Is Hearing Loss Affecting Your Life?
Hearing. For most of your life, it’s as natural as breathing. You listen without thinking. Converse with ease. Wake from sleep to the subtlest of audio cues. Yet little by little, things have changed. You realize how often you have to ask people to repeat themselves. How exhausting it’s become to attend a meeting. And how the TV is too loud for everyone but you. You still wake up and smell the coffee, but you haven’t been hearing its gentle drip – or half of what the morning FM deejay has been saying. What’s going on?
Explore the topics above, learn about hearing loss, including the importance of hearing, how to spot the signs of hearing loss, either in yourself or someone close to you, and intriguing facts and myths about hearing loss.
Importance of Hearing in Contemporary Life
What does it mean to have a hearing loss?
It could mean not hearing the doorbell ring or your spouse call you from another room. It could mean missing key information in a business meeting or avoiding seeing friends for fear of being “found out.”
Hearing loss can interfere with the quality of your life, restricting your ability to interact with others, causing misunderstandings and fatigue, heightening stress and filtering out the myriad of sound experiences that give pleasure and meaning to life. And not incidentally, hearing loss can be a safety issue. What happens when you don’t hear the smoke detector?
Yet most people hesitate to act when it comes to treating a hearing loss.
Part of the problem is that onset is gradual (and virtually invisible). In fact, it can take years for hearing loss to develop. Part of the problem is denial. Hearing loss may be a natural part of the aging process, but few of us want to admit to growing older.
But perhaps the biggest problem is how we view hearing loss, both as a culture and as individuals. Hearing loss has always carried something of a stigma in comparison to failing eyesight, for example—and as a society, we even tackle hair loss or impotence before hearing loss.
Fortunately, that’s changing, fueled in part by your search for knowledge at sites like this one. So, congratulations on taking a step towards making hearing loss not just another topic in the healthcare forum. In this section, read on to learn how to spot the signs of hearing loss, in yourself or someone close to you.
What Can I Do About Hearing Loss?
While hearing loss isn’t reversible, most age or noise related loss can be managed and often compensated for. Sometimes that means medication or surgery. But just as eyeglasses are used to correct most vision problems, hearing instruments are used to treat most kinds of hearing loss.
Any treatment starts with a screening of your hearing by a doctor or hearing professional. Once you know the nature and extent of the hearing loss, you’ll be able to make your own decisions about treatment.
But first, take the opportunity to educate yourself about hearing and how hearing loss occurs.
Impact of Hearing Loss on the Hearing Impaired
Hearing loss usually comes on gradually. So gradually, that many people don’t even realize it’s happening. Your brain helps you adapt in subtle ways: you begin asking others to repeat themselves; you turn up the volume on the TV or radio; you turn your “good” ear towards the source of the sound.
While these coping mechanisms are helpful, they’re also a signal that hearing loss is taking place. And besides just finding it difficult to hear, you may begin to experience emotional and psychological effects, including:
- Anxiety about being in social situations
- Difficulty in interacting with children or grandchildren
- No longer able to enjoy music
- No longer able to enjoy theater, church or speakers
- Growing sense of isolation from others
- Depression and withdrawal
If you’re experiencing any of the above, seeking treatment is important. First, it makes sense to find out whether your hearing loss has a medical cause. If not, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing this. Most hearing loss can be helped, and taking action can help you empower yourself and live more fully, no matter what the nature or severity of your hearing loss.
Impact of Hearing Loss on Friends and Family
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect individuals—it affects everyone who interacts with them. While the hearing-impaired person in your life may experience anxiety, isolation and depression, you may feel irritation, frustration, anger and helplessness.
These feelings are normal, as is your desire to help. The single most important thing you can do is suggest that your friend or family member get a professional evaluation of their hearing. Avoid making fun of the person, or letting yourself become irritated, as well as becoming “co-dependent” or over-protective. Instead, talk openly and try to help them recognize their hearing problem for themselves. Suggest that they take a look at this and other hearing-related sites.
A hearing-impaired person may withdraw from social situations or refrain from favorite hobbies such as music or watching TV. They may avoid interaction with others for fear of appearing confused, inept, or in the case of the elderly, senile. Those with hearing loss can become depressed, indifferent and insecure because they can’t understand what people are saying. Preventing this kind of isolation is one of the ways in which friends and family members can help most.
Dealing with Denial
Denial is often our first reaction when faced with evidence of any health problem. Many people have trouble accepting that they have a hearing loss. They may feel their hearing loss just isn’t “bad enough” to warrant treatment, or that seeking treatment would be an admission of advancing age and failing health. Others are embarrassed by the idea of wearing a hearing instrument.
It may help to realize that having a mild to moderate hearing loss – and most age- or noise-related hearing loss falls into this category – is much like having a correctable vision impairment. No one with impaired vision would hesitate to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses—in fact, you couldn’t hold a driver’s license without doing so—yet most of us do hesitate when it comes to treating hearing loss.
It may also help to know that you’re not alone – in fact, you’re in the company of millions.
