WHEN SHOULD YOU DECIDE FOR THE APPLIANCE?
When hearing loss is detected, it is unwise to postpone the fitting decision.
The brain has trouble adjusting to the return of sounds that have not been heard for a long time.The longer the hearing loss is without being fitted, the more difficult it becomes to get used to it.
The earlier the fitting is made, the faster the brain will get used to it.
IS IT DEVALUING TO WEAR HEARING AIDS?
Wearing the devices improves daily relationships by restoring the capacity for exchanges. They reduce or eliminate the effects of hearing loss on communication.
Wearing a device enhances communication and your image towards others.
Without wearing devices, communication becomes more complicated and constricted.
We notice more the effects of hearing loss than wearing devices.
DOES HEARING AIDS INCREASES THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS?
Wearing devices does not increase hearing loss, does not tire the ear, and does not develop hearing laziness. On the other hand, being forced to make efforts to hear does not develop better listening skills.
Conversely, less perceiving all sounds deprives the brain of the information it eats and prevents it from functioning normally.
Less hearing means losing the habit of hearing.
FITTING ONE OR BOTH EARS?
It is above all a decision specific to the hearing impaired who, for aesthetic, ergonomic or even psychological reasons, will rather be oriented towards a monaural (one side) or binaural device (on both sides).
The acoustician will also give his opinion from the results he has obtained during acoustic tests measuring hearing loss ear by ear.
In the case of a relatively symmetrical binaural hearing loss (similar on each side), it is advisable to pair both ears. Binaural equipment offers a summing effect perceived by the hearing impaired as a rich sound which will allow him to better locate the wires and better understand in noisy surroundings.
In the case of asymmetric binaural hearing loss (hearing difference between the two ears), the binaural fitting remains questionable depending on the extent of hearing loss in each ear.
In all cases, the acoustician will be able to advise the hearing impaired to find the optimal solution.
Christophe Lecourt
CAP-AUDITION
