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Say
What? 8 Common Myths and Facts
A lot of what passes for knowledge about hearing loss and hearing
instruments today is based on outdated, or simply erroneous, information.
Before you make any big decisions about hearing loss, check out
the real story behind these common myths:
Myth:
Only a few people are truly hearing impaired; the statistics don’t
apply to me or those close to me.
Fact:
With 28 million reporting hearing loss in this country alone,
or one in 10 people, odds are good that you or someone you know
is indeed affected by hearing loss—especially if you’re
age 60.
Myth:
If I did have a hearing impairment, I’d certainly know about
it.
Fact:
The truth is, hearing loss happens gradually and the signs are
subtle at first. Our own built-in defenses and ability to adapt
make it difficult to self-diagnose. A simple Q & A hearing
test can help you gain insight, while professional screening can
provide a more definitive answer.
Myth:
Most hearing problems can’t be helped.
Fact:
30 or 40 years ago, that was true. Today, 90% of hearing loss—the
kind that’s brought on by age or exposure to noise—is
very responsive to treatment in the form of technically advanced
hearing instruments.
Myth:
If you’re hearing impaired, it just means sounds aren’t
loud enough.
Fact:
Hearing isn’t only about loudness or decibel level. Typically,
hearing loss has more to do with the frequency of the sound—that
is, its pitch—than its loudness. When hearing loss occurs,
it’s harder to hear higher pitches—especially when
there is background noise to complicate the picture, such as conversation
in a noisy restaurant. That’s why amplifying incoming sounds
alone isn’t as effective in treating hearing loss as amplifying
selectively.
Myth:
Living with hearing loss is not a big deal.
Fact:
There are many psychological effects to hearing loss, including
frustration, withdrawal, and depression. Trouble communicating
with others creates a strain on relationships and a loss of esteem.
It’s far better to deal with hearing loss than to pretend
it isn’t happening—or to ignore the effect it is having
on those around you.
Myth:
Hearing instruments are obvious and unattractive.
Fact:
While it’s true that hearing instruments don’t enjoy
the fashion status of a pair of glasses, new technology has made
these devices remarkably discreet. Many people can wear instruments
that are either tucked well inside the ear or almost completely
hidden in the ear canal. Behind-the-ear styles are often disguised
by hairstyles.
Myth:
Hearing loss and hearing instruments are a sign of old age.
Fact:
Things are changing. Just as hearing loss is itself no longer
the province of the elderly (there are more hearing-impaired people
in the 45-64 year-old age category than there are in the over-65
age group), neither is wearing a hearing instrument. Many of the
baby boomers now experiencing hearing loss will undoubtedly invest
in better hearing sooner than later. And, as a culture, we’re
increasingly showing our preference for treatment over doing nothing
— witness the popularity of such investments in life as
laser eye surgery and hormone replacement therapy, to name a few.
Indeed, doing nothing to help yourself may be seen as a more obvious
sign of old age than the problem itself.
Myth:
Really good hearing instruments are prohibitively expensive.
Fact:
Better hearing through technology is within the reach of most
people. The real issue is quality of life, and what it’s
worth to you. While good hearing instruments are seen as expensive,
putting a price on a better life experience is hard to do. You
have to weigh the benefits and make your own decision. However
you choose to look at it, treating hearing loss and enjoying the
benefits is still relatively inexpensive compared to treating
most health problems.
Myth:
Hearing instruments don’t work.
Fact:
Hearing instruments won’t restore lost hearing or stop the
progression of age- or noise-related hearing loss. And because
hearing is as much a function of the brain as it is the inner
ear, hearing aids aren’t the whole story in hearing better.
But smart new technologies, including the ability to amplify sound
selectively, do help most people to hear better in most situations.
Even so, it needs to be said that no hearing instrument, no matter
how sophisticated, will work unless you are willing to wear and
adapt to it.
This
article courtesy of Starkey
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