It's a frequently asked question, and one that anyone with hearing loss should consider. An audiologist is the best person to talk to about which hearing aids are right for you and your hearing loss, but most people believe that hearing aids are curative of hearing loss, and it's not the case. Hearing aids help support the little hearing that you have, but they don't cure hearing.

Medical treatments and procedures for hearing loss only help five percent of the time, and hearing aids aren't a cure. However, they can help you to hear better! Hearing aids can be complex, and hearing itself is a tricky thing to consider. It starts in the ears and ends in the brain, where sound is processed and decoded into something you understand. When you add hearing aids into the mix to boost your hearing, the brain will register the sounds you have long missed.

The benefits of hearing aids

When you add hearing aids to boost your hearing, the brain will register long-lost sounds, which takes some time. Adjusting to amplification also takes time and patience, and you are going to be retraining the brain to understand sound and convert it properly to words, songs and familiar noises. Your hearing aids will help with that amplification, which will help your brain filter out the noise as it would have if your hearing was normal.

Hearing aids will improve your ability to communicate as a result. You wouldn't expect your glasses to cure your sight, so hearing aids work similarly as they can support your hearing ability, not cure it. They are a tool to help with amplification management, and while they will improve your quality of life, you can't expect more than that. Even with the right hearing aids, you will still likely experience difficulties with your hearing. However, with their help, you will find ways to adapt to your hearing aids and learn how to sign or lip read to support your ability to communicate.

Choosing the right hearing aids

With the help of your audiologist, you will be able to support your hearing loss and know the right hearing aids for you. Don't be rushed into this decision. Ask your audiologist to show you the different models and ask them to talk you through how they all work and how to take care of them. You can also ask about different hearing aid types, such as BTE, ITC, ITE and more. These will all be exciting to learn about because, without these, your hearing won't be as supported as you think it could be! Your hearing aids could help your hearing loss, and you would be able to enjoy life a little more and feel a lot less isolated as a result.

An audiologist is your first place to turn, so get your hearing tested and then go from there with the right hearing aids to help.