What Questions Should I Ask before Buying a Hearing Aid?

Hearing issues are more common than you might have assumed. We’re talking about millions of people — an estimated 37.5 American adults have difficulty hearing. That accounts for about 15 percent of the country’s adult population.

If you’re dealing with hearing difficulties right now, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. There are also different ways for you to manage those hearing difficulties.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, nearly 29 million Americans can improve their quality of life using hearing aids. You may be one of them.

However, you shouldn’t just buy hearing aids on a whim. You still need to confirm that the item you’re buying is the right one. Asking a few questions can help in that regard.

Will Hearing Aids Help Me?

A hearing aid is a wearable device that can help cover for difficulties you may experience while listening to the things and people around you. It’s a small electronic hearing device that is designed to amplify sounds.

We need to emphasize that point. Hearing aids work by amplifying sounds.

The microphone in the hearing aid receives the sound waves and converts them into electrical signals. Those electrical signals go to the amplifier before they are eventually fed into the speaker. The sounds you hear when using that device come from that speaker.

Given the way they work, hearing aids are best suited for people who still have residual hearing. You should first clarify that those devices can actually compensate for your hearing loss before you move forward with any purchase.

How Many Hearing Aids Will I Need?

You may already be aware that you need an electronic hearing device, but do you know how many you need to use? That sounds like such a simple question, but it’s one you should definitely ask before buying anything.

Generally speaking, the number of hearing aids you should get should be based on how many of your ears are struggling to detect sounds. One will do if only one of your ears has trouble hearing, and a pair of hearing aids is recommended if both of your ears struggle in that regard.

Regaining hearing in both of your ears helps you understand your surroundings more clearly. It will also feel more like the type of hearing you experienced before.

Can You Adjust or Repair My Hearing Aids?

Over time, your hearing aids may start to deteriorate or develop electronic issues. Since that could happen, you should ask if the items you’re buying can be adjusted or repaired.

Hearing aids can be pricey, so you’ll want to get plenty of uses out of them. Make sure they are also designed to work for a long time so your investment does not go to waste.

Should I Get Cochlear Implants?

If your audiologist says that hearing aids won’t work for you, then consider the alternatives. Ask them if you can hear again if you get cochlear implants.

Cochlear implants are different from hearing aids because they directly stimulate the auditory nerve. They could potentially work for you even if your ears are badly damaged.

However, note that the hearing provided by cochlear implants is unlike anything you have experienced before. Get ready to relearn the hearing process if you’re getting cochlear implants.

Advancements in technology make it possible for us to do something about hearing loss. By asking the right questions, you can identify the specific devices that you will need to regain that important sense.