Hearing aids are advanced pieces of technology. There are many different styles, brands, and models that can be a lot to take in at once. However, even beyond the basics of what kinds of hearing aids exist and how they work, we often receive tons of further questions about them. There are many common questions that have to do with specific concerns and functionality.
Here are the most common questions our clients ask us about hearing aids.
People often replace their hearing aids three to five years after they have purchased them. Hearing aids can function longer than five years, but they are often replaced because new technology has come out in the time period which has improved the listening experience.
Here are some signs that it might be time to replace your old hearing aids:
Cleaning your hearing devices every day and scheduling routine appointments with your hearing professional will help ensure optimal performance over the lifespan of your hearing aids.
Some people who notice they are experiencing hearing loss start by going to their doctor or an otolaryngologist – a board-certified doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat problems, then get referred to a hearing healthcare professional.
You should see a hearing healthcare professional that can determine whether you might have an underlying medical issue that is causing your hearing loss and refer you to a physician if necessary.
Here are somethings to look for when working with a provider:
Your hearing care professional will help you determine which hearing aid best suits your needs. There are many factors to take into consideration when deciding which hearing aid is best for you, including:
If you don’t wear hearing aids your hearing won’t necessarily get worse as your hearing loss may gradually decline whether you wear hearing aids or not. Though your ability to understand speech is likely to get worse faster than if you were to wear hearing aids.
When you leave your hearing loss untreated, even if you’re able to hear speech, overtime you won’t be able to understand speech because your hearing nerves aren't functioning well. However, when you wear hearing aids, your brain receives enough stimulation to continue functioning properly. So, the longer you wait to get hearing aids, or to wear them, the less stimulation your hearing nerves get and the worse you become at recognizing speech.
Not wearing hearing aids can also affect your health. Wearing hearing aids can also improve your balance which decreases your risk of falls.
Sleeping with your hearing aids in is not recommended as it can damage your hearing aids and cause discomfort. Outlined is a few reasons why we recommended taking your hearing aids out of your ears when you go to sleep:
Unfortunately, getting a hearing aid isn’t as cut and dry as it might seem. When buying a hearing aid, you will want an aid that works for your level of hearing loss. This will require you to take a hearing test which will measure the degree of hearing loss.
Once the hearing test is complete a hearing care professional will review the results of the test with you and discuss which hearing aids would work best for you. If you require a hearing aid it will need to be programmed based on those results by a hearing healthcare professional.
Do you have a question about hearing aids that we didn’t cover on this page? Click below to select our clinic nearest to your postal code to speak with a local hearing healthcare professional about your questions. There are 45 Helix Hearing Care clinics located across Ontario and Manitoba. You can request an appointment at your Helix clinic at any time.