We’re seeing more examples, on TV and online, of over-the-counter hearing aids. These devices are meant to make it convenient to get assistance with hearing loss. They also increase the affordability of hearing assistance. But medical professionals and even government officials have some serious concerns about some of the repercussions of using over-the-counter hearing aids. Some states are even issuing warnings because of the number of complaints they’re getting from patients. Here are just a few concerns.
Don’t Overlook a Hearing Exam
The idea that you can just go buy a hearing aid at the store or online without dealing with essential steps like a hearing test is a serious worry. Without these steps, it’s impossible to know which solution is correct for you. Additionally, your hearing loss may be linked to other health concerns which you could miss. We can also help you figure out what the best settings will be when you come in for a test.
Not All Hearing Loss is Identical
Many people think that hearing loss is just a lowering of the volume of sounds you hear. When you do that on your stereo (or your phone, as the kids do), the result is immediate: everything gets quiet.
But changing the eq levels on a high end stereo is more like real hearing loss. That’s because hearing loss is usually asymmetrical, affecting this frequency or that wavelength before others. So you may actually be doing additional damage to your hearing if your hearing aid is not correctly calibrated.
The more sophisticated OTC hearing aids do a pretty good job of indicating on their packaging which wavelengths they are boosting. If you’ve had a recent audiogram you can try to do it on your own. And you may still want some help with the programming. When your hearing loss is especially complex, OTC hearing aids may not provide the kind of customization you’ll need.
Making Smart Hearing Aid Decisions
At this point in history, consumers have the widest array of hearing aid options ever. But it’s also more difficult to make some decisions because there are so many choices. This is known as analysis paralysis, you likely experience it most acutely when you’re trying to find something to watch on Netflix.
You can make some good choices with your hearing aids by doing the following:
Some amplification devices are marketed to resemble hearing aids so be careful of this. One problem that customers have encountered is recognizing the difference between an OTC hearing aid and a hearing amplifier. Where a hearing aid will raise only certain frequencies of sound, a hearing amplifier will just turn the volume up on everything. And that can be bad for your ears over time. Obviously, you only need to increase the frequencies you have trouble hearing. Making sounds universally loud will dull the sounds you’re already able to hear.
Keep us in the loop. It’s really important to have an assessment with us either way you decide to go. We can figure out how complex your hearing loss is with a simple hearing test. An OTC hearing aid might not be a good fit. You will be in a more informed position to determine which option fits your needs when you have an audiogram.
Over-the-counter hearing aids are often not the ideal solution. But with a little professional assistance and knowledge, most of these challenges can be overcome. It’s worthwhile to take the time to get some help first because hearing is a significant part of your general health.
