Ten Myths about Hearing Loss

1. Hearing problems are rare.
Wrong.  Well over 10% of the population has a hearing loss.  Unfortunately, many people don't confront the challenge head-on. It's not a shame to wear a hearing aid.  It's a shame not to stay in touch with the people around you.

2. Hearing disorders only affect the elderly.
Wrong.  More than half the people with reduced hearing are under the age of 65.   It can affect people of all ages.

3. When people don't hear well, it probably means they're getting senile.  
Not necessarily.  Hearing losses have a variety of causes and are not directly related with senility.  A failure to seek help can lead to communication problems and social isolation.

4. If you shout loud enough, people with a hearing loss will understand you better.
Wrong.  In fact, loud conversation may be painful.  Loudness will not make distorted sound any clearer, and may make the situation worse.

5. I can blast my jukebox; loud music doesn't bother me.
Most people with normal hearing are bothered by loud noise. Not being bothered by loud music may very well be an indication that hearing loss is taking place.

6. Hearing aids correct hearing 100%.
Wrong.  While new hearing aids can compensate for many losses, they cannot restore normal hearing.  They can help you get the most listening enjoyment from the hearing you still have.

7. When someone is hearing impaired, that just means that sounds are not loud enough.
That's part of it.  Perhaps that person may have trouble hearing in crowds or in group conversations.  Perhaps they hear but don't always understand what's being said.  Words may seem to be mumbled or words just run together.  These are but a few of the symptoms.

8. I've heard that my type of hearing loss can't be helped.
In most cases, nerve deafness can be helped through amplification.  Now there is hope for those who have been told they couldn't be helped.

9. It's too expensive to get a really good hearing aid.
The very best hearing aids are well within the reach of many people.  Any way you look at it, a hearing aid could be the best investment you can make.

10. Hearing aids will work for me in any situation.
While it's true that hearing aids help improve one's overall hearing, they may not work for every situation. That's when assistive listening devices come in handy as a nice complement to hearing aids.