Keep in mind that many options in hearing instruments are available. New technologies have made hearing instruments much less noticeable and far more sophisticated in their ability to improve hearing. Studies have also shown that adults who wear hearing instruments see significant improvements in other aspects of their lives, including self-esteem, better relationships with others and a more emotionally rewarding social life.
About Hearing Instruments - Expectations
“Hearing instruments changed my life.”
“Hearing instruments don’t work – period.”
No matter what you’ve heard about hearing instruments, none of it matters until your own ears are in question. Then, nothing is more interesting than learning all there is to know about these emotionally and electronically loaded little devices: the aesthetics, the size, the microchips, the bells, the whistles, the possibilities, the costs, the success stories.
In this section, we’ll try to give you the reality: the information you need to consider and what you can really expect if you choose to wear hearing instruments.
New Life Hearing Centers works with the world leaders in hearing technology such as Starkey, Resound, Widex, Phonak, Unitron, and others to bring you a comprehensive family of digital hearing solutions available with a wide variety of advanced digital signal processing features.
In order to determine which instrument is best for you, a complete hearing screening is recommended. If hearing instruments are deemed appropriate, your New Life hearing professional will work closely with you to select the type and size that is best suited for your hearing requirements.
Factors to Consider
What should you think about in buying hearing instruments? Following is a list of seven factors to consider. All other things aside, your hearing instrument must be a good match for your loss characteristics, fit comfortably and be adjustable, either manually, by you, or automatically. Read through these factors and make some notes as to your priorities so you can discuss them with your New Life hearing professional.
Loss Characteristics: The nature and severity of your hearing loss will play a large role in determining which hearing instruments are ultimately recommended to you. Your hearing professional can help you understand your unique loss characteristics, and explain the models that would best suit your needs.
Lifestyle: Consider your life, work, free-time activities. What are the things you do that are most affected by hearing loss? What are the things, if any, that you’re not able to do because of a hearing loss? Define your needs and set priorities. Your job may also be a factor. If you work outdoors in the elements or travel frequently, and are concerned about a hearing instrument’s durability, you may want to consider a back-up instrument.
Technology: Sound quality is perhaps the most important consideration—it’s why you’re even considering purchasing hearing instruments, after all. Not every technological advance benefits every hearing loss, and it’s safe to say that even basic hearing instruments can deliver appropriate sound quality. Consult your hearing professional—he or she will help you assess the level of sophistication you need based on a range of issues.
Handling: The smallest hearing instruments are the most discreet, but they are, well, small. If your eyesight or dexterity are less than what they used to be, size may indeed matter. Alternatively, some new instruments adjust automatically or via remote control. Your hearing professional will instruct you as to your best choices.
Appearance: Hearing instruments come in a variety of sizes, from tiny, completely-in-the-canal models to those that sit behind the ear. Many people are overly concerned about appearance, and it’s wise to remember that others will be far less aware of your instrument than you. Most hearing instruments are quite discreet. Keep in mind that hairstyle can also play a role.
Physiology: Physical factors can also influence your selection of a hearing instrument. The shape and size of the outer ear and ear canal can make it difficult for some people to wear particular styles. For example, if your canal is extremely narrow, in-the-canal instruments may not work for you. Your New Life hearing professional will help determine which hearing instrument options are appropriate for you.
One Ear or Two?: Two ears are better than one, since binaural, or two-ear hearing, is what helps us determine where sounds are coming from, and to distinguish between competing sounds more easily. If you have a hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing instrument. Age- and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, then you will benefit more with a binaural approach. In addition, some of the benefits of digital technology require two hearing instruments.
Today, about two-thirds of new purchasers opt for dual hearing instruments, and as a group, they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single instrument. Discuss the pros and cons with your New Life hearing professional.
The Value Equation
Improving your hearing and adding to your quality of life is hard to put a price tag on.
While it might seem odd, it’s not really what’s inside the piece of plastic that you’re paying for—it’s how well the hearing instrument improves your quality of life. The real value is what it’s worth to be able to fully engage in your relationships, work and the activities you enjoy.
You may also want to think about what you value most in terms of a hearing instrument’s features and benefits. How important is vanity? How important is the latest technology? The equation of price will depend somewhat on your priorities—and it’s different for everyone.
Hearing instruments generally run from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, and pricing varies between hearing professionals.
Typically, costs reflect the amount of research and development that has gone into the product as well as quality of the components, with the smallest, most technologically advanced instruments at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. However, you can also get hearing instruments that provide a good benefit in a modest price range.
Developing Realistic Expectations
Some people put on a hearing instrument and hear better right away. For most, there is more of an adjustment period. The single most important factor in the process is the attitude and commitment of the wearer—and the development of realistic expectations.
Just as if you had a knee replacement or other medical procedure, you can expect to go through a period of rehabilitation, followed by adjustment to your new circumstances. You can also expect that this will take some time. You’ll need both a willingness to go through that process, as well as the patience to re-learn a new way of hearing.
Part of that re-learning is recognizing that hearing instruments won’t replicate the way you used to hear, nor will they restore or prevent further loss. Most people gain significant improvement in their sense of hearing with hearing instruments, though it is a gradual process that can and will take some time. To learn more, select from the topics on the right.
