Hearing Loss: Should I Get Hearing Aids?
Hearing Loss: Should I Get Hearing Aids?Skip to the navigationYou may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hearing Loss: Should I Get Hearing Aids?Get the factsYour options- Try hearing aids. In most cases, you can try
them for 30 days or longer and then return them if they don't help
you.
- Learn how to live with reduced hearing without the use of hearing aids.
Key points to remember- Some types of hearing loss can be treated and
corrected so that you don't need hearing aids. See an ear, nose, and throat
doctor to find out if your hearing loss can be treated and if hearing aids
will help.
- Hearing aids can help you hear better and feel connected
to others.
- Although it will take some time to get used to using hearing aids, many people do so and learn how to get the most out of
them.
- You can learn how to live with reduced hearing by paying
attention to people's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice.
You might want to take a lip-reading class. These things can help whether you
use hearing aids or not.
FAQs Hearing aids makes sounds
louder. There are many different styles of hearing aids. And you can add special features to your hearing aids. But almost all hearing aids have these parts: - A microphone, to pick up
sound.
- An amplifier, to make the sound louder.
- A
speaker, to deliver the sound into the ear.
You can wear hearing aids behind your
ear, in your outer ear, in your ear canal, or completely implanted in the ear. The kind of hearing aid you choose depends on many things, including your degree of hearing loss, your doctor or audiologist's advice, and what kind of hearing aid you want. Most hearing aids use digital technology. They are programmed for your needs using a computer. Very few hearing aids use analog technology. Also, external hearing aids come in different styles. Some are very small. The smallest ones can fit completely in your ear canal or be hidden in a small case behind your ear with a thin, see-through tube running into your ear canal. Larger styles fit in the outer ear. Each style of hearing aid has pros and cons. Work with your hearing aid provider to find the best kind of hearing aid for your needs. If your doctor or audiologist suspects or diagnoses hearing loss, he or she may have you see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (an
otolaryngologist or otologist). The specialist can check
for other problems and find out the cause of your hearing loss. The doctor can
also recommend possible treatments. If the specialist finds that hearing aids will help, the audiologist can help you choose the
type of hearing aid that will work best for you. He or she can help you learn
how to get the most benefit from your hearing aids. Permanent hearing loss can make you feel lonely or depressed or like you
have lost your independence. Hearing aids can often help with these issues.
Hearing aids can help you hear better and feel connected to
family, friends, and others. They can also make you safer when you drive or
when you work around your home. Hearing aids may help with your job, hobbies,
and daily activities such as talking on the phone. Hearing aids often can be
programmed to mask
tinnitus (a ringing in the ear). Wearing
hearing aids also shows courtesy to others, because you don't have to keep
asking them to repeat what they just said. You can again enjoy talking with
your family without extra effort. It may
take from several weeks to months for you to get used to your hearing aids. You
may find that: - Sounds seem strange. It's good to remember that hearing aids will not make you hear like you used to. And nothing will ever sound completely normal. If noises are so strange or shrill that they are distracting you, tell your hearing aid provider before you leave his or her office.
- You hear things you haven't heard in a long time. For example, you may hear background noises (rustling papers, clinking silverware) much more clearly.
- You are more aware of sounds close to you. Your footsteps, heartbeat, or car motor may be much more noticeable. With time, your brain will get better at ignoring these sounds.
- Your hearing aids can be uncomfortable. But they should not be painful. Before you leave the hearing aid provider's office with your new hearing aids, make sure they fit. Your hearing aids should not hurt your ear or be loose in your ear.
- Sometimes your hearing aids will make a buzzing noise when you use a cell phone. This noise can be annoying, and it can make it hard to hear the person on the phone. If you use a cell phone, make sure your hearing aid provider knows. He or she can suggest hearing aids that work better with cell phones. And when you buy a new cell phone, buy one that is compatible with hearing aids.
Here are some general tips to help you adjust to your new hearing aids. - Start by wearing your hearing aids when you are talking to only one person. These are the easiest conversations to hear clearly. Slowly work up to conversations with more than one person.
- Continue to pay attention to people's gestures, facial
expressions, posture, and tone of voice. Your hearing aids won't help you catch every word that is said, especially in a loud place.
- Wear your hearing aids. The more you wear them, especially at the beginning, the faster you will get used to them.
Your doctor or audiologist may suggest hearing aids if: - You have a type of hearing loss that can't be
helped by other treatment.
