Over-the-counter hearing aid choices are showing up more frequently online and in stores. Getting help for hearing loss is supposed to be easier with these devices. They also maximize the affordability of hearing help. Unfortunately, using over-the-counter hearing aids has caused quite a bit of worry from both medical professionals and the government. Some states are even releasing warnings because they have taken complaints from people who have used them. Here are just a few concerns.
Don’t Overlook a Hearing Test
One main problem with over-the-counter hearing aids is that you neglect essential steps in the process, like getting a hearing consultation and hearing examination. Without these steps, you can’t really know which solution is correct for you. You might also miss signs that your hearing loss is connected to other health concerns. Hearing tests also inform you of how to set up the device for best results.
There Are Different Levels And Types of Hearing Loss
Generally speaking, people have a tendency to think of hearing loss as a sort of lowering of the volume meter on your ears. The result is immediate when you do that on your stereo: the volume quickly goes down.
But changing the eq levels on a high end stereo is more like real hearing loss. This occurs because different wavelengths and frequencies are impacted with hearing loss. So you may actually be doing additional damage to your hearing if your hearing aid is not precisely calibrated.
The exact frequencies that are being amplified by the OTC hearing aid will typically be printed on the box (at least on higher quality versions). If you’ve had an audiogram recently you can try to do it on your own. Even then, you’re likely best off asking us to help program it. Sometimes, OTC hearing aids won’t be able to be customized to the requirements of someone that has a more complex type of hearing loss.
Making Smart Hearing Aid Choices
Consumers have more choices when it comes to devices to help with hearing than they ever did before. But because there are so many choices, it also makes deciding on the right one that much harder. You’ve most likely experienced this type of “analysis paralysis” when flipping through the channels and trying to choose something to watch.
You can make some smart choices with your hearing aids by doing the following:
Some amplification devices are marketed to look like hearing aids so be careful of this. It can often be challenging to tell the difference. A hearing amplifier will turn the volume up on all wavelengths of sound, not just distinct frequencies like a hearing aid does. And after a while, that can impair your hearing. After all, you likely don’t need all frequencies to be louder, just the ones that you can’t hear currently. If your hearing is weak in the high register, you obviously don’t require to boost the lower frequencies which could harm your hearing.
Speak with us. It’s really important to have an evaluation with us whichever way you decide to go. We can figure out how complex your hearing impairment is with a simple hearing test. It may or may not be a smart strategy to choose an OTC hearing aid. We can also do an audiogram, so you’ll be capable of choosing the correct strategy for your requirements.
The best solution is usually not going to be OTC hearing aids. But it’s important to remember that most of these issues can be simply worked out with some personal education and a professional assessment. It’s beneficial to take the time to get some assistance first because hearing is a significant part of your general health.