Most adults with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids.  Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss in adults.  This is hearing loss that occurs in the inner ear.  There is no medication or surgery for this type of hearing loss, so hearing aids are the best treatment for the majority of hearing loss. 

When patients ask me this question, they do not want a medical answer, they want a personal answer.  You need hearing aids because it is very likely you are not aware of how much impact your hearing loss is having on you and the people you love.  In adults, most hearing loss occurs very gradually and initially we compensate by lip reading, turning up the TV, asking for repetition.  But as the hearing loss progresses, many people withdraw from social activities they enjoy, and they stop taking on new challenges professionally because they fear embarrassing themselves.   This isolation can lead to depression.  In addition, as the Baby Boomer generation ages, even more research is available indicating that untreated hearing loss – that is people who don’t wear hearing aids – can lead to a higher risk for falls and dementia. 

In my audiology clinic, I spent every day battling with resistance to hearing aids.  My patients were always happy to wear updated, fashion forward glasses, but when presented with today’s small, sleek hearing aids – they would tell me they do not want to look old.  I love the quote attributed to Helen Keller:  Blindness separates us from things, deafness separates us from people.   Not wearing hearing aids impacts every relationship you have.

Humans are built with two ears – signals from both ears are necessary to hear and understand speech and to locate where in our environment sound is coming from.  Just like our eyes – our ears work together to provide our brains with the most information about our environment.  Today’s hearing aids are designed to work as a pair.  Using a wireless signal, the hearing aids are programmed and linked to each other to improve noise reduction capabilities and create a signal that is as close to normal hearing as possible.    If you have hearing loss in both ears, you will have the best function with two hearing aids.

If you are a new hearing aid user, expect several follow up visits after your initial hearing aid fitting.  It takes time to adjust to wearing hearing aids--working with your provider to address problems and complaints immediately will ensure you obtain the most benefit from your hearing aids.  Once you have your hearing aids adjusted to be comfortable for daily use, I recommend a check up at least twice a year.  This gives your hearing health care provider an opportunity to inspect your hearing aids and look for any issues that might need repair.  Hearing aids are digital and operate using software just like your computer or smart phone.   Hearing aid manufacturers provide software updates that may improve hearing aid function and performance.  Your hearing health care provider can update your hearing aid software in just a few minutes at your check up visit. 

Having a hearing loss is difficult for everyone.  We never want to see ourselves as impaired or unable to function.  The advances in hearing aid technology have made hearing aids more effective and easier to use than ever before.  They have transformed from large, obvious medical devices to small, high tech communication gear.  But no hearing aid works if you aren’t willing to wear it.  I encourage anyone with hearing loss to investigate what hearing aid options are available and how they can work for you.   You can’t know what you don’t know.   We do know that untreated hearing loss can have severe consequences for mental and physical health.  Take the next step and reconnect to the world of hearing and sound.  You won’t regret it.