“I Don’t Need a Hearing Test”: Accepting and
Correcting Your Hearing Loss
Millions of people in the United States suffer from mild hearing
loss, but many avoid scheduling a hearing test to determine the
cause. Blane Anderson, CCC-A, senior audiologist for America Hears,
notes, “As the baby-boom generation ages, more people are
going to be affected by hearing loss. And therefore, in this decade,
there is going to be more awareness, simply because of the numbers
that are going to experience hearing loss.” However, many
of those suffering from mild hearing loss may not yet understand
their condition, or may want to dismiss it entirely, despite concerned
comments from family and friends.
Those with mild hearing loss often do not take the steps needed
to correct the problem, starting with the administration of a hearing
test, for an average of five to seven years after they first notice
they are experiencing symptoms. A hearing test can determine the
cause of mild hearing loss, and hearing aids can improve one’s
quality of life, but there is often a period of denial or hesitation
that must be overcome before the appointment for the hearing test
is made.
Typical Reactions
See if you recognize yourself in any of these typical reactions
to the suggestion from others that one is suffering from mild hearing
loss and needs a hearing test.
- “I can hear just fine. People aren’t talking loud
enough, that’s the problem. I hear them, but they mumble and
I just can’t understand some of their words. I don’t
need a hearing test to tell me anything.”
- “It would cost too much to get a hearing test and then
buy a hearing aid that wouldn’t really help me. I’m
fine, and anyway, my friends told me that their hearing aids make
things worse!”
- “I’m not old! Only old people need hearing aids!
If I wear a hearing aid, everyone will see, and they’ll think
I’m old!”
Let’s address these concerns one at a time.
“I Can Hear Just Fine”
It may at first seem like you only have very mild hearing loss,
if any, because you can hear someone talking to you, or you can
hear the television or a movie, you just can’t catch every
word. Or you may be having trouble following conversations, but
you always come up with a reason why – it’s too noisy,
people are speaking too fast, or there are too many people talking
at once. The truth is that when you have early, mild hearing loss,
you will start to have trouble hearing certain higher frequency
sounds. Consonant sounds are in that higher register, so while you
may hear voices , you may find yourself mistaking similar-sounding
words, like “tent” and “temp” or “time”
and “kind.”
If you suspect you have mild hearing loss, you should begin by
visiting your local doctor or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist)
to have a hearing test performed. The doctor will be able to use
the results of the hearing test to rule out or fix any correctable
medical conditions, and will then be able to assess whether a hearing
aid can help with your mild hearing loss. After your hearing test
and diagnosis, you will be able to purchase a hearing aid and have
it properly calibrated to your specific needs. With this solution,
you will find you can eliminate embarrassing or confusing incidents
and hear better in general, improving your overall quality of life.
“It Costs Too Much”
Cost is often another concern for someone who is beginning to feel
the effects of mild hearing loss. A hearing test can often be administered
for free or may be covered by your insurance. Additionally, not
all hearing aids are prohibitively expensive, and prices have gone
down significantly in recent years. Visit local stores, make phone
calls, and search on the Internet, and you will find that some companies,
particularly manufacturers, will handle your hearing test and offer
reasonable prices for high-end hearing aids. Of course, you should
always be careful that you are getting both a good deal and a good
product, but with a little bit of time and research, you can find
a vendor that satisfies both needs.
If you are not sure if there is a product out there that will improve
your hearing, test a number of hearing aids, so you don’t
need to make a commitment you’re not comfortable with. Reputable
vendors will normally give you a 30 to 60 day trial period. Ask
up front if there are any restocking fees involved if you choose
to return the product – some companies will charge a percentage
of the final cost of the product, while others will let you return
the hearing aid for a complete refund. You should take advantage
of this trial period, as it will allow you to see how much your
mild hearing loss can improve with the particular product. You will
often find that today’s hearing aids will give you significant
benefits that are worth the cost.
In addition, technology is constantly changing. A hearing test
can now determine if you have even very mild hearing loss, and the
new generation of digital hearing aids has nearly eliminated the
problems of feedback and extraneous noise that plagued earlier models.
A new, top-of-the-line digital hearing aid can help you with sounds
you were missing, including those lost consonants, without introducing
additional, distracting noises. And some hearing aid manufacturers
have adjustment processes that can be performed in a store or office
or even over the Internet so that you can ensure that your hearing
aid has the right settings for your needs.
“I’m Not Old!”
It is true that hearing aids of past years did have a stigma attached
to them. They were large and bulky, and usually they were visible
to anyone who walked by. But just as the internal technology has
changed, so have the external characteristics of digital hearing
aids. New models either exist or are being developed that can hide
in your ear canal or even behind your ear inconspicuously while
correcting your mild hearing loss. Now, when you’re wearing
your hearing aid, nobody else has to know.
In addition, hearing aid technology has an exciting future, according
to Anderson. He notes, “As technology evolves, more and more
data will be able to be wirelessly transmitted. In the future, you
will be able to have hearing aid hookups to different external devices,
such as an mp3 player, a cell phone, or a television.” Anderson
also notes that as microchips are getting smaller, “the amount
of data processing power is increasing at a phenomenal pace,”
allowing for hearing aids to shrink in size while maintaining quality.
If you’d checked out hearing aids five years ago, you should
take a look at the new models – you might be surprised at
how far things have come and how easily mild hearing loss can be
corrected.
Still concerned about being perceived as “old” when
you have a hearing test or use a hearing aid? While age can certainly
be a factor in mild hearing loss, environmental issues are also
causes, and hearing loss can affect people of all ages. Someone
who was in the military, exposed to the loud noises of war, or someone
who worked in a factory with noisy machinery might develop hearing
loss at an earlier age. Don’t be embarrassed by your mild
hearing loss – get a hearing test and then work to correct
it.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to accept that one is suffering from mild hearing
loss, but it can also be difficult to ignore the comments and concerns
from friends and family members. As hearing aid technology evolves,
solutions that are discrete and cost-effective are becoming the
norm. Start by having a complete hearing test done, and then take
steps to purchase corrective devices. Make sure you find a vendor
that you feel comfortable with when purchasing hearing aids, and
see if you can have a risk-free trial period while you consider
your options. Think about it – how much time and energy are
you spending apologizing because you misheard something, or asking
someone to speak louder or to repeat themselves? Having a hearing
test and purchasing hearing aids can alleviate the many issues your
mild hearing loss has caused – and isn’t that worth
it?
About the Author
Henry Smith is the founder of America
Hears, a leading manufacturer and distributor of hearing aids.
Henry started the company in 1979, following a 15-year career at
the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, which included work as an Acoustic
Technician. Henry is a pioneer in the use of computers and the Internet
to allow customers to have a hands-on approach to the tuning and
adjusting of their digital hearing
aids. He strives to be customer-centric in all aspects of his
work.
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