Have you decided to do the right thing for your hearing health and schedule a hearing test? That’s fantastic! If you’ve admitted that your hearing isn’t as sharp as it once was and are ready to take the next step toward healthy hearing, we’re here to help!
Before you visit us for your hearing consultation, take some time to think about the questions you will ask during the appointment. We want to make sure you’re delighted and will gladly answer all your questions and concerns.
Do I have hearing loss in both ears?
While it’s likely that you have hearing loss in both ears, it’s possible that you don’t have the same level of hearing loss in both ears. Commonly, one ear will have slightly worse hearing than the other, which can affect the treatment method we’ll suggest. It’s helpful for you to know which ear is your “better” ear and how it affects your hearing ability. If you have glasses, your prescription is probably slightly different between the eyes, and your hearing works the same way.
A recent study from the University of California-LA found that the ears process auditory information. In the same way that the two sides of the brain process different information, the ears also perform specialized tasks.
Researchers think that the left ear can process emotional information easier and helps you enjoy music or intuitively understand emotions. The right ear, on the other hand, processes speech and logic. If your left ear has a more significant hearing loss, you might struggle to interpret your loved ones’ emotional reactions, but if your right ear is weaker, you may have a more challenging time thinking through a problem someone is explaining to you.
Do Both Ears Need Hearing Aids?
You may think that you can hear very well from one of your ears, but the reality is that both your ears are probably experiencing hearing loss.
You will likely need two hearing aids, one for each ear. When you wear two devices, you will be able to hear from both ears, you’ll also have better binaural hearing, and your brain will have an easier time understanding all the sounds around you. You’ll have better spatial awareness and easily localize sounds, determining exactly where a sound is coming from. This will help you maintain balance, stay safe when walking or driving, and reduce your risk of accidents.
What Hearing Aids are Right for Me?
Hearing aids come in a wide range of styles, with advanced programs and settings to assist a variety of hearing losses. There are hundreds of options, and asking your hearing health specialist for recommendations will narrow the search down to the best three or four devices to help you hear when you need it the most.
What Is the Expected Life Expectancy of My Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids last between four and six years on average. This is a crucial question because your hearing aids may become an integral part of your life, and it’s a good idea to know when they’ll need to be changed. This will be helpful knowledge for you so that when the time comes for your hearing aids to be replaced, you can get them replaced before the old ones cease working.
What Should I Do If My Hearing Aids Fail?
Ask us what to do if your hearing aids break during your hearing aid fitting. You should acquire this information before you go since you’ll need to know what to do if your hearing aids break or become damaged. You can take your broken or damaged hearing aids to our office, and we al will determine whether they need to be repaired or if they can be repaired on-site.
Should I Remove My Hearing Aids When I’m Not Using Them?
There are specific situations in which you should not be using your hearing aids, and you should find out what these are at your hearing aid fitting. If you don’t, you run the risk of damaging your hearing aids, which will require repair or replacement.
We will be able to provide you with a comprehensive list of situations in which it is not a good idea to wear your hearing aids to avoid damaging them. Anything that requires your hearing aids to come into touch with high temperatures or dampness will be on this list.