(ARA) – Hearing aids have been proved to improve the quality oflife of people around the world. Still, only one in five people whocould benefit from a hearing aid actually purchases one. Considerthe myths, and the facts, surrounding this tiny, yet amazing,technology.

Myth No. 1: Hearing aids are only for the elderly.

True, a gradual loss of hearing often occurs as people growolder. Age, however, is only one of many factors that contribute tohearingloss. Most experts agree that it is the experiences your earshave, rather than the age of them, that affect their functionalitythe most. Exposure to loud noises over time can be a huge factor inhearing loss. Each time your ears are exposed to a noise, theindividual cells within the cochlea are prone to damage. Stress canalso cause incremental damage to these cells. Recent studies havealso linked some medications, such as antidepressants, to hearingloss.

Myth No. 2: If I needed a hearing aid, I would know it.

A common response of those reluctant to purchase hearing aidsis that they can manage just fine without one. Many do not realizethe extent to which their lives are affected by hearing loss. Justlike anything else that gradually happens over time, you may nothave an accurate perception of just how poorly you are able to hearsounds. There is also a misconception about what constituteshearing loss. It is not just that you lose your ability to hear atcertain volumes. Hearing loss also includes difficulty hearingparticular pitches or frequencies. Trouble understanding childrenor women’s voices, for example, may be a preliminary sign ofhearing loss.

Myth No. 3: Hearing aids can restore my hearing to normal.

Hearing aids will not return your ability to hear, but rather,amplify the sounds you are unable to hear. In doing so, hearingaids will undoubtedly introduce you to a new world of sounds thatwill take some getting used to. View your hearing aid like abicycle. It will take some time to learn how to use it properly.The audio and physical experience will take some getting used to.Many people even think their own voice sounds strange. But overtime your listening skills will adapt to the amplification.

Myth No. 4: Hearing aids are large and uncomfortable.

A lot has changed about hearing aids since they were inventedover a century ago. Many people have not seen the latesttechnological advances and designs that make hearing aids nearlyinvisible. “Completely-in-the-Canal” (CIC) instruments areavailable for many hearing losses, and these amazingly smallhearing aids are so technologically advanced that they’ve made mostold-fashioned hearing aids obsolete. Miracle-Ear offers a “nearlyinvisible” model that is virtually unnoticeable.

Myth No. 5: It’s too expensive to get a really good hearingaid.

Hearing tests are free. The very best hearing aids available arewell within the reach of most people. Any way you look at it, ahearing aid could be the best investment you can make.

Courtesy of ARAcontent