Are Hearing Aids Right for Me?
posted: Feb. 16, 2018.
![You may need hearing aids and not know it](https://smb.ibsrv.net/imageresizer/image/blog_images/1200x1200/56866/300082/0825992001624372009.jpg)
You may be experiencing hearing loss if you:
- Hear muffled speech and muffled sounds
- Have difficulty distinguishing words from background noise
- Need people to speak more clearly, loudly and slowly
- Have trouble hearing consonants
- Tend to withdraw from conversations
- Avoid social situations
If you experience any of these symptoms, you can certainly benefit from a hearing aid or other type of hearing device. You might consider these types of hearing aids:
CIC, or completely in the canal-which fits inside your ear canal. It has the advantage of being the least visible hearing aid, but it doesn’t have volume control or a directional microphone.
ITE, or in the ear-are made either to fit your entire outer ear, or only the lower part of your ear. It has the advantage of having volume control and ease of handling, but it is more visible than a CIC.
BTE, or behind the ear-are made to hook over the top of your ear and rest behind your ear; it has a tube that connects it to an earpiece inside your ear canal. The BTE is the largest hearing aid, but it has better amplification of sound.
Cochlear implants are another option for severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants do the work of parts of your inner ear that aren’t working or are damaged.
A hearing aid can greatly enhance your quality of life. Hearing aid users experience:
- An improved, more positive view of life
- Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
- Closer personal relationships
- Less depression
If you think you might be losing your hearing, you are not alone. In fact, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) more than 30% of adults over 65 have some degree of hearing difficulty. ASHA also recommends that you should visit your ENT specialist for a hearing screening at least every 10 years through age 50, and every three years after age 50. If you think you might need a hearing aid, it’s time to take action. Don’t miss out on conversations and the sounds around you. Do everything you can to enjoy the sounds of your life, so call today!