It is strange that in a country where hearing loss is the third most common condition, the treatment for hearing loss should still be so taboo that no one wishes to openly disclose it. The problem with hearing aids is that those who actually get noticeable benefits out of them are never comfortable enough to spread the word. As a result, many people have the misconception that hearing aids are too complicated, expensive, difficult to use, etc. because this is the feedback spread by the rare unsatisfied customer.
People still carry an outdated perception of hearing aids in their minds, which might make them aversive to getting them. In reality, if they knew about the current features of modern hearing aids, they would be calling their audiologist right away to get them!
Think for a moment about what image comes to mind when someone says “hearing aids.” You probably think about clunky and large devices that are attached behind a person’s ears. Even though this is indeed one type of hearing aid that is available, it is by no means the only type. In fact, some modern hearing aids are so small and discreet that they are almost invisible to the naked eye.
When it comes to hearing aids, there are many factors to consider. There are people who can benefit most from the larger devices since they provide better amplification. This can be useful for those with severe hearing loss. Most people with hearing loss, however, usually range anywhere between mild to moderate level. This means that a larger variety of hearing aid models are at their disposal. Many of these are appealing, discreet, and have exciting new features.
Nowadays, hearing aids are no longer used only to help people listen. They can actually act as a fitness trainer, a personal assistant, an extension of your phone, and even an entertainment medium. Modern hearing aids can synchronize with your smart phones to provide you unlimited hours of entertainment, stream calls directly to the hearing devices, and even monitor your heart rate and the number of steps you take each day!
Hearing aids also have GPS settings these days that enable you to pre-program your preferred hearing aid settings for any given location. This means you no longer have to manually adjust your hearing aids each time you go out. You can even purchase rechargeable hearing aids that do not need disposable batteries since the entire hearing aid itself can be recharged. With so many exciting new features in hearing aids, it is time to talk to your audiologist about seeing whether they could be a good fit for you or someone you love.