Hearing aids are advanced tools that bring you closer to the world. Despite the connection they offer, many hesitate to start using them. Let’s take a look at four common myths about hearing aids to help you feel confident starting treatment.
Myth # 1: Hearing Aids Are Only for Older Adults
In the past, people tended to associate hearing aids with aging, operating under the assumption that young people didn’t need them. We now know that that assumption isn’t correct. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 34 million children globally have hearing loss that requires rehabilitation. Another study reported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) found that one in eight people ages 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears.
While hearing loss gets more common as you grow older, it’s crucial to pay attention to the signs of hearing loss and schedule yearly tests to track your hearing over time to prevent delayed treatment.
Myth # 2: I Only Need One Hearing Aid
There are some cases where your specialist will recommend only one hearing aid, but wearing two is often more beneficial. Wearing two hearing aids is helpful because it more accurately mimics the binaural hearing your ears naturally use to process subtle sound signals. They employ this skill to determine the direction and distance of sounds, allowing you to focus on specific speech or important background noise.
Wearing two hearing aids helps recreate this binaural hearing when hearing loss strips it away.
Myth # 3: Hearing Aids Are Uncomfortable
Many worry that wearing hearing aids all day will be uncomfortable. While there is an adjustment period, it won’t take long before your devices feel like an extension of yourself. If you find them awkward, wear them for short periods and increase the time gradually. You can also wear them at home initially and slowly build to noisier environments.
Myth # 4: I Don’t Need Hearing Aids for Mild Hearing Loss
The idea that you only need hearing aids for advanced hearing loss is one of the most common misconceptions. In reality, even mild hearing loss can disrupt communication, strain relationships, cause mental fatigue and make you more likely to pull away from social events like dinner with friends or after work happy hours at Burtons Grill & Bar. People with mild hearing loss can benefit from discreet in-the-canal devices that bring you clearer sound without the larger device.
Don’t let these myths hold you back from enjoying the benefits these advanced devices provide. Contact Massachusetts Hearing Group today to schedule a treatment consultation with one of our specialists.