Do You Need a Hearing Aid?

It’s important to acknowledge the early signs of hearing loss so that you can best deal with the issue. The most common early sign is thinking the people around you are mumbling too often. Rather than telling them off for mumbling, it might actually be you starting to lose your hearing. Hearing aids are usually the solution for most people with mild to severe hearing loss.

What are the signs of hearing loss?

If you think you are experiencing hearing loss then you might want to read the following common signs to see if there is any relation. You may start to:

• Complain that everyone around you is mumbling too much
• Spend a lot of time asking people what? and to repeat themselves
• Struggle to hear what’s being said on the telephone
• Get annoyed that you can’t hear what is being said on the TV or radio, even with the volume on high
• Get confused with people’s voices, struggling to recognize with the voice of people you know well
• Find it difficult to listen in on other people’s conversations

If any of the above sounds familiar you may want to consult with a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) to talk about how hearing aids can help you.  

What is mild hearing loss? 

The most common type of hearing loss is when we start to strain to understand what people are saying to us. As mentioned above this usually results in us getting frustrated that those around us are mumbling too much. This is usually the result of being able to understand the low to mid pitched sounds such as vowels but not the high-pitched sounds of consonants. 

This phenomenon is usually referred to as mild hearing loss but can develop into more serious hearing loss. Mild hearing loss can also make it extremely difficult to hear quiet conversations, dripping taps, birds singing or people’s footsteps. 

What causes mild hearing loss?

Noise exposure and natural aging are the most commons reasons people develop mild hearing loss. However, there are other reasons mild hearing loss can develop:

• Excess earwax: Build-up and improper removal of wax in the ear can cause mild hearing loss. If you think this might be the issue you should see a physician.
• Ear infection: An earache is usually the first sign of an infection, which can cause temporary hearing loss if not properly treated. 

How will hearing aids help me? 

Hearing aids have proven to be instrumental in improving people’s hearing. The technology has vastly improved in recent years meaning you can now get all sorts of hearing aids that will suit your specific needs. Hearing aids are no longer those huge ghastly pieces of equipment tied to the back of your ear. They are now small, sleek and even completely invisible if wanted. 

Unfortunately, hearing aids will not help correct your hearing back to normal. They will just help you to deal with the issue on a day to day basis making life easier and less frustrating. 

The most common types of hearing aids include:

• In the ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids fit inside of your ear and can be custom made by a HIS for the best comfort possible. You can buy them in skin tone colors that help camouflage the device while wearing. These devices are recommended for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and are easy to handle if dexterity issues are present.
• Behind the ear (BTE): BTE hearing aids sit on the outside of your ear, usually at the top. The cables of the device then run into a tip that sits within your ear canal. These devices are the largest of all the styles so they can be equipped with the most features and pack the most power. They are suitable for individuals with mild-to-profound hearing loss.
• In the canal (ITC): ITC devices are the smallest style of hearing aid and are worn in the ear canal. There are several variations to choose from, including those that are worn deeply in the canal and are practically invisible, in addition to those that just rest in the opening of the canal. Because of their smaller size, they are recommended for individuals with mild hearing loss and can be difficult to handle if you have dexterity issues.

Advice on hearing aids

If you feel like you need hearing aids you can call us at 510-768-7091 to discuss your requirements. It’s always worth speaking to HIS before buying any component for a hearing aid device. Come learn more about the Center for Better Hearing and how our HIS can find the perfect solution for your hearing aid needs.