Myths & Misconceptions About Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
Many people have misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids. Understanding the facts is important for people to achieve better hearing and overall health. Here are five common myths about hearing loss and hearing aids.
1. Myth – Only older adults suffer hearing loss.
Out of the estimated 48 million Americans with hearing loss, 66% are younger than age 65. A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at comprehensive data. The researchers found that 20% of children between the ages of 12 and 19 had hearing loss in one or both ears. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that as many as 1.1 billion adolescents and young adults could be at risk of suffering hearing loss because of listening to loud music or videos on smartphones and other personal audio devices as well as going to noisy venues, including sports events, bars, and nightclubs.
2. Myth – Hearing loss has no impact on overall health.
People who have untreated hearing loss have a higher risk of experiencing the following problems:
- Falls
- Depression
- Social isolation
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia
Researchers have found that wearing hearing aids can prevent or reverse some of these problems.
3. Myth – Hearing aids work the same as eyeglasses.
Hearing aids work differently than eyeglasses. When someone has correctable vision problems, they can instantly have their vision corrected to 20/20 by putting their eyeglasses on. By contrast, people who have hearing loss will need time for their brains to adjust to sound signals from hearing aids. Every person has different abilities to hear varying sound frequencies, so a hearing aid must be programmed to the individual patient’s unique hearing ability. Fine-tuning the hearing aids may require several appointments with the audiologist. Even the best hearing aids can’t restore a patient’s hearing to 100%.
4. Myth – Hearing loss is inevitable and can’t be prevented.
Hearing loss can be caused by many factors, including exposure to loud noise, taking certain types of medication, and genetics. It can also result from diabetes and smoking. Rates of hearing loss have been increasing because of the cumulative effects of multiple factors. Many of these factors are preventable causes of hearing loss. This is especially true of the cumulative effect of loud noise exposure.
5. Myth – Since my hearing is mostly okay, I don’t need hearing aids.
Some people think that they don’t need hearing aids when they have hearing losses in some sound frequencies but not in others. However, mild hearing loss can have a major impact on your social life, home life, and work life and can affect your cognitive functioning. However, if you treat your hearing loss with hearing aids, your brain will be able to relearn hearing. Hearing aids are correlated with improved independence, mobility, social skills, communication, and mood.
Talk to Audiology by Accent
If you have noticed signs that you aren’t hearing as well as you used to, you should speak to the audiologists at Audiology by Accent. We can test your hearing and help you address any hearing loss that you might have. Call us today to schedule an appointment at (352) 271-5373.