Adjusting to Hearing Instruments
There are two things to know right from the start. One, hearing instruments don’t sound the same as having your old hearing. And two, adjusting to wearing them takes time. Just like getting comfortable with a pair of bifocals, you may experience some frustration at first, but it will pass in time.
The single biggest determinant of success is your attitude toward your new hearing instruments. In the beginning, you’ll need to make a conscious effort to wear them consistently, and work with them in a variety of situations.
However, don’t overdo it, especially at first. It makes more sense to integrate hearing instruments into your life gradually, starting with a few hours a day. Overexposure to new stimuli can result in fatigue, discomfort and disappointment—all factors that can actually slow down the learning process. Give it some time. After a few weeks, you should be able to wear your hearing instruments routinely without undue fatigue or tension.
There are also physical adjustments to consider. At first, hearing instruments may feel funny in your ear. Depending on the style, there will be some part of the instrument in your ear or ear canal, which you may find distracting. Minor irritation or inflammation may occur as your ear becomes accustomed to having an object in it. This is usually easily correctable through trimming and polishing by your hearing professional. In fact, many people forget they’re wearing hearing instruments once they’re used to them.
Your voice may also sound funny to you when wearing hearing instruments, due to a phenomenon known as occlusion, the result of air trapped between the hearing instrument and your eardrum. Most new hearing instruments are equipped to minimize this distortion.
Re-learning to Hear
It might help to know that even a person with normal hearing would have to adjust to hearing instruments and how they process and deliver sound to the inner ear. It won’t sound like your normal hearing used to—but you will be able to hear sounds you’ve been missing, and enjoy your sense of hearing again.
When you put on hearing instruments for the first time, you’ll begin hearing sounds you haven’t heard in some time. Your brain actually has to re-learn how to hear these sounds, particularly the complex range of frequencies in human speech. This can take some time. It also requires practice. Research suggests that speech comprehension does increase over a period of several months after hearing instruments are purchased. With consistent and attentive use, you should be able to hear the sounds you’ve been missing, more easily.
Here’s what many people report when first wearing hearing instruments:
- it will take some time to adjust to wearing hearing instruments
- your hearing in quiet environments should improve
- your hearing in situations with background noise should improve, but probably not as much as your hearing in quiet places
- you might begin to notice sounds you haven’t heard for some time, such as the hum of household appliances, or the chirping of a cricket
Why is Digital Technology Better?
Digital technology’s superiority over traditional analog hearing instruments isn’t just what it can do with sounds, but how much better it does it.
By converting the incoming signals into computerized ‘bits,’ they can be processed, or manipulated extremely fast and efficiently in many complex ways using mathematical formulas known as algorithms. This gives digital signal processors (DSP) tremendous speed and agility to recognize sound’s key ingredients.
Like a graphic equalizer in high-end audio systems, algorithms can continually divide sounds into frequency channels. These help preserve and emphasize the higher frequencies containing vital consonant sounds in speech – the “c” and “t” sounds in “cat” – over the distracting rumble of low frequency noise.
Algorithms also manage noise by its duration. While speech sounds’ intensity can change radically in a millisecond, noise is more acoustically stable over a comparatively longer time. Using time, DSP precisely reduces the levels of continuous sounds like traffic noise and household appliances. And it instantaneously readjusts when changes occur, restoring amplification when shorter duration sounds are detected.
That same sensitivity is also useful in quiet surroundings. Utilizing an audio technique called expansion, the digital algorithm senses the consistency of softer environmental sounds from ventilation systems and appliances.
It automatically reduces amplification in the appropriate frequency range, immediately restoring proper levels when the sound pattern changes.
Digital algorithms can also minimize and eliminate the onset of feedback, a common nemesis to hearing instrument use. Within its elaborate frequency channel network, the algorithm detects the elements of feedback before they become audible. It then reduces levels in just those discreet channels, with no noticeable effect on perceived volume levels.
The precision and flexibility of digital technology also gives your hearing professional the ability to more accurately tailor your amplification for the best possible match to your listening and lifestyle needs. This process may include subsequent visits to ensure that you are receiving maximum benefit from your instruments.
In order to determine if the many advantages of digital hearing technology might benefit you, Your New Life hearing professional can complete testing and evaluation are necessary.
Factors for Successful Digital Hearing
Even with all its sophistication, digital technology can’t know the words you need to hear or magically eliminate the noise you don’t want to hear.
That magic only occurs in your brain. With the right kind of input from both ears, it selects and ‘concentrates’ on the desired sounds. A million times more powerfully than any man-made processor.
When a hearing loss alters that input, digital technology can help improve understanding by selectively controlling certain characteristics of the signal.
The rest is up to you.
Your willingness to relearn the necessary listening skills as you adapt to a world of amplified sound is the single most important factor in your success.
Call us today for a free hearing screening and a no obligation consultation to see what's new in better hearing. 816-444-4547
Source: Starkey Laboratories
New Life Hearing Center, 8600 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114 816-444-4547
