Hearing Health FAQs

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!

This question never fails to make it to our hearing health FAQs list. 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.

" I need hearing aids. Now what?"

If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, one of the first recommendations would be to get a hearing aid.

Hearing aids 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!

This is another popular hearing aids FAQ. Some of our patients ask, "Do hearing aids come in pairs?"

Before getting to the answer, you need to understand that human hearing is binaural. This means that 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.

While some cheap hearing aids may be worth a try for certain individuals, others may require more advanced or powerful hearing aids to address their specific hearing loss. When considering a hearing aid, it's important to consult with an audiologist who can perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation and make recommendations based on your unique hearing needs. Audiologists may also be able to help you navigate the options available at various price points.

In most cases, you can self-refer to an audiologist. This simply means that you can make an appointment with an audiologist without a referral from a healthcare provider. However, it's important to check with your insurance provider to see if they require a referral before they will cover the cost of your visit. Some insurance plans may also have specific audiologists accredited, so it's a good idea to check with your insurance provider to find out which audiologists are covered under your plan.

Have you been noticing some red flags in your hearing health lately? Below are several signs that may indicate that you have hearing loss:

• Difficulty hearing conversations, especially in noisy environments.
• Turning up the volume on the radio or TV louder than others in the same room would prefer.
• Struggling to understand soft or low-volume speech.
• Finding it challenging to hear high-pitched sounds like a child/woman’s voice.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you might want to consider getting your hearing tested by an audiologist. Audiologists can help determine if you have hearing loss and recommend appropriate treatments, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, or assistive listening devices to help improve your hearing.

The price of hearing aids can vary widely depending on many factors such as the brand, style, technology level, and features. The more features a hearing aid has, the higher the price.

Another factor that could affect the cost of hearing aids is the location, the type of hearing care professional you work with, and whether or not you have insurance. Some insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost, while others may not cover any of it.

If you're interested in purchasing hearing aids, we recommend consulting with an audiologist. Our friendly staff and audiologists at Hearing Solutions of North Carolina can help walk you through the hearing aid selection and purchasing process.

Hearing aids come in many different styles, brands, and technology. Since hearing loss is unique for each individual, it’s impossible to name “the best” hearing aid. Realistically speaking, the best hearing aid will depend on an individual’s unique type and degree of hearing loss, budget, personal preferences, and lifestyle. The best thing you can do is to consult with an audiologist, who can carry out a hearing test and from there, recommend the ideal hearing aid for your hearing requirements.