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By Roxanne Jones
Doctors may have to rely on this provocative factoid to get more adults with hearing loss to seek help. Because of the 28 million people in the United States who suffer from some degree of hearing loss — that’s one in 10 — only 6 million are being treated. And, according to a landmark National Council on the Aging study among people over age 50 with hearing loss, untreated hearing impairment can have serious emotional and social consequences, including depression, social withdrawal, anxiety, and insecurity.
Hearing-aid users, on the other hand, reported benefits in almost all areas of their lives, including better relationships with family, higher self-esteem, greater independence, improved mental health and, yes, even better sex lives.
But making the transition to hearing aids isn’t as simple as donning a new pair of glasses. Rather, it’s a process that requires an investment of time and money, along with patience and realistic expectations.
“People tend to experience a lot of anger and denial before admitting that they have a hearing problem,” says Natasha Dewald, a doctor of audiology with Help U Hear Hearing Aid Centers in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. “Most people wait five to seven years before getting help, so the problem only gets worse.”
There are several reasons people put off getting help, explains Howard Hait, a certified audioprosthologist and owner of Hearing Aid HealthCare, with offices in Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Indio, Yucca Valley and Borrego Springs. “They don’t feel they need it as long as other people will talk louder. They’re not sure of the value of what they’re buying. Or they feel self-conscious about wearing hearing aids. There has been a real stigma about hearing loss, especially among older people … they remember how, generations ago, deaf people were often put into asylums because they were considered mentally retarded.”
“Society tends to be much more patient with other handicaps,” Dewald says. “One of the first things I tell my patients is, ‘Stop apologizing for your hearing loss.’”
And start learning all you can about it.
There are two major categories of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is when there is a problem with the ear canal, the eardrum and/or the three bones connected to the eardrum and sound isn’t conducted properly from the outer or middle ear to the inner ear. This can be as a result of wax buildup, calcium deposits on the middle ear bones, or a tumor. Medical treatment or surgery is often the solution for this type of hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss is due to damage to the pathway for sound impulses from the hair cells of the inner ear to the auditory nerve and the brain (the ear has more than 25,000 tiny hair cells that help us hear the nuances of sound). Aging, noise exposure or ototoxic drugs (medications that can cause hearing loss) are common culprits. Sounds may be unclear or too soft, or sensitivity to loud noises may occur. Medical or surgical intervention can’t correct most sensorineural hearing losses, but hearing aids may help wearers reclaim some sounds they’re missing. In fact, about 80 percent of adults with hearing problems can be helped with hearing aids.
Today’s technology for assessing hearing loss and creating hearing aids is better than ever. With sophisticated speech-mapping software, hearing aids can be custom-tailored to address individual issues, Hait says. Advanced digital technology and multiple microphones provide maximum control over sound quality and volume.
“Hearing aids are more automatic; there’s less need for manual adjustments for volume,” Dewald says. “And there’s even less need to adjust for noisy environments, since they can differentiate between speech and background noise,” she adds. “Also, some have a reverberation reducer or echo block. Today’s models are smaller than ever and have better compatibility with telephones. Plus, we even have models for people with dexterity problems: The controls for adjusting the hearing aid are worn on the wrist, like a watch.”
There also are various hearing-aid styles, including behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and completely-in-the-canal. In fact, today there are more than 1,000 hearing-aid models offered by more than 28 manufacturers. They range in cost from about $400 to $1,800 for conventional analog technology up to as much as $5,900 for premium digital models. The average life of a hearing aid is five years, Dewald says, and health insurance generally does not cover them.
“There are so many choices that people can get confused,” Hait says. “You have to count on the professionals fitting you to do what’s best for you. It requires understanding of your lifestyle and needs, as well as your specific hearing loss,” he adds, noting that someone who spends a great deal of time at home watching television has very different requirements than someone who works in a busy office or frequently dines out in noisy restaurants. “It’s like buying a car,” he says. “You can get a fully loaded or a basic model.”
“One size doesn’t fit all,” Dewald concurs. “That’s why it’s important to go to a hearing-aid dispenser who sells multiple brands.” She also advises consumers to evaluate a dispenser’s return policy. “California law says you have 30 days to return a hearing aid if you’re dissatisfied,” she says. “But ask about an extension, and make sure you don’t get nickel-and-dimed for adjustments, because getting used to a hearing aid is a process, and it often takes longer than 30 days. Getting a hearing aid is really just the beginning.”
Huh? “For someone with hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid is a whole new ball game,” Hait says. “Imagine if you’d been in a dark room for 30 days and suddenly bright sunlight streams in. Your eyes will shut because you can’t tolerate it. But after time, you’ll gradually adjust. It’s the same with hearing aids. They take time to get used to.”
That’s because understanding sounds occurs in the brain, not in the ears. As hearing loss progresses, the brain essentially “forgets” certain words or sounds it can no longer hear. The neurological system of the brain needs time to “relearn” these forgotten sounds of speech, and it can take several weeks or even months to get over the auditory confusion of hearing authentic sounds, noises, and voices again. Reputable hearing-aid dispensers and audiologists will provide training to help new hearing-aid users adapt.
“So don’t wait to get help,” Dewald advises, or the hearing loss worsens and becomes more difficult to improve. It’s not the purchase of a hearing aid that delivers better hearing, but rather your determination and patience in relearning how to hear. Life becomes richer as a result.
Recognize signs of hearing loss
“I hear just fine … it’s the people around me who mumble.” That’s a common misperception among people who have hearing loss. Often, hearing loss develops gradually, so symptoms are hard to recognize. You may have a hearing problem if:
* You frequently have to ask people to repeat themselves.
* You confuse similar words (i.e., “bathroom” and “vacuum”).
* You have difficulty communicating in a small group of people — playing cards or at a meeting, for example.
* You have trouble hearing in noisy environments — at parties or in the car, for example
* You have a hard time hearing the television, or people say your television is turned up too loud.
* You have to watch the lips of people who talk to you in order to understand what they’re saying.
* You rely on a spouse or companion to “translate” what others are saying.
* You find yourself avoiding social situations because it’s so hard to understand what people are saying.
Additional resources
The Consumers Guide to Hearing Aids® is a third-party source of hearing-aid comparisons. For a complimentary copy, call (800) 580-8484
Better Hearing Institute
(703) 684-3391
www.betterhearing.org
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but this is not necessarily a comprehensive representation this field. Appearance on this list does not imply endorsement or recommendation by Desert Publications Inc. In the case of plastic/reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, a listing here does not imply the completion of formal training in a board certifiable plastic surgery training program.
Unless otherwise noted, all telephone numbers are in the 760 calling area.
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