No question is ever too silly to ask an audiologist. If you want to know, ask.
Does My Hearing Loss Look Normal for My Age?
This is a more complicated question than it appears. Yes, it is true that hearing loss becomes more prevalent as we mature. One-third of adults 65 and older have hearing loss, while that number increases to 50% at age 75. However, there is no “average” degree of hearing loss for different age groups. A 90-year-old patient may only have a mild hearing loss, while for a 67-year-old, it may be severe. The hearing loss depends on genetics and previous noise exposure. Hearing loss is hearing loss and should be addressed if it is negatively affecting your quality of life.
Does My Loss Require Hearing Aids?
The recommendation depends on two factors. First, what is the degree and configuration of the loss? If only one or two frequencies are affected, or the loss is very mild, the audiologist may choose to wait and simply monitor the loss. But it also depends on how the patient feels he or she is communicating. Two patients with the same hearing loss can have polar opposite responses. One may hardly notice having trouble, while the other feels the loss is impacting the ability to communicate properly.
It makes sense for the first patient to wait. Because this individual lacks a strong motivating force, the aids won’t impact him as much and will either be returned or end up in a drawer. Waiting until the person feels ready will increase the chances of success.
The second patient should absolutely try hearing aids. Hearing aids will improve his access to sound and have a positive impact on his quality of life. This holds true, even if on paper, the loss is less severe than other people’s hearing loss.
Can I Wear Just One Aid?
Obviously, if only one ear has a loss or financial considerations are significant, one aid is a viable solution. Anything is going to be better than nothing. But, if possible, it is always best to fit a bilateral loss with a two hearing aids. First, there is a phenomenon called binaural summation whereby the combined amplification boosts the perceived loudness of the sound even further. As a comparison, imagine that you have vision loss in both eyes. A monocle will help improve your perception to a certain degree, but glasses will make the image sharper than it could have ever been with the monocle alone. This is equivalent to aiding both ears.
Additionally, a person will be able to localize sounds better and have better speech understanding in noise when both ears are aided. This is because our brains are wired to perform these tasks by comparing and contrasting the signals from each ear. In the case of localizing sounds, your brain knows that a sound came from your right because it reached your right ear first and was louder on that side. If a person has a bilateral hearing loss and a single hearing aid, those important signals will always be lopsided and impair your brain’s ability to compare the sound.
Will the Aid Worsen My Hearing or Become a Crutch?
No, hearing aids will not make your hearing worse, nor will they “fix” it. Hearing aids are just that. They help to increase your access to sound and filter out excess noise. But your hearing itself remains unaffected. It is true that hearing loss tends to worsen over time, but it is typically a slow and gradual process. And it will change, regardless of hearing aid use. Actually, wearing hearing aids has been shown to help maintain good word recognition ability and memory function. And the aids will not become a crutch. People with hearing aids use them consistently because they enjoy not having to work as hard to communicate. But they can still function without the hearing aids if needed.
No question is ever too silly to ask an audiologist. If you want to know, ask. Hearing health is a collaborative process and works best when all parties are on the same page. FBN
By Jeff Lane, Au.D.
Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net.
Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.