A single exposure to excessive noise levels can also cause permanent hearing loss (5). 

While this may help, having hearing loss also means hearing can be distorted, affecting the sound quality of speech.  This can cause word confusion between similar sounding words, which may change the meaning of the conversation entirely!  People are not “mumbling;” rather, hearing loss affects the clarity of speech

Hearing loss can occur at any age.  It is estimated that hearing loss affects nearly 1 in 5 people over the age of 12 years in the United States and 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 (1, 2).  

Hearing loss and hearing aid experiences are highly individual and cannot be treated with a “one-size-fits-all” approach.  We offer a 75 day trial period to help us fine-tune your device and experience for your individual needs and concerns.  During the trial period, if you are not satisfied with your hearing aids, they can be returned for a refund of nearly the entire purchase price. 

Although hearing aids today are very small, an untreated hearing loss may be more obvious to others than a hearing aid would be.  Pretending to understand what is being said makes your condition more apparent to others.

Individuals with untreated hearing loss are often excluded from conversation and experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression, and frustration (5).

Hearing aids are an investment that offers an improvement in the quality of life every day for years.  The investment is in the hearing aid technology, but also in improving communication and relationships strained by communication difficulties hearing loss creates.  Just like other computer technologies, prices have gone DOWN as technology has become more widely available. 

• Frustration
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Social Isolation and Withdrawal
• Risk of Cognitive Decline (see handout)
• Loss of Independence
• Feeling of Helplessness
• It is never too late to start enjoying communication that is important to you again.  

References

1.  Lin, F. R., Niparko, J. K., & Ferrucci, L. (2011). Hearing loss prevalence in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine, 171(20).
2.  Su, P., et al. (2017). Age-related hearing loss and dementia: A 10-year national population-based study. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 247(5), 2327-2334.
3.  Smith, S. M., & Kampfe, C. M. (1997).  Interpersonal relationship implications of hearing the loss in persons who are older. Journal of Rehabilitation, 17(2), 15-21.
4.  Lin, F., et al. (2011). Hearing loss and incident dementia. Archives of Neurology, 68(2), 214-220.
5. American Academy of Audiology (n.d). Myth versus fact. Retrieved from: https://www.audiology.org/sites/default/files/resources/AAM%20Poster%202016%20%2818×24%29.pdf