Approximately 36 million Americans suffer with some degree of hearing loss. Unfortunately, many of those 36 million who could receive benefit from hearing aids don’t seek treatment. People often don’t seek help simply because they’ve been supplied with the wrong information. Most people tend to associate hearing loss and deafness with the elderly and when they think of hearing aids, they think of big, clunky things that screech or whistle.
It’s unfortunate that most people have misconceptions about hearing devices and how prevalent hearing loss really is among all ages – which makes people very hesitant to deal with hearing loss. That’s why we’ve put together some of the most common myths about hearing loss and hearing aids along with the facts and truth about them.
Let’s take a look at some common myths about hearing loss and hearing aids.
MY HEARING IS NORMAL FOR MY AGE.
Your hearing is either in the range of “normal” or it isn’t. Your age has nothing to do with whether or not your hearing is “normal.”
MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WOULD HAVE TOLD ME IF I NEED HEARING AIDS.
A very small minority of family doctors actually screens their patients for hearing loss. If you do have a hearing loss, it may not be noticeable to your doctor during a 15-minute office visit in a one on one situation in a relatively quiet listening environment.
SOMETIMES I CAN HEAR THE TV AND SOMETIMES I CAN’T. IF I HAD A PROBLEM HEARING I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
A common misconception is that hearing loss is simply a uniform decrease in volume. In fact hearing loss can affect hearing levels differently at different frequencies. The majority of people who experience hearing loss tend to lose the ability to hear higher pitched sounds before they lose the ability to hear low-pitched sounds.
WHEN I GET HEARING AIDS, EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT I HAVE A HEARING PROBLEM.
Several of the signs of untreated hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding conversations and frequently asking people to repeat themselves, will always be much more conspicuous than your hearing aids. Plus, there are several hearing aid models on the market today that are completely invisible, so nobody will even notice you are wearing one.
BUYING A SET OF HEARING AIDS ONLINE WILL SAVE TIME AND MONEY.
Shopping online can save time and money for many consumer goods, but not hearing aids. Hearing aids should not be purchased online and worn right out of the box; you should always work with an experienced hearing care specialist. Hearing aids should be selected and properly fitted following a comprehensive evaluation by a licensed hearing healthcare professional.
If you suspect that you or someone close to you may be experiencing some degree of hearing loss, do not let these common myths about hearing loss or hearing aids stop you from seeking professional help and treatment. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional, contact us at Kenwood Hearing and schedule an appointment today.