- Using hearing aids will improve your
quality of life.
Compare your options | |
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What is usually involved? |
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What are the benefits? |
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What are the risks and side effects? |
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Try hearing aids
Try hearing aids
- You wear a hearing aid behind
your ear, in your outer ear, in your ear canal, or implanted completely inside your ear.
- Depending on what type of hearing aid you get, you can control it
for loudness and/or different hearing situations.
- Hearing aids won't restore normal hearing.
- Hearing aids can help you
hear better and feel connected to others.
- Hearing better will make you feel safer when you drive or when
you work around your home or on the job.
- Hearing aids often can be
programmed to mask
tinnitus (a ringing in the ear).
- Hearing aids
can make it hard to pick out certain sounds or adjust to different listening
situations.
- It can take weeks or months to get used to hearing aids.
- Hearing aids will feel odd in your ear at first and may cause
some pain and tenderness in the ear canal.
- Hearing aids can be
expensive, and your insurance may not cover the cost.
Live without hearing
aids Live without hearing
aids - You learn to live
with reduced hearing by paying attention to people's gestures, facial
expressions, posture, and tone of voice. You can also learn to read lips.
- You will not have to
spend the money on hearing aids.
- You will not have to spend time getting used to hearing aids.
- You
will continue to have reduced hearing.
- You may feel left out of conversations and not connected to
family and friends.
- Your relationships with family and friends may
be affected because you often have to ask them to repeat what they say, or
because you always have the TV volume turned up very high.
- You may
not be as safe at work or when you drive because of your hearing problem.
For some
time I could not hear my family and friends talking to me as clearly as I used
to. Sometimes I gave them an answer to their questions that left puzzled looks
on their faces, as if I had said the wrong thing. My wife complained about how
loud I kept the volume on the TV. So I decided I needed to get my hearing
checked. The doctor said my hearing problem could be helped with hearing aids,
so I decided to get them. I talk on the phone a lot for my job. One
day I realized I had been having trouble for some time hearing what people
said. I kept asking clients to repeat what they just told me on the phone. My
doctor said I had some hearing loss in my left ear, the one I use for the
phone. He said hearing aids would help. But I decided not to get them for now.
I don't like the way hearing aids look, and I can get a volume control for the
phone or use my other ear. My wife kept kidding me that I needed hearing aids because I would ask her what the characters on my favorite TV show
just said. I began to think that I did need them, so I checked with my doctor.
But after she cleaned the earwax out of my ears, I found I could hear much
better and didn't need hearing aids after all. I don't like
change and didn't think I could learn to use hearing aids. I live alone, and
I'm pretty set in my ways. But I realized I was missing out on what my
grandchildren were telling me. My friends encouraged me to give hearing aids a
try, and my doctor said it could help. It took some time for me to get used to
wearing hearing aids, but I'm glad I made the effort. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to get hearing aids Reasons not to get hearing aids I need to hear better to do my job and other daily activities. I hear well enough to get through my day. More important Equally important More important Paying attention to people's gestures and facial expressions isn't enough to help me understand what they're saying. I can live with hearing loss by paying attention to people's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice. More important Equally important More important My hearing problem is affecting relationships with my family, friends, and others. I don't feel that my hearing problem affects my relationships with others. More important Equally important More important I am willing to take the time to adjust to using hearing aids. I think it would be too hard to adjust to hearing aids and get them to work the way I want them to. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Getting hearing aids NOT getting hearing aids Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision?1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure Your SummaryHere's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Next stepsWhich way you're leaningHow sure you areYour commentsKey concepts that you understoodKey concepts that may need reviewCredits | Author | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology |
|---|
References Other Works Consulted - Gluth MB, et al. (2012). Cochlear implants. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 850-860. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Sweetow RW, Cascia T (2012). Aural rehabilitation and hearing aids. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 721-728. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Tsai BS, Cheung SW (2012). Implantable middle ear hearing devices. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 845-849. New York: McGraw-Hill.
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hearing Loss: Should I Get Hearing Aids?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. - Get the facts
- Compare your options
- What matters most to you?
- Where are you leaning now?
- What else do you need to make your decision?
1. Get the FactsYour options- Try hearing aids. In most cases, you can try
them for 30 days or longer and then return them if they don't help
you.
- Learn how to live with reduced hearing without the use of hearing aids.
