Does Using A Hearing Aid Weaken Your Real Hearing?

Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the world. One in every four people will be affected by hearing loss during their lifetime. Plus, with age, the likelihood of developing hearing loss increases. But with that said, there are still a lot of questions and myths floating around that deserve to have some clarity. One major question involves hearing aids.

Do hearing aids weaken hearing, especially if you’re hearing is only starting to fade? There are a lot of people that fear that hearing aids will only make their current hearing worse rather than enhance it. But today, you’ll learn all about hearing aids and how they can help your current hearing even more.

How Does a Hearing Aid Work and What are the Advantages?

Hearing aids are designed to help people with hearing loss by making the right sounds louder. Hearing aids amplify low-frequency sounds and deliver them to the inner ear. They also enhance other sounds so that they can be heard more clearly. Wearing a hearing aid includes improved communication, social interaction, and quality of life for the wearer. Hearing aids are available in different styles and sizes, depending on the individual’s needs and preferences.

Hearing aids can also be custom-made to fit an individual’s needs, lifestyle and budget. Plus, when it comes to hearing aids, it doesn’t matter what age you are, as nearly all ages of people facing hearing loss can benefit from this technology. However, it will be up to your audiologist to determine whether or not you need a hearing aid.

What are the Benefits of Wearing Hearing Aids?

It’s important to understand that mental health decline and hearing loss are connected. In general, the quality of life can go down. Some people become withdrawn because of their struggle to communicate or even the embarrassment of asking someone to repeat themselves multiple times. Even watching TV or listening to music can become a struggle. But with the help of hearing aids, life can go back to normal. The quality of life can be boosted as communication improves and everyday tasks can go back to “normal.”

Hearing aids are a great way to improve your quality of life, but it’s crucial to find the right ones that match your unique hearing loss, aesthetic, lifestyle and budget needs. The most common styles currently on the market include in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC), completely in canal (CIC), invisible in canal (IIC) and behind the ear (BTE). Your audiologist will work with you to find the ideal solution for your life.

Additionally, you will need to consider various features that your devices can be equipped with to help in your day-to-day life. Whether you’re looking for connectivity enhancement that Bluetooth provides or want a hearing aid with a multisettings function, your audiologist will help you discover what features will be most beneficial.

Are there Any Risks of Hearing Aids Weakening Hearing?

Hearing aids are designed to help with various conditions, such as tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. However, there are times when they can cause more harm than good when used improperly or without proper guidance from your doctor or audiologist. However, a properly programmed hearing aid will not cause any damage to your hearing. So, make sure you discuss with your audiologist what the right settings are for you. This is going to significantly help you out, and this won’t damage or weaken your hearing whatsoever.

Albeit incredibly rare, a hearing aid could potentially damage your real hearing, but this is only likely to happen if the settings are not programmed by an audiologist or if the hearing aid is not properly functioning the way it should. If you speak with your audiologist, they’re going to help you get the settings exactly the way they need to be. So, do not buy a hearing aid without getting the proper guidance that you need from an audiologist. A hearing aid without help from a medical professional could potentially do more harm than good.

Overall, the fear of developing poor hearing from a hearing aid shouldn’t be something to fear. A helpful audiologist will be able to sort it all out for you. If you have any questions or concerns, or you want to look into ways to improve your hearing health, then please reach out to Dr. Eimer’s Hearing Clinic! Our staff will be more than happy to help you out! You can reach us at 231-333-5118.