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It’s a time when we celebrate the positive aspects of growing older. And believe it or not, there are lots—everything from gaining a greater acceptance of ourselves to acquiring wisdom from our life experiences.
Read More"They’re not just about hearing—they’re about staying connected to your family, your friends, and your entire world. With my Starkey's, I’m fully immersed in every conversation and opportunity.”
Read MoreAre you or someone you know suffering from tinnitus? You're not alone. Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide, including countless veterans for whom it is the number one service-related disability.
Read MoreIn his newest blog written exclusively for Starkey, Justin Osmond—who was born with a severe-to-profound hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids since he was two years old—talks to men about the importance of prioritizing their hearing health during Men’s Health Month, already in progress.
Read MoreToday, your options have gotten more complicated, with online-only retailers, big-box stores and over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids you can buy at places like Walgreens and CVS. Here’s the thing, though—seeing a hearing care professional is still the best way to be treated for hearing loss or get hearing aids. Let us explain why.
Read MoreMost people who have hearing loss aren’t born with it. Instead, hearing loss creeps up on us over time, usually caused by exposure to loud noises, aging, or some combination of the two.
Read MoreThanks to today’s innovations, you have many hearing aid options to choose from to suit your hearing loss, ear anatomy, lifestyle, budget, and cosmetic appeal.
Read MoreImagine what this could mean to your spring: Listening to the return of nature’s best sounds, such as birds chirping and melted waters lapping; taking in the relaxing rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath your feet on a morning stroll; participating in conversations with loved ones over that first alfresco lunch; or cheering for a homerun by your favorite little leaguer. The list goes on.
Read MoreThankfully, hearing aids can be a life-changing solution for hearing loss and aloneness alike. But before we dig into that, let’s explore today’s fact in greater detail.
Read MoreA recent study documented some of the most distinct communication difficulties and the aftermath that came between couples as a result of the untreated hearing loss.
Read More
Hearing loss is something we tend to associate with aging or serious, genetic disorders of the ear — you either become deaf as you grow older, or you are born deaf — and there is simply nothing in-between.
This and other misconceptions cause us to take healthy hearing for granted and not take proper care of our hearing. Here are some common myths:
1. If glasses can fully compensate for any visual problem, a hearing aid should be able to do the same for my hearing
The correct lenses may be able to give you 20/20 vision, but unfortunately it's not the same with hearing aids and hearing. The brain needs to adjust to the quality of sound coming through the hearing aid. And while hearing aids can make a tremendous difference, the sound quality will not be the same as you were used to before you experienced hearing loss.
According to the Hearing Health Foundation, each person’s audiogram (a graph showing how sound is processed, ranging from the softest to the loudest sound) is vastly different, and therefore all hearing aids need to be programmed to suit the individual.
However, don’t let this stop you from getting a hearing aid. It does make a significant difference.
2. Hearing loss isn’t so bad — it doesn’t affect the rest of my body
Even though it isn't life-threatening in any way, hearing loss can have a far-reaching impact on your well-being. According to Better Hearing, studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, impaired concentration and productivity, and general deterioration of psychological and physical health.
It’s therefore important to take early steps to prevent hearing loss, acknowledge when you start having problems and seek help and treatment as soon as possible.
3. Hearing loss only affects the elderly
Hearing loss can happen gradually or suddenly at any stage of your life. While age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), caused by a change in the structure of the ear as we age, is one of the most common kinds of hearing loss, there are many other causes of hearing loss unrelated to age. One may suffer sudden hearing loss because of disease, or gradual hearing loss as a result of constant noise exposure.
The verdict? You are never too young to start taking care of your hearing or to get treatment for hearing loss. There is no stigma attached to wearing a hearing aid.
4. If I had 'real' hearing loss, I would have noticed it by now
Not true. Hearing loss can develop over an extended period of time and you might not even be aware that your hearing is deteriorating. Your general practitioner will also not pick up any changes to your hearing unless you are very specific about this concern. In America only 14% of doctors routinely screen for hearing, and in South Africa, you would need to see a specialist to know whether you are experiencing any real difference in your hearing.
A previous Health24 article explains how gradual hearing loss can occur. Here are some of the first signs of hearing loss:
There are also some factors that might make you more susceptible to hearing loss than your peers. This may include severe noise exposure in your daily work situation, regularly listening to loud music through head- or earphones, regularly suffering from ear infections, a family history of hearing loss, or compromising your nervous system through unhealthy habits such as smoking.
5. I will look 'disabled' if I wear a hearing aid — I don’t need it
According the Hearing Health Foundation, insignificant hearing loss (only in one ear, not enough to be noticed etc.) can easily be dismissed but can still have an impact on cognitive skills such as driving, doing your job, talking to someone in a crowded location, or over the phone.
Hearing aids are not only for those who have severe hearing loss, but can also make a difference to those who are experiencing gradual hearing loss. If wearing a hearing aid can restore your quality of life and help you perform your daily tasks, there should be no stigma attached. Hearing aids are becoming visually more attractive and and many can fit into the ear canal where they are hardly visible.
Contact Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers to set up your first appointment today!
Credit/Source: Hearing Health Foundation
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