Key points to remember- Some types of hearing loss can be treated and
corrected so that you don't need hearing aids. See an ear, nose, and throat
doctor to find out if your hearing loss can be treated and if hearing aids
will help.
- Hearing aids can help you hear better and feel connected
to others.
- Although it will take some time to get used to using hearing aids, many people do so and learn how to get the most out of
them.
- You can learn how to live with reduced hearing by paying
attention to people's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice.
You might want to take a lip-reading class. These things can help whether you
use hearing aids or not.
FAQs What are hearing aids?Hearing aids makes sounds
louder. There are many different styles of hearing aids. And you can add special features to your hearing aids. But almost all hearing aids have these parts: - A microphone, to pick up
sound.
- An amplifier, to make the sound louder.
- A
speaker, to deliver the sound into the ear.
You can wear hearing aids behind your
ear, in your outer ear, in your ear canal, or completely implanted in the ear. The kind of hearing aid you choose depends on many things, including your degree of hearing loss, your doctor or audiologist's advice, and what kind of hearing aid you want. Most hearing aids use digital technology. They are programmed for your needs using a computer. Very few hearing aids use analog technology. Also, external hearing aids come in different styles. Some are very small. The smallest ones can fit completely in your ear canal or be hidden in a small case behind your ear with a thin, see-through tube running into your ear canal. Larger styles fit in the outer ear. Each style of hearing aid has pros and cons. Work with your hearing aid provider to find the best kind of hearing aid for your needs. How can you find out if hearing aids could help you?If your doctor or audiologist suspects or diagnoses hearing loss, he or she may have you see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (an
otolaryngologist or otologist). The specialist can check
for other problems and find out the cause of your hearing loss. The doctor can
also recommend possible treatments. If the specialist finds that hearing aids will help, the audiologist can help you choose the
type of hearing aid that will work best for you. He or she can help you learn
how to get the most benefit from your hearing aids. What are the benefits of wearing hearing aids?Permanent hearing loss can make you feel lonely or depressed or like you
have lost your independence. Hearing aids can often help with these issues.
Hearing aids can help you hear better and feel connected to
family, friends, and others. They can also make you safer when you drive or
when you work around your home. Hearing aids may help with your job, hobbies,
and daily activities such as talking on the phone. Hearing aids often can be
programmed to mask
tinnitus (a ringing in the ear). Wearing
hearing aids also shows courtesy to others, because you don't have to keep
asking them to repeat what they just said. You can again enjoy talking with
your family without extra effort. Will it be hard to adjust to hearing aids?It may
take from several weeks to months for you to get used to your hearing aids. You
may find that: - Sounds seem strange. It's good to remember that hearing aids will not make you hear like you used to. And nothing will ever sound completely normal. If noises are so strange or shrill that they are distracting you, tell your hearing aid provider before you leave his or her office.
- You hear things you haven't heard in a long time. For example, you may hear background noises (rustling papers, clinking silverware) much more clearly.
- You are more aware of sounds close to you. Your footsteps, heartbeat, or car motor may be much more noticeable. With time, your brain will get better at ignoring these sounds.
- Your hearing aids can be uncomfortable. But they should not be painful. Before you leave the hearing aid provider's office with your new hearing aids, make sure they fit. Your hearing aids should not hurt your ear or be loose in your ear.
- Sometimes your hearing aids will make a buzzing noise when you use a cell phone. This noise can be annoying, and it can make it hard to hear the person on the phone. If you use a cell phone, make sure your hearing aid provider knows. He or she can suggest hearing aids that work better with cell phones. And when you buy a new cell phone, buy one that is compatible with hearing aids.
Here are some general tips to help you adjust to your new hearing aids. - Start by wearing your hearing aids when you are talking to only one person. These are the easiest conversations to hear clearly. Slowly work up to conversations with more than one person.
- Continue to pay attention to people's gestures, facial
expressions, posture, and tone of voice. Your hearing aids won't help you catch every word that is said, especially in a loud place.
- Wear your hearing aids. The more you wear them, especially at the beginning, the faster you will get used to them.
Why might your doctor recommend hearing aids?Your doctor or audiologist may suggest hearing aids if: - You have a type of hearing loss that can't be
helped by other treatment.
- Using hearing aids will improve your
quality of life.
