{"id":1467,"date":"2018-04-13T17:46:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T22:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ormsonhearing.fm1.dev\/?p=1467"},"modified":"2020-10-09T17:46:52","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T22:46:52","slug":"hearing-loss-facts-vs-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amarillohearing.com\/hearing-loss-facts-vs-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Loss – Facts vs. Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hearing and sight are arguably our two most important senses. Yet, if and when either starts to fail us (and both usually do as we age), we react to each quite differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look around at all the people with glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or just cheaters, and it\u2019s obvious that we have no problem or hesitation with treating vision issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when it comes to treating hearing loss, we don\u2019t seem to be in nearly such a hurry, if we even bother to treat it at all. If we did, nearly one in six adults you see would be wearing hearing aids \u2014 as that\u2019s the number of U.S. adults with hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s stopping us from treating hearing loss?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is there such discrepancy when it comes to \u201cfixing\u201d these two vital senses? Certainly a key factor is the immediate and tangible impact of each impairment. You can\u2019t easily drive, read, watch TV or work at a computer when your vision is compromised. But you can cope with or work around hearing issues \u2014 at least temporarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to know, though, that while the immediate impact of compromised hearing may seem negligible, the long-term and overall quality-of-life impact is real and potentially severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is our perception of hearing aids to blame?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason for inaction comes from people\u2019s perception of hearing loss and hearing aids. Unfortunately, some old myths linger. But advancements in science and technology mean many are no longer true. Let\u2019s debunk five common ones now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Fiction: There\u2019s no treatment for hearing loss.<\/strong> Fact:<\/strong> Hearing loss might be irreversible \u2014 but it can definitely be helped. Amplification with hearing aids is by far the most recommended and effective treatment for hearing loss. In fact, 90-95% of people with hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. Custom programmed by a trained professional, today\u2019s digital hearing aids can help people with even severe hearing loss hear sounds they might not otherwise hear, and be a part of things they might otherwise miss.  <\/li>
  2. Fiction: If I needed hearing aids, my doctor would have told me.<\/strong> Fact:<\/strong> Actually, most busy general practitioners don\u2019t have time to test for hearing loss. In a recent survey, only 23% of adults reported having their hearing screened during a physical exam. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the issue this past February, reinforcing to physicians the importance of catching hearing loss in the early stages, and reminding primary care providers to \u201cmake referrals to hearing specialists\u201d when \u201cpatients show or report hearing problems.\u201d <\/li>
  3. Fiction: Hearing aids are hard to use.<\/strong> Fact<\/strong>: Today\u2019s hearing aids have come a long way from the hearing aids of just a few years ago. Advancements in processing speeds and hearing science enable hearing aids to distinguish speech from noise, detect sound direction, and adjust to environments and specific sounds \u2014 all automatically. If fit and programmed by a hearing professional to your unique hearing needs, your hearing aids can be worn all day with little fuss, attention or adjustments required. <\/li>
  4. Fiction: Hearing aids will make me stand out or seem old.<\/strong> Fact:<\/strong> Several things conflict with this perception, so take your pick.