Take Control Of Your Hearing
Photo: Unsplash
When you have been diagnosed with some type of hearing loss, you are going to want to look at a hearing aid. You should talk to your audiologist to see what is best for you, but many people may only choose that they want one hearing aid.
Is this approach correct?
One hearing aid is adapted for people who suffer from hearing loss in only one ear and their hearing in the other ear is preserved. In such a situation the hearing aid improves the auditory function in the injured ear and the information obtained in the hearing center in the brain comes similarly from both ears. As a result, it is easier for a person to recognize the direction of the arrival of voices, they cope better in difficult hearing situations, such as: conducting a conversation against the background of noise, and their speech comprehension improves.
What happens to a person whose hearing is impaired in both ears and he decides to use only one hearing aid?
In fact, as a result of such an action the ear stops functioning and over time we witness irreversible changes in its ability to transmit information to the hearing center in the brain. Functioning with a single hearing aid in a situation of bilateral hearing impairment will cause difficulty in auditory spatial perception, difficulty in understanding speech and a burden on one ear, which should provide a solution to bilateral difficulty. Clearly this solution is not true!
Even if the reasons for such a decision are economic, it is better to purchase a pair of cheaper hearing aids, but allow both ears the same assistance.
Did you know hearing loss can be damaging?
The first signs of hearing loss are the inability to hear the TV well, struggling to understand people on the phone and generally not hearing things as sharply as you used to. Studies have found that there is a significant statistical relationship between hearing loss and dementia and this is at least one reason to take the matter seriously.
1. Lack of stimuli – Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which in turn will cause a lack of stimuli to the brain, which we receive through social interaction. The lack of stimuli is a risk factor for dementia.
2. Difficulty hearing consumes energy – hearing loss consumes energy, which is used by us to create memories and thinking, in an attempt to compensate for the missing information, as a result of hearing difficulty.Hearing loss is what is called, “changeable risk factor” meaning that something can be done about it.
What actions do we perform during normal hearing?
- The brain separates sound sources
- The brain recognizes each sound and what it means
- The brain is able to place sound in space based on information coming from both ears
- The brain focuses on important information
For people with hearing impairments these tasks are especially difficult. If you know someone who has hearing loss, then it is good that you broach it. It may be difficult if it is a parent as nobody wants to feel as if they are getting older and struggling with their hearing. Therefore, tackle the subject matter sensitively; because it will be in their best interests. Here are some top tips:
- Be sensitive – try to understand where the difficulty in internalizing comes from because there is a hearing loss, and how you would like to be approached if it was a problem you are experiencing. We believe that the most important thing is to make the parent understand that he is important to you, and that is why you want his good first.
- Focus on the benefits – Many people do not know the benefits of hearing loss treatment, there are also people who are used to living with hearing loss until you forget it was another time. It is therefore important to tell the parent about the little pleasures that are worth the process, like talking to the grandchildren, enjoying a good movie, feeling comfortable in conversation even in a noisy environment and living a full life with the little sounds we forgot existed.
- Offer to take the first step together – Many times people realize that they need to treat hearing loss, but are afraid of the lengthy procedure, or the hassle of locating a hearing aid or a good audiologist. Therefore, assisting in the first step can be very helpful. The feeling and raise the motivation.
Nobody should be dealing with hearing loss, with the range of accessories on the market, it’s easier to combat than ever before. It’s time to take back control.
- Adventure Travel: 3 Places to See - April 22, 2024
- Hawaii- Six Islands of Paradise - February 22, 2024
- Rekindle Romance: The Power of Travel for Couples - February 6, 2024
