Whenever someone new comes to visit us for their first hearing assessment, it’s not uncommon that they’re feeling skeptical about hearing aids—they’re not the most popular!
People ask us all the time, concerned, if hearing aids can cause hearing loss, whether they’re detrimental to hearing, whether they cause vertigo or ear infections… not to mention the fears surrounding looking old because of wearing a hearing aid.
These are all very common myths that have circulated over the years to dissuade people with hearing loss from getting care—imagine if someone told you that getting eyeglasses was going to make your vision worse! It’d sound ridiculous, right?
Hearing aids correct hearing loss, not cause it, and as for the other myths surrounding hearing aids, we’re here to bust them.
Can Hearing Aids Cause Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids do not cause hearing loss. On the contrary, hearing aids amplify sound and help keep your current range of hearing where it is by reducing the strain on your ears and allowing you to hear sounds you couldn’t previously hear.
Do Hearing Aids Make My Hearing Worse?
Many seem to believe that hearing aids will weaken your hearing over time; similar to muscles you don’t use, they’ll grow weaker without constant use.
However, you still use your hearing every single day, even while wearing hearing aids. Your hearing aids act as a boost to your hearing to make sure that your current levels stay steady and healthy.
If your hearing aids sound too loud in your ears or feel uncomfortable to wear, make sure to see your audiologist for adjustments to help performance and comfort. Hearing aids that weren’t quite fitted right may cause discomfort but will not lead to more damage.
Can Hearing Aids Lead to Dizziness and Vertigo?
Some individuals can experience temporary balance issues when first using hearing aids; like with glasses or braces, your hearing aids take some getting used to as your brain adjusts to the new and improved levels of sound.
Vertigo is uncommon and typically linked to other issues within your ears, not your hearing aids. If you’re struggling with your balance, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll see what we can do to help.
Does Wearing Hearing Aids Cause Ear Infections?
When properly cleaned and maintained, hearing aids do not increase your risk of ear infections.
Hearing aids can lead to earwax buildup in your ear, or trapped moisture, but with a good cleaning and maintenance routine, you won’t be at risk of ear infections due to your devices.
Make sure to give your hearing aids a gentle wipe with a dry cloth after removal and keep an eye on the wax guard to prevent wax buildup and moisture trapping.
Will Hearing Aids Make Me Look Old?
This is one that we hear a lot in the clinic—when many people’s first image of a hearing aid is the bulky, awkward devices of old, it’s a hard stigma to shake that hearing aids make you look old.
However, we’ve seen firsthand how that stigma is changing: more and more young people are taking advantage of hearing care and looking after their hearing so it will continue to serve them well into their golden years.
Hearing aids aren’t the villain of your hearing health story, but rather the trusty sidekick you can rely on to help you at a moment’s notice. You as the hero can depend on your hearing aids to keep your hearing safe, healthy, and stronger than ever!
If you’d like to explore hearing aid technology, we’d love to help you get started. Simply request a callback and we’ll get in touch as soon as we can to answer questions or alleviate concerns.
Don’t want to wait? Call us at (936) 632-2252.
