Over-the-counter hearing aid options are appearing more frequently online and in stores. These devices are meant to make it convenient to get assistance with hearing loss. They also increase the affordability of hearing assistance. Unfortunately, using over-the-counter hearing aids has caused quite a bit of worry among both medical experts and the government. Some states are even releasing warnings because of the number of complaints they’re getting from patients. Some of these concerns are outlined below.
A Hearing Experiment is Still Important
One main problem with over-the-counter hearing aids is that you neglect important steps in the process, such as having a hearing consultation and hearing exam. Without these steps, it’s impossible to know which plan is right for you. You might also fail to recognize signs that your hearing loss is related to other health concerns. We can also help you figure out what the best settings will be when you come in for a test.
There Are Different Levels And Kinds of Hearing Loss
Many people think that hearing loss is just a reduction of the volume of sounds you hear. When you do that on your stereo (or your phone, as the kids do), the effect is immediate: everything gets quiet.
But adjusting the eq levels on a high end stereo is more like actual hearing loss. That’s because hearing loss is usually irregular, impacting this frequency or that wavelength before others. So you may actually be doing additional damage to your hearing if your hearing aid is not precisely calibrated.
The most advanced OTC hearing aids do a pretty good job of indicating on their packaging which wavelengths they are boosting. If you are going to attempt to do it by yourself, then you will want to begin with a recent audiogram. Even then, you’re likely best off asking us to help program it. Sometimes, OTC hearing aids won’t be able to be customized to the requirements of someone that has a more complex form of hearing loss.
How to be Smart With Your Hearing Aid Decisions
Right now, consumers have the widest array of hearing aid choices ever. But it’s also harder to make some decisions because there are so many choices. This is known as analysis paralysis, you likely experience it most acutely when you’re attempting to find something to watch on Netflix.
You can make some good choices with your hearing aids by doing the following:
Some amplification devices are advertised to look like hearing aids so be careful of this. It can often be hard to tell the difference. A hearing amplifier will turn up the volume on all wavelengths of sound, not just distinct frequencies like a hearing aid can. And after a while, that can impair your hearing. Obviously, you only need to boost the wavelengths you have trouble hearing. If your hearing is poor in the high register, you obviously don’t require to boost the lower end which could damage your hearing.
Speak with us. Whether you opt to go OTC or not, it’s very important to speak with us first. We can find out how complex your hearing loss is with a simple hearing test. It may or may not be a good strategy to choose an OTC hearing aid. We can also do an audiogram, so you’ll be capable of choosing the correct solution for your requirements.
The best choice is usually not going to be OTC hearing aids. But with a little professional assistance and knowledge, most of these difficulties can be conquered. It’s worthwhile to take the time to get some assistance first because hearing is an important part of your general health.