What are 6 Common Myths about Hearing Loss?

There has been a lot of progress made on studies about hearing health within the past 12 years, but there are still many misunderstandings about hearing loss - particularly among people who do not have hearing loss.   

1. Hearing Loss only Impacts the Elderly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 percent of Americans - that’s nearly 48 million Americans of every age - have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss is prevalent among five out of every 1,000 American newborns. This condition can occur due to usage of ototoxic medications, genetic factors, spending too much time engaging in loud hobbies, loud work environments, or loud recreational activities. The causes of hearing loss can also be unknown.

Children and young adults are at high risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This is the only preventable form of hearing loss. About 26 million Americans between 20 to 69-years-old are affected by NIHL. The CDC reported that 16 percent of teens between 12 to 19-years-old have reported experiencing some loss of hearing due to exposure to loud noise.

2. My Doctor will Inform me if I have Hearing Loss.

Think about the last time you went to get a physical exam. Did your doctor administer a hearing test on you? Probably not. Few doctors perform hearing tests unless a patient expresses concern about it. It is unlikely that your doctor will detect any shifts in your ability to hear unless it is clearly noticeable. 

Professionals in the field of hearing healthcare are specially educated and trained to conduct hearing tests, evaluate the results and recommend suitable treatment options. Annual visits will allow for the detection of additional hearing loss that may occur, along with proper treatment. Yearly visits offer a stable relationship with specialists who can better understand your hearing needs and means of communication with others.

3. I only have Hearing Loss in one Ear, so it’s not a Big Deal.

The brain relies on hearing sounds through both ears to accurately interpret sound. 

Experiencing hearing loss in one ear, also known as single-sided deafness (SSD) or unilateral hearing loss, can interfere with your ability to detect where sounds are emanating from. This is known as sound localization. It makes it more difficult to understand speech in noise. It can also make it more difficult to multi-task because listening to others when you have hearing loss requires a lot of concentration. As a result, you may experience more fatigue due to cognitive overload.  
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SSD can be treated with CROS hearing aids. Talk to one of our hearing instrument specialists about a solution to your hearing loss.

4. There is no Treatment for Hearing Loss.   

Ask a hearing healthcare provider about treating your hearing loss. Many types of hearing loss can be treated with hearing devices, medication, surgery, or removing impacted earwax. If you haven’t visited a hearing healthcare specialist in a long time, or ever, make an appointment. There have been many advancements in hearing healthcare and hearing aids. Hearing loss that was too complex to address even a few years ago, might have treatment options now.

5. My Hearing will go back to normal with Hearing Aids.

Modern hearing aids are highly advanced. The microphones have the ability to automatically adjust so that it focuses on speech sounds while blocking out background noises. They can be programmed with a smartphone, and connected to other devices via Bluetooth®. Hearing aids CANNOT completely restore your hearing to normal, but they can preserve the hearing abilities that you still have or slow down the loss. 

Hearing aids can significantly improve your ability to hear. Using these devices will make communication with others much easier. The most important thing is to work with a hearing healthcare professional who knows how to program and create settings for your specific listening needs and lifestyle.

6. I am the only person who is Affected by my Hearing Loss.

Some people with hearing loss believe that they can manage their hearing loss without treatment, but they don’t consider their overall quality of life. Hearing loss affects those with whom you need to communicate. Sometimes, other people easily get frustrated. Getting treatment for your hearing loss will allow you to feel less isolated from your family, friends, and colleagues. It will provide a more independent life so that you don’t always need to rely on a significant other or family members to repeat something important that a doctor or anyone else said. Hearing loss can put a tremendous strain on these relationships. If you still think that you can manage your hearing loss without treatment, think of your loved ones, colleagues, and the vital information that you may miss because of your hearing loss.   

Don’t wait any longer to get treatment for your hearing health. If you or a loved one, notices hearing loss contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aid styles and brands for a wide range of hearing loss. 

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  

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