Hearing Aids From A to Z

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(ARA) - Helen Keller, both deaf and blind from early in life, said that given the chance to recover one of these two senses, she would choose hearing because it would keep her in the intellectual company of those she loved. Hearing is a vital sense so often taken for granted -- until we begin to lose it.

Hearing aids are a great help for those whose hearing loss is interfering with their communication with friends, family and the world around them. When you understand what you can and cannot expect from hearing aids, the challenges in your life will be that much easier to face and surmount.

Anticipation -- The average American anticipates getting hearing aids for seven years before taking action by seeking a hearing health care professional. This represents years of procrastination and emotional torment not just for you, but also for your spouse, children, other loved ones and friends. The good news is that you have much to look forward to once you make the decision to proceed. Hearing aids have come a long way just in the past few years. Phenomenal technology is available, but it is up to you to take advantage of it.

Benefits -- Hearing aids offer many benefits. But they are not a perfect solution. While analog hearing aids might tend to amplify all sounds in your environment, programmable analog and digital instruments are capable of making loud sounds softer, and soft sounds louder, in the same listening situation. Multiple microphones improve discrimination and localization for some people in noisy and quiet situations. Sometimes the voices you want to hear can be enhanced in the presence of some background noise. However, you cannot expect these benefits to occur in unreasonably loud environments.

Choices -- Today's technology allows a wide range of choices for most people with hearing losses. Hearing aids are designed for your specific needs. There are a number of circuit and microphone choices, as well as styles and sizes of hearing aids to pick and choose from. Hearing aids now can be hidden completely in the ear canal. However, if you are expecting to hear the best you can with amplification, it is in your best interest to listen to the advice of your audiologist when it comes to size and benefits. Small is not always best, and large is not always necessary.

Dissatisfaction -- It is important to recognize that dissatisfaction with hearing aids is most often associated with your personal issues of motivation. If you are getting hearing aids to appease your loved ones, you're basing the right decision on the wrong reason. More people are satisfied with their hearing aids when they have their family's support. So when your loved ones encourage you to seek help, or wear hearing aids, it's important to try to welcome their support. They care enough about you to want you engaged in their social interchanges, and they want you to hear as well as you can.

Emotions -- There are a number of emotions one experiences as a result of untreated hearing loss, including depression and anxiety, anger and hostility, frustration and embarrassment, lower self-esteem, increased feelings of isolation, resentment, paranoia and avoidance. The emotional impact of hearing loss is substantially reduced and often eliminated through hearing aid use.

Feedback -- There are two areas of feedback worth mentioning. First, get feedback from those who love you about what they think you should do regarding your hearing loss and acquiring hearing aids. Maybe someone close to you can make a recommendation regarding the professional you should see. If you are courageous enough to ask for this feedback, be fair enough to listen with an open heart.

The second area of feedback pertains to what happens when you wear hearing aids. The "squealing" you hear is known as feedback. It is a normal process in a hearing aid or any amplified device. It will not impair the function of a hearing aid, and it is actually a way that many wearers can tell if their hearing aid battery is charged (typically by palming the hand over their ear). There are times with more highly powered hearing aids that undesirable feedback may occur, for example, on the telephone. There are tricks of the trade that can help diminish this, and in some cases, even eliminate it. Just ask your audiologist.

Guilt -- Some people pursue hearing aids out of sheer guilt. They're tired of hearing their loved ones tell them how miserable it is living with someone who refuses help. If guilt gets you into an audiologist's office for help -- which isn't so bad -- you can expect that this guilt will be resolved as you go through the hearing aid acquisition process.

Hearing again -- This is a proven way to eliminate your guilt over delaying the inevitable. It may be quite the challenge for you to slip out of your quiet world, make necessary changes and enter the noisier world. But once you reawaken to how easy communication can be, with the strain to hear gone (or greatly diminished), you will surprise yourself with how nice it is to rejoin your hearing world.

Ill-fitting -- While you may be aware of the presence of hearing aids in your ears, they should fit comfortably. If you have discomfort, or the instruments are ill-fitting, you should tell your audiologist. It is very easy to remedy this by modifying the shell. Discomfort in the ear should be no issue at all.

Jokes -- Okay, you already know about missing the punch lines. But the joke could be on you -- new acquaintances will not be aware of your hearing problems, and they may draw false conclusions. They may think you're not interested in them, or not paying attention, or you've had a stroke, suffer from poor memory, perhaps some dementia, or a host of other problems.

Knowledge -- The more educated you are about what to expect regarding your hearing aid experience, the more accepting you will be about their limitations. Hearing aids are very good, but they are not perfect. Successful hearing aid use does not mean hearing everything you hope to hear. It means hearing much better than you otherwise would hear. Hearing aids do not restore hearing. Even with the best hearing aid technology, hearing aids perform their poorest in the presence of competing noise.

Limitations -- There are two potential limitations with hearing aids: the physical hearing aids themselves, and their effectiveness during use:

Hearing aids have certain limitations that may require you mastering new challenges. Keep in mind they are electrical devices housed in a very humid environment -- your ear. Moisture and electricity are not a good mix. This can result in occasional breakdown and failure, especially if you do not take proper care of them.

