K & K Hearing Associates

Myth: Hearing loss is just for older people and is merely a sign of aging.

Fact: 64 and under age group carries 20% of the hearing loss population. The other 80% are 65 years of age and older.

Myth: Hearing aids will make me look “older” and “handicapped.”

Fact: If anything..NOT hearing well makes you look older and wearing a hearing aid to help you hear closer to normal actually makes you look younger. Keep in mind that a hearing loss is much more obvious and noticeable than a hearing aid. Most hearing aid wearers report that most of the time their friends do not notice the aid, but notice that the person wearing the aid seems more youthful and alert than before.

Myth: If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.

Fact: Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in quiet environments, like a doctor’s office or examining room, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training, and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be and can be very difficult for your doctor to even realize that you have a hearing problem

Myth: I’ll just have some minor surgery like my friend did and my hearing will be ok.

Fact: Many people know someone whose hearing improved after medical or surgical treatment. It’s true that some types of hearing loss can be successfully treated. With adults, unfortunately, this only applies to about 5-10% of the cases

Myth: I have one ear that is down a little but the other ear is ok.

Fact: Everything is relative. Nearly all patients who believe that they have one “good” ear actually have two “bad” ears. When one ear is slightly better than the other, we learn to favor that ear for the telephone, group conversations, and so forth. It can give the illusion that “the better ear” is normal when it isn’t. Most types of hearing loss affect both ears fairly equally, and about 90% of patients are in need of aids for both ears.

Myth: My hearing loss is normal for my age.

Fact: Although it may be more common for loss at your age, it is not necessarily normal. But…isn’t it strange how we look at things? Do you realize that well-meaning doctors tell this to their patients every day. It happens to be “NORMAL” for overweight people to have high blood pressure. That doesn’t mean they should not receive treatment for the problem. SEEK HELP!

Myth: Hearing loss will not affect me physically.

Fact: It affects your brain (speech center) and also causes stress. We all know what stress can do to you.

Myth: Only people with serious hearing loss need hearing aids.

Fact: Although the lifestyle you live will have a deciding factor on whether you feel you have a need for hearing aids, you also need to realize that lack of stimulation to the speech center can cause major auditory deprivation (the brains inability to decode the informationthe ears are sending it) that is permanent and irreversible. So, early hearing aid assistance will create a much longer quality of speech understanding in the later years of your life.

Myth: I can wait until my hearing gets a lot worse before I have to do something about it.

Fact: The longer a person waits to take care of their hearing, the less a hearing aid will do for them in the future. Causing issues with auditory deprivation, possible speech impediment and not to mention; untreated hearing loss carries the same symptoms as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Myth: My Hearing loss is not that big a deal, I can live with it.

Fact: According to the 1990 National Center for Health Statistics: Hearing loss is listed as the third leading cause of health problems in individuals over the age of 50. Arthritis and Hypertension are one and two.

Myth: My hearing loss does not affect anyone except me.

Fact: Your hearing affects everyone around you. Including the ones who love you the most: Spouse, children, grandchildren.

Myth: I have been told that I have nerve deafness and a hearing aid will not help.

Fact: Approximately 80% of all hearing aid wearers have nerve deafness and do very well with hearing aids. In fact, the majority of hearing aid wearers would consider themselves at a major disadvantage if they did not have their hearing aids.

Myth: I have friends that wear hearing aids and it does not seem to help them.

Fact: It is true that some people do not do as well as others with hearing aids. Just remember this, we all do not get the same eyesight clarity with glasses, but we still do not want to be without them. The longer you wait to correct your hearing, the less you will get in return. You have one set of ears; take care of them.