Hearing loss has become a common problem now. Fortunately, many people have started taking it seriously. However, some are even living with a bubble of hope that can burst at any time.
Talking about those false bubbles, below mentioned are Five of the most common myths about hearing aids that are generally heard by our audiologists at our clinic.
Myth 1. : Only older persons are impacted by hearing loss.
Around 48 million people in India are projected to have hearing loss, and around two-thirds of them are under 65.
One in five youngsters between the ages of 12 and 19 was found to have some indication of hearing loss in one or both ears, according to a 2022 Journal of the Medical Association research that looked at a comprehensive data set of the Indian population. According to a recent World Health Organization report, 1.1 billion adolescents and young adults are at risk of developing hearing loss “due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, including smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at noisy entertainment venues, such as nightclubs, bars, and sporting events.”
Myth 2: My overall health is unaffected by my hearing loss.
The risk of cognitive decline, dementia, falls, social isolation, and depression rises when hearing loss is neglected. The “cognitive load” on the brain is thought to deplete resources the brain employs for other tasks, like short-term memory. Researchers have found that several of these disorders can be reversed or even prevented by treating hearing loss, such as using hearing aids.
Myth 3: It is impossible to stop hearing loss, especially as we age.
Fact: Numerous factors contribute to hearing loss, including heredity, some drugs, and loud noise exposure. Hearing loss can also be caused by smoking and diabetes. The cumulative impact of today’s loud society has increased the incidence of hearing loss, which manifests itself over a lifetime—that is, in older adults—much like skin damage from sun exposure. The largest preventable cause of hearing loss is noise exposure.
Myth 4: Since my hearing is generally good, I don’t require hearing aids.
It is simpler to brush off a hearing loss when it only affects some frequencies and not others. Your cognitive ability, employment, family life, and social life can all be negatively impacted by even moderate hearing loss. Fortunately, due to the flexibility of the brain, curing hearing loss enables the brain to retrain its hearing abilities. Improved attitude, mood, mobility, independence, communication, and social engagement are all associated with proper hearing aid use.
Myth 5: Glasses and hearing aids are similar.
Factual statement: When using glasses, 20/20 vision can be rectified right away. Hearing is an exception to this rule since the brain requires some time to get used to the sound coming from the hearing aid. The hearing aid needs to be configured to the patient’s hearing ability because each person has a unique audiogram and has varying skills to hear different frequencies. Fine-tuning may require multiple visits to the audiologist or other hearing healthcare specialist. Even the most cutting-edge hearing aids won’t completely restore hearing, and auditory training may be necessary to help the brain process sounds. To use glasses, there is no vision training required