Frequently Asked Questions
Changes in hearing ability have many different causes and sometimes it cannot always be avoided. However, the good news is that there are fundamental things you can do to ensure that your hearing health is a priority and that precautionary measures are taken.
- Limit your noise exposure and protect your hearing when in loud environments.
- Get annual hearing tests so that you can monitor your hearing health and take action as soon as any changes occur.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle including exercise and proper diet.
- Avoid nicotine use.
People of all ages can experience changes in hearing ability, however the average age is over 65 years old. There are 6 million individuals with hearing difficulties in the US between the ages of 18-44. The World Health Organization has reported the rise of cases among younger people, in no small part due to the widespread use of smartphones and earbuds!
Only 13% of doctors routinely check their patient’s hearing. Many people find it more difficult to hear in noisy situations. Therefore, in quiet environments like a doctor's office, most people can hear just fine, so it can be challenging for your PCP to recognize hearing difficulties. As such, it is important to include a hearing evaluation in your annual healthcare checkups.
While tinnitus and decreases in hearing ability are often experienced simultaneously, one does not cause the other. Research suggests that both tinnitus and changes in hearing share the same root causes (often the damage of inner ear cells), so it's not surprising they often show up together. Tinnitus and hearing difficulties are both treatable - contact us to learn more!
It really depends on the cause of the hearing difficulty. In some instances, hearing challenges caused by blockages or impacted earwax can be “cured” once the blockages are removed. Sometimes surgery can be done to correct medical problems in the outer or middle ear.
However, sensorineural hearing loss is by far more common. There are many causes including medical conditions, age-related and noise-induced hearing loss to name a few. The delicate hair cells in the inner ear are unable to repair themselves which results in certain sounds and frequencies no longer within your hearing range. The most common solution is to amplify those sounds putting them back into your hearing range.
Hearing devices help you interact with the world around you, but they do not "fix" your hearing, just as your nearsightedness or farsightedness is not fixed when wearing glasses. Think of hearing devices as a solution that supports all aspects of your life!
Our hearing is binaural, which means we pick up sounds with both of our ears. While unilateral issues do exist (in one ear), binaural issues are far more common. Binaural hearing loss is treated with the use of two hearing aids. When it comes to hearing, it is important to have a comprehensive hearing test that accurately determines your hearing abilities. We’re here to help you find the best solution for your needs.
Hearing devices are advanced, sophisticated electronic devices that embody decades of research and technological innovation. Moreover, they are an incredibly important investment in your overall health and well-being. Indeed, their value far exceeds the investment.. And there are good reasons for this.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually by the hearing industry to move hearing technology forward. And it has worked - the latest hearing devices use artificial technology, motion sensors, and directional microphones to improve the listening experience like never before.
In addition to your investment in the technology you are also investing in your hearing healthcare team of providers to ensure that the best devices were chosen for you, that they are properly programmed and verification measures are completed to confirm proper programming. Ongoing care and maintenance is a vital part of your investment so you know you are hearing and understanding the best you can for years to come.
It is tempting to think that it is sufficient to choose the right hearing aid to guarantee a good hearing aid experience. For that reason, many individuals believe that hearing aids are all more or less the same, so they shop around and are very price-sensitive.
At Hearing Solutions of North Carolina, we ensure that you are fitted with the best hearing aids for your specific hearing needs. With our lifestyle-focused consultation and state-of-the-art technology, our expertise translates to the best listening experience for you. Additionally, we verify your devices using live speech mapping and fine-tune the programming to ensure your unique needs are met.
While online hearing aids may seem like a convenient and simple solution, it is important to remember that your hearing health is an integral part of your overall health and well-being. That’s why we provide ongoing service and peace of mind support, such as fittings, adjustments, repair, and device maintenance. This ensures the best experience and optimal results with your devices.