2. Compare your options| | Try hearing aids
| Live without hearing
aids |
|---|
| What is usually involved? | - You wear a hearing aid behind
your ear, in your outer ear, in your ear canal, or implanted completely inside your ear.
- Depending on what type of hearing aid you get, you can control it
for loudness and/or different hearing situations.
- Hearing aids won't restore normal hearing.
| - You learn to live
with reduced hearing by paying attention to people's gestures, facial
expressions, posture, and tone of voice. You can also learn to read lips.
|
|---|
| What are the benefits? | - Hearing aids can help you
hear better and feel connected to others.
- Hearing better will make you feel safer when you drive or when
you work around your home or on the job.
- Hearing aids often can be
programmed to mask
tinnitus (a ringing in the ear).
| - You will not have to
spend the money on hearing aids.
- You will not have to spend time getting used to hearing aids.
|
|---|
| What are the risks and side effects? | - Hearing aids
can make it hard to pick out certain sounds or adjust to different listening
situations.
- It can take weeks or months to get used to hearing aids.
- Hearing aids will feel odd in your ear at first and may cause
some pain and tenderness in the ear canal.
- Hearing aids can be
expensive, and your insurance may not cover the cost.
| - You
will continue to have reduced hearing.
- You may feel left out of conversations and not connected to
family and friends.
- Your relationships with family and friends may
be affected because you often have to ask them to repeat what they say, or
because you always have the TV volume turned up very high.
- You may
not be as safe at work or when you drive because of your hearing problem.
|
|---|
Personal storiesPersonal stories about getting hearing aids
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
"For some time I could not hear my family and friends talking to me as clearly as I used to. Sometimes I gave them an answer to their questions that left puzzled looks on their faces, as if I had said the wrong thing. My wife complained about how loud I kept the volume on the TV. So I decided I needed to get my hearing checked. The doctor said my hearing problem could be helped with hearing aids, so I decided to get them." "I talk on the phone a lot for my job. One day I realized I had been having trouble for some time hearing what people said. I kept asking clients to repeat what they just told me on the phone. My doctor said I had some hearing loss in my left ear, the one I use for the phone. He said hearing aids would help. But I decided not to get them for now. I don't like the way hearing aids look, and I can get a volume control for the phone or use my other ear." "My wife kept kidding me that I needed hearing aids because I would ask her what the characters on my favorite TV show just said. I began to think that I did need them, so I checked with my doctor. But after she cleaned the earwax out of my ears, I found I could hear much better and didn't need hearing aids after all." "I don't like change and didn't think I could learn to use hearing aids. I live alone, and I'm pretty set in my ways. But I realized I was missing out on what my grandchildren were telling me. My friends encouraged me to give hearing aids a try, and my doctor said it could help. It took some time for me to get used to wearing hearing aids, but I'm glad I made the effort." 3. What matters most to you?
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to get hearing aids Reasons not to get hearing aids I need to hear better to do my job and other daily activities. I hear well enough to get through my day. More important Equally important More important Paying attention to people's gestures and facial expressions isn't enough to help me understand what they're saying. I can live with hearing loss by paying attention to people's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice. More important Equally important More important My hearing problem is affecting relationships with my family, friends, and others. I don't feel that my hearing problem affects my relationships with others. More important Equally important More important I am willing to take the time to adjust to using hearing aids. I think it would be too hard to adjust to hearing aids and get them to work the way I want them to. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
Getting hearing aids NOT getting hearing aids Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
1.
No matter what is causing my hearing loss, only hearing aids can bring my hearing back. You're right. Some types of hearing loss can be treated and corrected so that you don't need hearing aids. 2.
Hearing aids will be very hard for me to get used to. You're right. Although it takes some time to get used to using hearing aids, many people do so and learn how to get the most out of them. 3.
Getting hearing aids can help me feel happier, since I will be able to take part in my family's conversations. That's right. Permanent hearing loss can make you feel lonely or depressed or like you have lost your independence. Hearing aids can often help with these issues. Decide what's next1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Credits | By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology |
|---|
References Other Works Consulted - Gluth MB, et al. (2012). Cochlear implants. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 850-860. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Sweetow RW, Cascia T (2012). Aural rehabilitation and hearing aids. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 721-728. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Tsai BS, Cheung SW (2012). Implantable middle ear hearing devices. In AK Lalwani, ed., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 3rd ed., pp. 845-849. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.Current as of:
May 4, 2017 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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