After a hearing test, did your doctor recommend that you be fitted for hearing aids? This transition can be a significant life change that will bring many benefits to your relationships, career, and social interactions.
Hearing is critical for communication, which is why it’s essential to follow your doctor’s recommendations if you are suffering from hearing loss. The good news is that advances in technology make hearing aids more available and effective for people of all ages.
At Collin County Ear, Nose, and Throat, we are proud to offer hearing aid services in our office. You have access to full-service solutions, including hearing tests, diagnosis, hearing aid fitting, follow-up care, and more.
Our goal is to help you maintain healthy hearing throughout your life. Here are a few things you can expect when you need hearing aids, and you are working with our team.
How Hearing Aids Work
A hearing aid is a small device that fits your ear, with electronic features that make certain sounds louder to support listening and communication. Through modern technology, these tools can help improve hearing in both noisy and quiet environments.
There are several important parts of the hearing aid: a microphone, speaker, and amplifier. First, the sound comes in through the microphone. Then the hearing aid converts these sound waves to electrical signals. Finally, the signals are sent through an amplifier, where the signals are increased and sent into the ear using a speaker.
When you are wearing a hearing aid, it magnifies the vibrations as the sound is entering your ear. The working part of your hearing will detect these sounds, convert sounds into neural signals, and then send the signals to the brain.
Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are recommended for people who have minor to severe hearing loss. If the small sensory cells within the ears are damaged, it can be hard to comprehend speech or hear the sounds around you.
Various lifestyle factors can affect a person’s risk for hearing loss. For example, this damage can happen because of aging, disease, certain medications, or noise exposure.
The greater the damage to a person’s ear, the more severe hearing loss the person experiences. Moderate and severe hearing loss require greater hearing amplification.
But there are limits to how much hearing support is available. When the ear damage is too severe, then it’s not possible to convert even significant vibrations to neural signals. As a result, hearing aids become ineffective at a certain point.
Do You Need Hearing Aids?
Most people don’t know they need hearing aids because they have learned to compensate for their hearing loss. With mild to moderate cases of hearing loss, it’s possible to adjust daily activities and habits so that a person can continue with daily responsibilities.
You might not realize the small things you are doing throughout the day to compensate for poor hearing. But there are a few symptoms to watch for that indicate you are a good candidate for hearing aids:
- You feel like people are often speaking softly or mumbling
- You prefer to turn the radio or television volume louder than other people
- You frequently ask people to repeat what they say, especially when talking in noisy environments
- It isn’t easy to understand dialogue at theater productions or movie theaters
- Telephone conversations are tricky because you struggle to hear what the other person is saying
- You find yourself feeling frustrated or withdrawing from social activities
- If you can’t see someone’s face, then it’s more challenging to understand what they are saying
- You get tired in group settings because you are straining to hear the conversations
If these symptoms affect you or a loved one, then it’s time to talk to our ENT team for a hearing test. We have audiologists and hearing specialists that can diagnose potential hearing loss. Then, our team offers personalized support to fit you with the ideal hearing aids to match your lifestyle.
What Type of Hearing Aid Do You Need?
It’s a personal decision to select a hearing aid. The best thing you can do is work with our experienced team to determine your level of hearing loss and the best devices to match your lifestyle. For example, some people wear one hearing aid, while many other people need hearing aids for both ears.
Schedule a consultation with an audiologist to learn more about hearing aid technology. We will diagnose your condition and determine the level of hearing loss you are experiencing. Then, our experienced team can help you compare the different types of hearing aids that are available.
Call Collin County Ear, Nose, and Throat
We offer full-service solutions for patients who need hearing support, including in-office hearing aids for your convenience. We assist patients in finding the best available solutions with personalized help for ongoing success when using hearing aids.
If you are experiencing hearing loss, then call our team of audiologists and ENTs. We serve families in the Collin County and Dallas areas. Collin County Ear, Nose, and Throat has offices nearby in both Frisco and Plano, TX. You can call us at (972) 596-4005 or use our online form to book an appointment.