The best way to determine whether or not you need hearing aids is to see a Doctor of Audiology who can test your hearing. If it is determined that you have hearing loss, meaning your hearing falls outside of the normal range, hearing aids would generally be recommended.
Hearing loss, even at a mild level, can cause difficulty understanding, particularly in noisy environments. Those who begin using hearing aids early-on typically adjust more easily. Studies also link hearing aid use with preservation of the brain’s ability to understand speech and even decreased risks of dementia – which we think is pretty cool!
If you have not had a hearing test yet, here are a few signs to watch for:
- Your family and friends mention the TV/radio volume is high
- You feel like others are mumbling
- You can hear someone talking but you can’t understand what they are saying
- You have tinnitus –or ringing/buzzing- in your ears ]
- You have difficulty hearing in crowds or when the speaker is at a distance
- Frequent social bluffing- or pretending to hear
If you have any of these symptoms it would be beneficial to have your hearing checked. Even if you are not ready to consider hearing aids, it is helpful to have a baseline so we can track any changes in your hearing over time.
To schedule an appointment call 1-800-277-1182.
