Hearing Loss and

Hearing Aids

Information for Adults

 

by Gustav F. Haas, Ph.D.

 

Do you feel that your family and friends mumble?  Do you have trouble understanding people in noisy environments?  You may be one of millions of Americans with a hearing loss.  Almost everyone senses a gradual decline in hearing with age, starting in one's twenties.  This hearing loss is sometimes accelerated, and can be accompanied by ringing or noises in the ears, in persons who have been exposed to intense noise for short periods, or to lesser noise over a period of years as may happen in loud but not necessarily painful occupational settings.  Such sensorineural or "nerve" hearing losses, when developing gradually on both sides, cannot generally be treated medically.  Other hearing losses, especially those with a rapid onset or accompanied by pain or other symptoms, do require prompt medical attention.

So before considering hearing aids, you should consult your family doctor or an ear physician, to see if medical treatment can help.  If this has been ruled out, the decision whether to obtain hearing aids becomes a personal one.  In some cases the loss may be so slight that hearing aids will not make much difference.  In others, the improvement will be immediately obvious to the wearer.  If undecided, you should consult those with whom you communicate the most, since they will be spared the effort of speaking in a raised voice and may often benefit most from your initial use of hearing aids.  Hearing aids will not restore perfect clarity of sound, but can be a big help in amplifying people's voices and environmental sounds.

Where should you go for advice?  First, consult your health plan or health insurance to see if hearing tests or hearing aids are covered.  If you are a veteran, check with the V.A. hospital in your area.  It is best to obtain a hearing test and advice from an audiologist, who will either dispense hearing aids him/herself or refer you to a hearing aid dispenser.  Both audiologists and hearing aid dispensers must be licensed in California; the dispenser must have practical knowledge of hearing and hearing aids, while the audiologist is required to have additional education and experience in the prevention, diagnosis and non-medical rehabilitation of hearing impairment, and usually holds a master's or a Ph.D. degree.

Hearing aids are almost always sold on a 30-day trial basis, after which they can be returned, usually for a nominal rental fee.  Avoid sources that do not provide a trial period.  Choose persons with a good reputation in the community, and avoid special "deals" that are promoted with high-pressure advertising and sales tactics.  There are now many diverse types and styles available, including high-end digital devices that allow an astronomical number of different programming combinations. These can provide better sound and more accurate fit to your particular hearing loss, but only if fitted by a person who has the considerable technical know-how needed to take advantage of all the available features.

Inquire about the guarantee period and conditions and, if comparing prices, be sure to understand what is included in each quotation. Hearing tests, consultations, instrument selection, custom fittings and follow-up visits may be charged separately or included in an overall figure.

It will take some time to adapt to hearing aids once you have obtained them.  You will need to get used to the increased level of your own voice as well as environmental sounds you may not have heard for some time.  During follow-up visits, modifications or adjustments to the instruments, as well as instructions in their use, can be as important as the selection of the model itself.  Be sure to have all your questions answered during the trial period, so you can give the instruments a fair chance, and at the same time gain sufficient  experience to decide whether or not to keep them at the end of the trial.  Whether you end up with hearing aids or not, return, at the intervals suggested by your provider, for rechecking your hearing loss; some people can also benefit from further instruction in listening, lipreading, and other communication skills.

Finally, don't let anyone tell you these myths: "nerve" losses cannot be helped by hearing aids; hearing aids will further reduce your hearing; or a single make, style or model is best for all persons.

With properly fitted hearing aids, you should find communicating, and life in general, much easier.

 

 

 

Dr. Haas has done research on hearing and hearing aid design, and had a practice in Audiology and hearing aid dispensing for 19 years at The Hearing Center in Redwood City, CA.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

 

California Academy of Audiology lists resources on its web site: www.caaud.org.

 

Calif. Department of Consumer Affairs, Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau, P.O. Box 980490,
W. Sacramento, CA 95857-0490. (916) 327-3433
www.dca.ca.gov/hearingaid.

 

The Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California, 1234 Divisadero Street, San Francisco Ca, 94115 (415-921-7658) publishes a poster "Tips for Talking to the Hard of Hearing" in 14 languages, provides hearing aids and counseling at reduced fees for people unable to afford purchase, has an exhibit of assistive listening devices, and accepts donations as a non-profit organization. www.hearingspeech.org

 

Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly SHHH), 7910 Woodmont Ave - Suite 1200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. (301-657-2248 [Voice], 301-657-2249 [TT]) publishes a bimonthly magazine; write for local chapter address and activities. http://www.hearingloss.org.

 

Listed below are some national organizations that can provide information and publications:

American Academy of Audiology, 8300 Greensboro Drive, #750, McLean, VA 22102.  (703/790-8466; www.audiology.org)

Better Hearing Institute, 5021-B Backlick Road, Annandale, VA 22003. www.betterhearing.org.

 

Adapted and updated 10/08 from the 8/82 issue of HEALTHLINE, most recently published by Mosby-Year Book, Inc.,  11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146.