Hearing aids are only one piece of the puzzle to better hearing. Hearing your best means having the right technology for your loss that is programmed with experience and art to maximize your comfort, clarity and overall benefit. In addition, improved hearing results from education into the implications of your hearing ability and specific tips for your unique environments to improve understanding.

Anytime someone is fit with new technology, there will be an adjustment period. Regardless of whether the person you’re communicating with has an untreated hearing loss or is using hearing aids for the first time, the following communication tips can be used to enhance your conversations:

  • Sit or stand 3 to 6 feet away to maximize audibility
  • Stay at eye level to help with visual cues
  • Make sure you have the person’s attention before speaking
  • Use facial expressions and gestures to accentuate your message
  • Speak slowly and distinctly
  • Use short, simple sentences
  • Rephrase your words if the person is having a hard time understanding you
  • To avoid distortion, don’t speak directly into a person’s ear
  • Reduce background noise as much as possible; mute the TV for conversations
  • In a restaurant, chose your seating specifically for better conversations with a list of recommendations from our office
  • Ask others to speak more slowly rather than louder

 

Standing the correct distance

Sit or stand 3 to 6 feet away to maximize audibility

Use short sentences

Use short, simple sentences

We can help with better communication techniques. Our practice regularly hosts open houses and hearing events in which patients, their family, and their friends are welcome to come by and discuss their unique communication issues at greater length.

We recommend booking an appointment for a comprehensive hearing consultation so that our hearing care providers can find out more about your specific type of hearing loss and lifestyle. Contact us to schedule a complete consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are some types of hearing loss easier to treat?
Hearing loss is a puzzle that our professionals love to solve, and it is based on your individual experiences, lifestyle, and severity of impairment. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment method for hearing loss — it’s based on the sounds that you can’t hear, which vary greatly, and the sounds that you want to be able to hear. A quality hearing system from a reputable manufacturer isn’t effective until an experienced Audiologist programs the hearing aids with the science and art to allow comfort of hearing, clarity and benefit.
Are there any health downsides to not treating hearing loss?
Research has established a relationship between hearing loss and dementia. There is strong evidence that hearing loss that is not treated accelerates shrinkage of brain-tissue especially in the areas of the brain that receives auditory input. This shrinkage occurs when the ear is not hearing and therefore cannot stimulate the brain with sound. Properly fit hearing aids help to maintain sound stimulation to the auditory areas of the brain and continue to allow for social engagement rather than withdrawing socially because of inability to hear and understand. In addition, those with a mild hearing loss are 3 times more likely to fall down as those without, and the likelihood of falls increases as degree of hearing loss increases. There’s more. Hearing loss has also been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking and other circulatory conditions.
At what age do people normally start getting hearing loss?
The onset of hearing loss varies among people based on lifestyle, family history and health. Most people don’t begin to experience symptoms until their 30’s and 40’s and by age 55, routine hearing exams become a greater importance. One-third of people beyond the age of 65 have some degree of hearing loss, however mild or severe, and that share in the elderly population increases as they age.
How can I improve my hearing?
Unfortunately, many forms of hearing loss are permanent because there is no cure. Treatment methods that feature amplification fit to your specific hearing loss by a hearing care professional typically have the highest user satisfaction for improved hearing and improved quality of life.
How can I prevent hearing loss?
Protecting your hearing from noise levels greater than 85 decibels at work and during leisurely activities will greatly reduce your chances of noise-induced hearing loss. Many manufacturing jobs require hearing protection in loud environments, but hearing protection is also recommended while ATV riding, hunting, attending concerts and sporting events, and playing music — all situations where your hearing is vulnerable.
Is hearing loss hereditary?
Though it is difficult to say what genetic factors predispose individuals to hearing loss, there seems to be a connection. Some genetic disorders present at birth cause a hearing loss, but in the absence of a disease, hearing loss can still have a basis in your genetics.
What should I do if I get sudden hearing loss?
See and ear specialist immediately such as an Ear, Nose and Throat physician; sudden hearing loss is considered a medical emergency. Sudden hearing loss typically resolves on its own within two weeks, but it might not — meaning your hearing might be gone for good. Seeking medical assistance within 72 hours of the onset of sudden hearing loss greatly improves the chances that your hearing will recover.