MYTH: Hearing aids whistle.
TRUTH:
Whistles should not be present when a hearing aid is properly fitted to the outer ear canal and is of the most recent technology. Possible scenarios include of a hearing aid that whistles are:
- Cut tube in BTE (behind the ear hearing aids)
- It does not fit snugly on the ear
- It is set to high volume
- It has a broken speaker
- It is unsuitable for your hearing loss (if it is a new hearing aid it will need to be set – if it is an old hearing aid it possibly needs replacing)
MYTH: Hearing aids are necessary only when my hearing declines to the point where communicating with others is a difficult.
TRUTH:
Hearing aids collaborate with the live and functional part of your hearing. Therefore it is necessary to apply them when you have at least moderate hearing loss. Visit one of our hearing centers to be fully informed on your options and receive expert advice from one of our specialists.
MYTH: I want to avoid using a hearing aid too soon because i believe that my ear will become lazy and my hearing will decrease sooner.
TRUTH:
The ear becomes “lazy” when it is not used. Our hearing aid does nothing more than “link” us to our auditory environment and keep our aural memory in contact with all acoustic stimuli. So, when we use a hearing aid, our entire auditory system, that results in the brain, is trained to hear sounds that were previously unheard, and the sensitivity of the auditory nerve and its smooth operation are restored.
It is important to understand that hearing aids enhance the hearing only while applicable to the ear canal and do not operate as therapy.
MYTH: Hearing loss is a disease of old age.
TRUTH:
Hearing loss is a disease which affects all ages including newborn infants. The majority of sufferers are aged 46 to 64 years old. Only 37% of the hearing impaired are aged 65 and over. In fact in children until the end of adolescence when the ear canal stops growing, only BTE (behind the ear) hearing aids are applied and there are special wireless (wireless or fm) communication systems for use in school.
MYTH: I heard that hearing aids cause humming and noise.
TRUTH:
Modern hearing aids (nanotechnology) are able to adjust to a normal level of background noise and to further highlight speech without annoying noises.
MYTH: I have been wearing a hearing for two days now but I haven’t heard what I thought I would hear.
TRUTH:
What we want compared to what we are able to hear especially in the first days of the application of the hearing aid does not always match. This is because the brain takes about a week to get used to the sounds outside the house and about three weeks to get used to the sounds of general external environment. So have patience and you will see that sounds that impress you or distress you during the first 2-3 days, will be less noticeable the second week and further on.
Take note of all your annoyances during your first 15 days of using your hearing aids. And in turn mention them to your hearing aid specialist so they can make the appropriate adjustments to your settings to provide you with the hearing you want and need.
MYTH: I should only wear the hearing aid when I need it.
TRUTH:
The hearing aid should be worn from morning till night, otherwise, you will be unable to adapt to the new data that is being provided. Remove the hearing aid and place it in its case before going to bed, as well as in the following situations:
- When you shower or wash your face
- When you are at sea
- When you visit the salon (there is risk of damage from the blow-dryer and the various sprays)
Note: If your hearing aid is waterproof then the first two limitations do not apply.
MYTH: Is it true that hearing aid users hear their voice “unnaturally”?
TRUTH:
The reality is that when people have impaired hearing it is not only the sounds of their environment that are affected, but the the voice of their close ones as well. The truth is that when someone has hearing loss, they find it difficult to hear their own voice as much as the voices of others. This is the reason why those who suffer from moderate and more severe hearing loss, speak louder than so as to be able to hear their voices at a satisfying level. So it will take some time for them to realize that they must speak at a lower volume, just like their close ones speak to them so as not to become annoying. On our site you will find specific instructions on what to do to help.
MYTH: The smaller hearing aids are expensive and more technologically advanced than the larger ones.
TRUTH:
The size of the hearing aid, is not a factor that should be considered by cost or quality. The size of the hearing aid depends on the type of hearing loss some one has and not to the quality of the actual device. All hearing aids can use exactly the same technology regardless of their size or type.
MYTH: The choice of hearing aid regardless if someone has hearing loss in both ears should be guided by the worst ear.
TRUTH:
Mother Nature originally gave us two ears and two eyes. Consider someone wearing a single glass rather than a pair of glasses. The same is true for hearing aids. When we have hearing loss in both ears, we can only achieve the best possible hearing by wearing hearing aids in both ears. This is a requirement of the brain, which is “tuned” to perceive stereo sounds, And not the need of the ears to hear. Stereo hearing from two hearing aids is the ideal solution, especially when distinguishing and understanding speech is difficult.
However, the ultimate solution of using a hearing aid for bilateral hearing loss should be applied to the ear with the best reception, which in 80% of the cases is the less burdened one.