10 Common Myths about Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
With all the noise and misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids, we wanted to debunk a few common myths on the subject. Hopefully it will provide a fresh perspective and some key issues about hearing care:
1. Cleaning my ears with cotton swabs is good for my hearing.
Most still hear the voice of their moms telling us to clean our ears with a cotton swap. This can do more harm than good, since there is a risk of the eardrum getting damaged. Contrary to common belief, ear wax actually has a beneficial function: it contains beneficial oils that lubricate and protect the skin of the ear canal. It also traps dust and other particles and keeps them from reaching the sensitive eardrum. If you feel that you have excessive earwax to the point that it affects your hearing, we recommend you to visit a doctor.
2. Hearing loss affects everyone equally.
Men are more likely to exhibit hearing loss than women, making up 60% of all hearing impaired. While there are multiple factors, it is often attributed to more exposure to stress, an increased likelihood of noise at work, higher incidence of head injuries. Studies have also shown that African Americans are 20% less likely to suffer from hearing loss than whites.
3. Hearing loss affects only older people.
While one third of the people over 60 have a hearing loss, there are close to six million people in the US between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss. In fact, 65% of all people with hearing loss are below 64 years of age.
4. The implications of wearing a hearing aid are worse than not having one.
Not following the key part of a discussion, or not being able to laugh at joke for the nth time or having the “what?” and “huh?” as part of your standard vocabulary, make an untreated hearing loss far more apparent than a hearing aid. Isolation and a dent on your self-esteem are only the mild implications; studies have shown that there is a clear correlation between untreated hearing loss and dementia and/or depression. Don’t let vanity get in the way; there are people with far more limelight exposure who have acknowledged and treated their hearing problems.
5. Hearing Aids are massive, bulky and clearly visible.
They used to be – a long while ago. Nowadays, hearing aids can be as tiny as a dime and fit almost invisibly behind the ear or in the ear canal. In fact, you probably haven’t noticed the vast majority of people who wear modern hearing aids.
6. Hearing aids will make everything louder, but not “clearer”.
Historically this has been a common concern with older analog devices. However, modern hearing aids have evolved substantially over the last 5 years due to the introduction of digital technology and better signal processing software. This means that noise cancellation algorithms inside the hearing aid are constantly working on filtering out noise and feedback. This is particularly relevant when understanding speech in noisy environments, like for example in a restaurant. Some hearing aids nowadays also come with multiple directional microphones which can provide extra speech focus.
7. Hearing aids are incredibly expensive because the technology is complex
A recent survey of ours showed that 97% of hearing aid users thought that hearing aids from traditional clinics cost so much ($3000 to $8000 for a pair) because the technology is incredibly sophisticated. On the contrary; the cost to produce a hearing aid is generally less than $100, however gets marked up by up to 40 times as it passes through manufacturers and traditional retailers.
8. Medicare/Medicaid will cover the costs of my devices.
Not really. Unless you are part of the Veterans Affairs (VA), you are pretty much left on your own if you’re thinking about relying on public coverage schemes like Medicare or Medicaid. There has been a long debate about passing a $500 tax credit, but the bill has stalled in congress since 2009 – and probably sits pretty low on the priority list of policymakers, in this general political and economic turmoil.
9. Hearing loss affects only a small proportion of the population.
Really? Think again. Hearing loss is the 3rd most prevalent condition after cardiovascular disease and arthritis. It affects 35Mn Americans or approximately 1 in 9 people. If you want to put this in perspective, this is roughly the population of Canada.
10. Hearing loss is unavoidable, it’s partly genetics and everyone eventually gets it
That’s a pretty fatalistic view. While heritage can play a role, there are a lot of things you can do to delay hearing loss or avoid it altogether. You can start by protecting your ears from continuous exposure to loud sounds, altering your diet, quitting smoking and generally leading a more balanced life.
Sources: Audicus Hearing Aids
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