Their effectiveness should pleasantly surprise you. But you can't expect the impossible. There may be some sounds that are occasionally too loud, others too soft. Finding the right balance requires a skilled audiologist to fit the hearing aids, and even then, you may have to endure some frustrations. It will require you adapting to an imperfect world. Yet, it's worth repeating that no one who gets used to hearing aids prefers not using them. Take the challenge. Work with them. It gets better over time.

Maintenance -- Daily hearing aid maintenance should include handling them carefully; keeping them away from pets; and avoid all airborne chemicals like aerosols (deodorants, perfumes, hairsprays). Hearing aids are not moisture resistant, so keep them away from saunas, pools, and showers. You must conduct your own maintenance program to assure their optimal performance. There are four simple nightly rules before retiring to bed. 1. Wipe off the hearing aid with a handkerchief or other soft cloth that will not shred. 2. Inspect for wax and remove it if you find it. 3. Brush the faceplate (the surface facing out of the ear) where the battery door and microphone are housed (this removes fine particles that can collect). 4. Open the battery door overnight to save power, and store them in a container designed for moisture reduction. This will reduce the chances for breakdown.

Noise -- The most challenging acoustic environment for hearing aids is noise. Yet, this is something you can often control. Manipulate your acoustic environment. Seat yourself away from noise, such as in corners, or near padded walls, or closer to objects that absorb or block sound like tall plants or pillars. At social gatherings, rather than mingle through the crowd, remain more on the periphery, and if possible, let people come to you. If you have better hearing in one ear, direct the better ear toward the conversation when around noise. You can expect to hear better when you take charge of your acoustic environment.

One vs. Two -- Many people are quite surprised when an audiologist recommends two hearing aids. One hearing aid cannot compensate for loss of hearing in two ears. Binaural hearing allows for improved hearing in quiet and noise, and better sound localization. Using only one hearing aid when two are indicated results in you turning the volume up. Consequently, you're also turning unwanted environmental noise louder (especially true in analog hearing aids). When a second hearing aid is introduced, you will turn down the volume on the first one, and you will certainly hear better.

Patience -- Be patient. The average person requires up to four months of hearing aid use before feeling really comfortable with them.

Questions -- Ask you audiologist plenty of them! It's best if you keep a diary, logging as many positive and negative experiences as you can. Be specific about the problems you experience. Don't just report that you didn't hear the sermon well at church. Report on where you sat, who was speaking, how large the facility was, were others saying they had trouble, was anything blocking your path, did the speaker use the microphone correctly? The more information you give to your audiologist, the more efficient he or she will be in addressing your questions and offering you solutions.

Rumors -- Don't believe them. Instead, find an audiologist through a reliable source, perhaps from friends pleased with their hearing aids. Find someone who has years of service, a high level of knowledge, and is empathetic to your needs. And believe far more in your own experiences than the rumors.

Stigma -- Some people believe there is a stigma to wearing hearing aids. The truth is hearing loss is more noticeable than hearing aids.

Tinnitus -- Some people report that their tinnitus (ringing in their ears) is reduced or temporarily gone while using hearing aids. Perhaps it's wise not to expect this, but enjoy it if it happens.

Underrated -- Hearing aids are probably the most underrated medical device used in America today. Millions of Americans are not benefiting from amplification, due to ignorance, rumors, myths and lack of professional support. The most trusted and reliable source -- physicians -- unfortunately know little about hearing aids and therefore only infrequently make appropriate referrals for them. You don't have to be one of these statistics if you take it upon yourself to seek hearing healthcare help. More than 90 percent of all hearing losses fit with hearing aids are due to nerve loss or inner ear damage.

Victory -- You certainly spend a lot of money on other people, especially those you love. Do not begrudge making the investment of hearing aids in yourself. Appropriate amplification can immediately increase the quality of your life, and is the victory you've been waiting for.

Worry -- Remember that Jamaican song that played throughout America a few years ago? "Dooon't worryyyyy! Beeeeeee Happy!" It's rock solid advice. We spend more time worrying about what we want to do (or not do) than the time it takes to achieve it.

You -- Expectations are all about you. There is little doubt that hearing loss has taken its toll on relationships. You can start the healing once you address your hearing problem. By getting hearing aids, wearing them, and letting the experience speak for itself, you make meaningful changes in the world around you. The arguments and issues over not hearing well are gone. With the effective use of hearing aids, one thing you can expect is more joy in your life.

Zigzagging -- If you decline helping yourself through amplification, your path will be one of zigzagging through high-level emotions that could be currently tormenting you and your loved ones. Without hearing aids, you can expect to live without trusting what you hear. Enduring these uncertainties is not necessary. No one can help you until you are willing to help yourself. Seek the advice of an audiologist.

For further information about hearing aids or find an audiologist in your area check out the Audiology Awareness Campaign at www.audiologyawareness.com. Call (888) 833-EARS (3277) for a free 15-page booklet called "Listen Up America… We Hear You". Direct inquiries to Dr. Kathy Landau Goodman, audiologist and chairperson of the Audiology Awareness Campaign.

Courtesy of ARA Content