Hearing Aid - Dispelling Three Common Myths
As it is with seemingly every health specialty, there are a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding auditory loss and, by extension, the use of a hearing aid. There are three common myths that should be addressed.
These myths persist even in the face of audiologists and ear,
nose, and throat physicians doing everything they can to stamp them out. Unfortunately, people seem to be attracted to misinformation and it has a tendency to spread like wildfire. The problem with this is that it sometimes prevents people from getting the help they need. If more people knew the truth, it might be easier to treat the issue of auditory impairment.
My auditory loss is beyond treatment.
So many patients seem to think this. In many ways, it is related to a common myth about contact lenses and laser eye surgery, where many potential candidates believe that they are unable to seek out treatment. It's not entirely certain what's behind these misconceptions, but there are probably two main sources - outdated information and the Internet. People who visited a doctor for their auditory loss twenty years ago sometimes believe that what they were told then is still valid, but things have changed a lot in that time. Over 90% of all auditory loss can be treated to some degree with a hearing aid. Don't believe everything you see or read. Go and find out for yourself if there is a solution that could help you.
Auditory loss is something only seniors deal with.
Once upon a time, this might have been largely true, but it isn't anymore. We live in a world with an increasing volume. Noise pollution, loud televisions, and blasting iPods have all contributed to the population seeing more and more examples of auditory loss at younger ages. If you've noticed issues with your ability to hear, but figure it couldn't possibly be auditory loss because of your age, think again. Visit an audiologist and have your ears checked. You may benefit from wearing a hearing aid.
I don't need a hearing aid.
For some reason, there is a prominent misconception that says that you need to be almost profoundly deaf before you need to consider getting an assistive listening device. Why should that be? If you aren't able to hear as well as you would like to, then you should visit a hearing center and see what can be done. While no device can replace your natural ears, there may be a solution that can help you hear much better than you can right now.
By educating yourself about these common misconceptions, you can make better informed decisions about your treatment options.
