Ear Nose & Throat Group, Inc.

While the prevalence of hearing loss continues to rise, most people are not aware of its effect in their own lives for many years after it begins. Even more devastating are the misconceptions of who, where, and what will truly help the hearing impaired. These misconceptions or myths are often unwittingly passed on as facts and can do more harm by preventing us or our loved ones from obtaining the appropriate hearing health care solutions that are available. Hopefully, this article will assist in separating some of these common myths from the facts on hearing loss and hearing care.

Myths: “Only a few people are truly hearing impaired.”

“Hearing loss is normal for my age.”

More than 31,000,000 Americans suffer from hearing loss – that means 1 out of 10 Americans! Most people assume their hearing loss is “normal for their age”. Hearing loss is not “normal” or confined to any age. Approximately one third of adults over 65 years of age experience some degree of hearing loss. However, the majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are below retirement age. Further, 15% of “baby-boomers” (ages 45-64) have hearing loss.

Myths: “I would know if I had a hearing loss. “

“It’s just that people mumble.”

“I’m pretty sure I just need to have my ears cleaned out.”

“I can hear fine, I just don’t understand.”

Most hearing losses develop slowly over time which allows us to become accustomed to our impairment as “normal” or more often to ascribe its effect on our lives to other factors. Many times people assume others are mumbling or the hearing loss is due to a wax build-up which causes the muffled sensation known to be associated with sensorineural hearing loss. It is not unusual for individuals with a mild to moderate hearing loss to be unaware of their problem, even though many friends and relatives close to them are very aware of the difficulties.

Hearing loss patterns can also play a role in the deception of the impairment. Good or better hearing in the low and mid tones helps us hear the parts of speech that contribute to loudness and our vowels. A lack of hearing sensitivity in the upper mid to high frequencies causes us to miss consonants, or the parts of speech that contribute to clarity of words. Thus, it makes it seem like you hear the word, but you do not understand the word. This is a common complaint and cause of frustration to most hearing impaired patients.

Myths: “Someone told me hearing aids won’t help my type of hearing loss.”

“Hearing aids just make all sounds louder.”

“Hearing aids don’t work in places with background noise.”

“Hearing aids are unsightly and make me look old.”

“Invisible hearing aids worn in the ear are the best ones to purchase.”

Considering 95 percent of all hearing disorders cannot be medically or surgically corrected, the use of a hearing device becomes the only realistic option for improving hearing loss. In the past, hearing aids were limited in the ranges of tones that could be accessed by the circuitry. New hearing aids have much broader frequency ranges and are able to successfully address those hearing losses that previously could not be fit.

In addition, new open fit technology in many devices allows the patient to still hear the low and mid tones normally and not have the stopped up feeling or distortion of their own voice like the in the ear older aids of the past. These new styles are very discreet, cosmetically appealing and can fit many ranges of hearing losses.

The research is very definitive on hearing aids and speech understanding in noise. It is always more difficult to hear in a noisy place than a quiet one. However, the requirements for understanding better in noise are binaural (hearing in both ears) hearing aids and directional microphones (two microphones on each hearing aid). Hearing aids can be “automatic, digital, noise reduction, etc.” but without directional microphones, there can be no improvement for speech discrimination in noise. Small, completely in the canal hearing aids do not have directional microphones and may not be the best choice for speech discrimination.

Myth: “All hearing aid providers are the same.”

“I can get brand-name hearing aids over the internet.”

Only audiologists are University trained and have a Masters or Doctoral level of education and training in the field of audiology. In most cases, they are certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association or by the American Academy of Audiology with some having the further distinction of Board Certification by the American Academy of Audiology.

Today’s hearing aids are much more complex than in the past. To fit aids correctly requires a complete understanding of an individual’s hearing loss and the expert counseling provided by Board Certified Doctor of Audiology addresses those requirements. Proper fitting involves the use of scientific measures of verification by means of computerized real ear speech inputs. Without these objective measures, simply asking, “How does that sound?” or purchasing aids over the internet cannot determine if the hearing aids are best performing for the patient’s needs.

May is Better Speech and Hearing month. Why not make this the time to see what you have been missing and join the 9 out of 10 hearing aid users who report improvement in their quality of life?

Would you like to learn more about hearing loss and your options for successful hearing health care? We welcome your questions and invite you to contact us for an appointment to evaluate and discuss this important quality of life issue.

Please call to make an appointment with one of our Board Certified Audiologists.

By Marilyn A. Gresham, Au.D - Marilyn A. Gresham, Au.D., Director of Audiology, earned her Masters degree at the University of Memphis and a Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida in 2000. She has been a practicing audiologist for over 25 years, is licensed by the State of Tennessee, and certified by the American Speech & Hearing Association. She is also a Board Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, Dr. Gresham serves as a clinical practicum supervisor for the University of Memphis Graduate School of Audiology and has been a University of Florida Doctor of Audiology facilitator. In addition, Dr. Gresham completed Vestibular Rehabilitation Training Program at the American Institute of Balance, which furthers the abilities of the Audiology Department to assess and treat dizziness problems for our adult patients.