Hearing loss is very common – especially in older age. Once you notice hearing loss, it’s important to take the right measures to improve your hearing. Below are just a few mistakes to avoid.
Ignoring the problem
Ignoring hearing loss can have all kinds of negative effects. For many people, hearing loss gradually gets worse – if you’re already struggling to hear people in conversation, you could struggle more in the long run. Those that don’t diagnose or treat hearing loss can often develop anxiety around social situations and may even go into social withdrawal. Some people can get very depressed or angry as a result. For this reason, it’s important to diagnose and treat the problem – especially as it can be so easily treated.
Not taking time to adjust to a hearing aid
If you decide to get a hearing aid, don’t expect it to make an instant difference to your hearing. For some it can make an instant difference, but often a period of adjustment is needed for your ears to get used to the hearing aid. Persevere with it – if it still isn’t working after several weeks, then return to your audiologist.
Failing to care for your hearing aid
Hearing aids need to be looked after so that they don’t get damaged. This includes cleaning your hearing aid, avoiding exposure to moisture and avoiding exposure to heat. You can find guides online that tell you exactly how to care for your hearing aid. This will ensure that you’re getting the right level of hearing correction.
Using a faulty hearing aid
If you notice that your hearing aid is not working, it’s important to see an audiologist. Your device may be damaged and may require hearing aid repair. You don’t want to continue using a faulty hearing aid as it could fail to offer the hearing assistance you need and may even cause damage to your ears. In some cases, you may just need a new prescription – there may be nothing wrong with the device and your hearing may have simply declined.
Not taking further steps to protect your ears
Just because you are experiencing hearing loss doesn’t mean that it’s too late to protect your ears from further damage. Hearing loss may be natural and your hearing may continue degrade over time, which is something you may not be able to prevent – however if your hearing loss was caused by noise exposure, it could be a good idea to start protecting your ears in noisy environments either by wearing earplugs or using specific hearing aids that can help reduce volume. Musicians, construction workers and motorsports enthusiasts are just some of the people that can experience premature hearing loss as a result of noise exposure. If you are one of these people, and you want to continue partaking in your profession or hobby, make sure to take steps to protect your ears.