Looking for the Best Hearing Aids 2022 Has to Offer?
How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
Common signs of hearing loss include:
- Difficulty hearing in background noise, public places, or meetings
- Difficulty hearing your children or grandchildren
- Trouble understanding words, even though they seem loud enough
- Noticing that other people seem to mumble
- Hearing better when you can see the person talking to you
- Others comment that the TV/Radio is too loud, or even tell you that hearing loss is present
- You ask others to repeat themselves
Isn't it normal to have some hearing loss as we get older?
Hearing loss is common. It is the 3rd most prevalent age-related disability following arthritis and hypertension in adults over 75. Hearing loss is not “normal”. Untreated hearing loss can cause people to avoid social settings, miss out on conversations with others, and become more withdrawn. They may begin to feel left out of family conversations.
I know I have trouble hearing - what should I do?
Contact our office for a complete evaluation. Some types of hearing loss are medically correctible and we want to work with you to achieve your best possible hearing before considering hearing aids.
- Our audiologists will perform a complete hearing evaluation and discuss your results.
- Otolaryngologists will evaluate your ears to determine if medical treatment is necessary.
- Nurse practitioners are also available to evaluate and prescribe a course of treatment for common medical issues that affect the ears.
- As a team we will diagnose your hearing loss, discuss your results with you, and determine the next steps for treatment.
Do you offer hearing aids at Mid State ENT?
- Yes, we carry medical quality hearing instruments from major manufacturers which are available in a variety of styles and technologies.
- We have options that are rechargeable, can sync to smartphones, utilize smart apps as well as options that are elegantly simple to use.
- Your lifestyle and communication needs are considered along with your hearing evaluation as we educate you and guide you in the process of selecting hearing aids that are right for you.
- After your assessment, our audiologists will discuss the best options to improve your hearing.
How do I know that it's time to buy a hearing aid?
Most of our patients reach a point where their frustration with hearing loss propels them into action. We assist in the process of identifying the loss, learning how it can be treated, and explaining the management options.
How effective are hearing aids?
- Recent improvements in technology have enabled millions of people to enjoy better hearing through hearing aids.
- Our patients who use these devices report great sound quality, an improved ability to follow and understand conversations in social and work situations, an easier time when watching movies, TV, or talking on the phone, and often an improved attitude and outlook on life.
- Many patients report that their hearing aids are so comfortable that they forget they are wearing them. There are fewer stigmas regarding hearing aids.
- Others may forget you have a hearing loss as you will not ask people to repeat themselves as often.
- The hearing aids available today are better suited to treat hearing loss than ever before. Digital technology has enabled the development of smart hearing aids that can be effectively customized to better meet your individual hearing needs in a variety of different sound environments.
Is it hard to adapt to wearing a hearing aid?
An adjustment period is typical for many of our patients as your brain adapts to hearing many sounds again. It may take some time to adjust to the new high or low frequencies that are added to their hearing range. The audiologists follow up with new hearing aid users regularly to ensure that they are successful and hearing their best. We welcome return visits from our patients to assess progress, monitor changes, or answer questions. Hearing aids are finely-tuned devices that have a profound effect on users. Many of our patients report hearing sounds they never heard before.
Can I keep my hearing from getting worse?
Perhaps. Hearing loss is often preventable. For that reason, we encourage all of our patients to wear protective earplugs when they are exposed to loud noises. (We define any noise that causes you to need to raise your voice in conversation as a "loud noise.") We are pleased to offer free foam earplugs to all of our patients. If you will need to use them frequently, you can ask us to fit you for a pair of custom or specialty earplugs, such as musicians' plugs, which provide ear protection, yet allow music to be heard.