Nearly 40 million Americans having hearing loss. However, only a fraction of those struggling to hear seek treatment, and look after their hearing health. Living with untreated hearing loss has a long list of negative side effects, and those who shy away from treating hearing loss could be doing far more damage than they realize.
The Cost of Hearing Aids
One big reason that Americans don’t treat their hearing loss is the high cost associated with hearing aids. Medicaid and Medicare don’t normally cover the costs of hearing aids, and since the devices are a big investment up front, many Americans look for alternative solutions.
Over the Counter Hearing Aids
Have you been considering over the counter (OTC) hearing aids? They’re inexpensive, and promise to help you hear. Sadly, many OTC devices don’t live up to expectations. OTC hearing aids aren’t custom fitted to fit your unique ear, and a poor fitting device can lead to feedback, whistling, or discomfort. Not only do these devices not fit your ear, they also don’t fit your hearing loss. When you purchase devices from a hearing health specialist, your devices will be programed to fit your unique hearing profile, and calibrated to provide exactly the right help. You can also go in for adjustments and follow-up consultations, which aren’t included in the cost of OTC devices.
Have you tried an over the counter device and had a bad experience? Many people have tried a cheap hearing device, and were disappointed with the results. This makes people shy away from investing more money and treating hearing loss with a quality pair of hearing aids.
Expecting A Miracle
People often shy away from treating hearing loss because they’re expecting a miracle. They think that treating their hearing loss will restore their hearing, and are disappointed when the devices can’t give them completely natural hearing. It’s important to set realistic expectations, and realize that while hearing aids will give you back your ability to hear, and help you hear in any listening environment, they won’t cure your hearing loss.
The Stigma of Hearing Loss
Another barrier to treating hearing loss is the stigma associated with hearing loss. Many people think that admitting that they’re struggling to hear is like admitting that they’re getting old. The truth is hearing loss affects millions of Americans of all ages, and the only thing that makes you seem old is asking someone to repeat themselves over and over again. A discreet hearing device that lets you hear all the sounds around you will make you seem as young as you feel.
Living with Untreated Hearing Loss
If you have hearing loss, don’t shy away from treating your hearing loss, but do the right thing for your physical, emotional, and mental health. You might not realize that hearing loss affects so many areas of your life, but untreated hearing loss is associated with anxiety, social isolation, depression, and even dementia. You’ll experience more rapid cognitive decline, have trouble focusing on tasks at work, and might even risk losing your job.
Quality Hearing Devices
Those who treat their hearing loss with quality hearing devices are very likely to be extremely satisfied with their hearing. With the support of a hearing health specialist, they invest in the right device for their lifestyle and hearing needs, have programs and settings properly calibrated for their hearing loss, and get hearing care services that will help them adjust to their new devices. They’ll get tips on how to hear better in each listening environment, and get advice on how to increase hearing aid usage, start out using them at home, and get accustomed to all the new sounds in the environment.
Neighborhood Hearing Aid Center
If you’ve been shying away from treating your hearing loss, it’s time to book a hearing test at Neighborhood Hearing Aid Center, and get your life back. You’ll be able to follow conversations, enjoy spending time with family and friends, and concentrate at work. You can finally start that new hobby you’ve been interested in, or safely take the grandchildren to the park. No one will notice the nearly invisible hearing aids tucking behind your ear, or nestling in your ear canal. The only thing they’ll notice is how well you’re hearing, so start your journey to clear hearing today.