What Are The Best Ways To Manage Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is exceedingly common with up to 15% of adults in the United States reporting some level of hearing loss. That percentage equates to almost 38 million people who have some level of hearing loss, which could be a result of a lifelong hearing condition present from birth or a hearing problem that has developed over time with age. 

By the age of 65, around one in three people experience a loss of hearing, with age-related hearing loss being one of the most common causes of hearing related health problems. The reality is that hearing loss is exceedingly common, so if you are living with hearing loss, it’s important to realize that you are not alone. 

The good news is that there are lots of different ways that, by working with an audiologist, you can manage your hearing loss, helping to improve your quality of life. Wondering what the best ways are that you can manage your hearing loss? Below is a guide to the ins and outs of managing hearing loss. 

Speak to Your Audiologist 

The first step when noticing a loss of hearing should always be to reach out to your audiologist to discuss the changes to your hearing with them. By speaking to your audiologist, you can ensure that you are getting the best level of care and are taking steps to manage your hearing. Your audiologist will be able to examine your ears and determine what the best first steps are to manage your hearing and sound quality. 

Get a Hearing Test 

The chances are that if you are living with hearing loss, your audiologist will recommend that you have a hearing test to check the levels of sound you can hear naturally, as well as to check the quality of the sounds that you can process. 

A hearing test can check to see which parts of your inner ear are working correctly and which parts are not working as effectively as before. A hearing test will also determine what the primary cause of your hearing loss is and what the best approach to managing your hearing loss may be. 

Get Hearing Aids 

For managing hearing loss and continuing with your life as normal, your audiologist will most probably recommend considering getting hearing aids. There are a wide range of hearing aid device types to choose from, with each device suited to managing a range of different hearing problems, so it’s important that you speak with your audiologist about which hearing aid type might be the best fit for you, your hearing requirements and your lifestyle. 

There are basic hearing aids that simply correct hearing and sound quality, as well as more modern hearing aid designs that feature useful technology, such as Bluetooth compatibility which works seamlessly with modern devices like smartphones, speakers and tablets. 

Learn to Use Your Hearing Aids 

Once you have hearing aids, the next step is to learn how to effectively use them. Your audiologist will program your hearing aids before you can wear them, ensuring that they’re set up to effectively amplify sounds and improve sound quality. 

Your audiologist should also explain how your hearing aids work, what the charging or battery replacement process is, how to clean your hearing aids and maintain them effectively, as well as how you can adjust them for different situations and setups to ensure that you can get the most out of them as possible. 

It can take time to learn how to use your hearing aids effectively, but should you have any questions or need support managing your hearing aid devices, your audiologist can help to make the process a little easier.

Adapt to Living with Hearing Loss 

It’s important that you take the time to adapt to living with hearing loss. This could mean making allowances at work and ensuring that you have a workplace that is set up to accommodate and support people with hearing loss or it could mean thinking about how to use your hearing aids in a range of situations and setups. 

Adjusting to any change takes time, so there’s no need to rush the process. A lot of people with hearing loss find it helpful to join a hearing loss community group, which means that they’re able to chat with other people who are adjusting to life with hearing loss and can share their thoughts and feelings about how the adjustment process is going. To learn more about The Hearing Doctors call us at (630) 315-2899 today.