How’s your hearing?
Are you troubled with your hearing? Unable to hear some conversations or parts thereof? Trouble hearing conversations in certain environments? Restaurants? Auditoriums? Large meeting rooms? Can’t hear people speak when they are a little distance away? Unable to hear certain speakers? Women’s voices? Men’s? Children’s? Certain volumes are not heard? Whispers?
If your response to any of the above questions is affirmative, you may have a hearing problem, the best response to which would be to have a hearing test. These are available in many places and usually are done for free with no obligation to buy a hearing aid.
In the last few years, I suspected hearing difficulties, particularly with my left ear. Certain sounds, conversations were harder to hear: restaurant conversations, spousal conversations occasionally, TV volume set higher than required by most people. A hearing test confirmed my suspicions: hearing loss in both ears, 40% left, 15% right.
The next step was to investigate hearing devices. I disliked the idea of getting a visible external hearing aid, not for vanity reasons but because of ageism. Being a senior, I already was experiencing ageism issues. Adding a seniors’ adaptive device would likely exacerbate the situation. Our society treats seniors in a denigrating way, as second-class citizens. I did not want to display a confirmation of being old. Hence, a visible device was off the table.
The benefits vs the difficulties of having a hearing aid were considered:
Pros:
- Improved hearing:
Hearing aids amplify sounds, making it easier to hear speech, music, and other sounds. - Better communication:
Communication is improved. - Increased independence:
Hearing aids improve independence as wearers rely less on assistance from other people. - Cost-effective:
Hearing aids are often less expensive than other hearing loss options such as surgery.
Cons:
- Cost:
Hearing aids can be quite expensive, especially for newer, more advanced models. Financial assistance may be available such as government programs or insurance companies. - Maintenance:
Hearing aids require regular maintenance, such as cleaning and battery replacement. This is time-consuming and adds to their cost. - Limited effectiveness:
Hearing aids may not be effective for individuals with severe hearing loss or certain types of hearing loss. In such cases, other options need to be considered. - Adjustment period:
Adjusting to wearing hearing aids can take time and is difficult for some people.
There are other factors that need to be considered when thinking about hearing aids:
- Environment:
What is your usual daily environment? Are you surrounded by situations where your hearing is difficult? In my case, I write and research on a computer alone for most of my working day. Beyond spousal conversations, social conversations are not a frequent occurrence.
However, people who are in environments where optimal hearing is important, need to give good hearing priority. For example, a teacher needs to hear the students; a musician needs to hear the music. A writer working alone may not need to hear clearly or a lot.
Technology has come a long way as they say. Inner ear canal devices are almost completely invisible and deliver improved hearing effectively and practically. Their use is enhanced by smartphone connectivity. Hence, wearers can fine-tune their devices as suitable for the situation or environment.
The likeliest and biggest factors people need to consider if they are thinking about getting hearing aids are cost, device management, and practicality.
The bottom line
If hearing is becoming a challenge, a hearing test and consultation with an auditory specialist may be the next essential step to improved hearing.
