4 Common Myths About Hearing Loss

Hearing loss, by and large, is quite misunderstood. Of course, many people would prefer not to experience this, but that doesn’t mean this condition is going to rob you of a full life worth living.

In fact, medical advancement is such that those with hearing loss go on to lead full, rewarding and exciting lives despite their need to manage it. Like any condition, care, responsibility, and attentiveness will go a long way.

Hearing loss as an experience is also much more common than you think. Sometimes, hearing loss is a condition from birth. For others, it comes from long exposure to noisy environments, perhaps at work or simply due to where they live. Of course, hearing loss is increasingly common as we age.

This means it’s relatively likely that at some point in your life, you will deal with hearing loss. As such, busting our misconceptions and myths now can help us lead a fantastic life, despite the experience we may not have invited.

Myth 1: Hearing Loss is a Binary Experience

Hearing loss exists on a spectrum. It may be that you have some hearing loss now, but it’s so minute that you’re not aware of it. In fact, this is common as we age, because tones high in frequency are harder to hear for those who get older than those in youth. For instance, a child may be able to hear a dog’s whistle, but a fully-grown adult is less likely to.

It’s easy for many to think that hearing loss is a yes-no outcome – surely either you have it or you don’t? But the truth is that even those who have profound hearing loss may still be able to make out very simple tones or feedback – just as medically blind people may be able to distinguish a simple spectrum of light, shadow and proximity.

What matters is finding the right hearing instrument specialist (HIS) to consider all your unique hearing needs.

Myth 2: I Have No Control Over My Hearing Loss

It’s true to say that for some, hearing loss is simply part of a condition they may have, or may have taken place due to factors outside of their control. But unlike many conditions, it can be that you have some degree of control over your hearing loss, or rather, you can make wide decisions to prevent its early onset.

Hearing loss can often come from exposure to loud environments for a long period of time. This is why, for example, ear defenders are required on many construction sites. We’d also recommend that you mind the volume you listen to music via your headphones, and try to avoid loud exposure without necessity.

While you should never chastise yourself should you encounter hearing loss, you can certainly try to avoid its pre-emptive occurrence.

Myth 3: Hearing Loss is a Tough Condition to Manage

While hearing loss is of course not as ideal as enjoying perfect hearing for a lifetime, treatments, devices and worthwhile medical procedures exist to help unlock your quality of life.

Hearing aids may seem finicky or unappealing if you have no experience with them, but with the right hearing instrument specialist by your side, you’ll be amazed at how much they help, and how easy they are, relatively, to maintain. Just as you might wear braces to maintain your teeth or use other medical devices to manage a health condition, hearing aids can become part of an integrated, well-lived, and convenient lifestyle.

On top of this, the regular programming and fine-tuning of your hearing aid mean the sophisticated models available will always be primed for your own experience, allowing the best treatment plan for you to be kept up with. With a trained HIS, you don’t have to worry about sourcing the right treatment.

Myth 4: I Have No Say Over the Treatment I Receive

Nothing could be further from the truth. While the professional recommendations your HIS will be essential to follow, there’s a great deal of versatility you can enjoy in terms of the treatment you’re provided.

It may be that choosing between a number of hearing aid variants depending on your lifestyle, your hearing loss and its progression as well as your affordability can allow you a finer degree of control regarding the treatment you receive.

The team at Beltone Hearing Center – Lethbridge will answer any questions you have and will make sure you feel more informed than ever. Why not contact us today at 403-942-4327, so we can bust those myths directly?