Myths, facts and advice on hearing testing and hearing aids.

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• MYTH 1: I have “nerve deafness” and nothing will help.
• FACT: “Nerve deafness” is what the audiologist calls sensori-neural hearing loss. 90% of all hearing aid users have “nerve deafness”. The only help for this is a hearing aid or cochlear implant.
• ADVICE: Get the facts from an expert, the audiologist. Don’t rely on advice from salesmen or those untrained in the science of hearing.

• MYTH 2: All hearing tests are the same.
• FACT: A quality hearing test in an acoustically controlled environment is the foundation for accurate diagnosis of the hearing problem and proper selection of amplification.
• ADVICE: Never consider a “free fire hall” or “in home” test as more than a rough screening. Have a complete hearing test in a sound controlled room or booth performed by an audiologist.

• MYTH 3: Hearing aids are all the same. They amplify everything.
• FACT: Hearing aids today are far more sophisticated than those of 5-10 years ago. They can selectively amplify speech sounds vs. noise, soft vs. loud sounds, and amplify differently in different sound environments..
• ADVICE: See an audiologist who dispenses many brands of hearing aids. No single brand has products to address all types of loss.

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• MYTH 4: I should only wear one hearing aid.
• FACT: True, if you have loss in only one ear, however, loss in both ears usually is best corrected by aiding both. You wouldn’t correct one eye if you needed glasses. The same applies to hearing.
• ADVICE: Get a good trial period. You can then evaluate the aids individually and together and make an informed decision.

• MYTH 5: A cheap hearing aid is as good as an expensive one.
• FACT: Hearing aids under $1000. are analog (old technology) or very basic digital aids.
• ADVICE: Beware of “low ball” pricing. In many cases these are “bait and switch” ads designed to sell you a more expensive aid. Expect to pay between $1000. and $2700. per ear depending on need.

• MYTH 6: The more expensive the hearing aid the better it is.
• FACT: As long as the aid is fairly priced, the expense is related to the features the aid has. You may not need all the features in a given aid.
• ADVICE: Your audiologist should make sense as to why certain features are necessary. You should be fit with an aid with the features you need. Beware of extremely high prices. There are no $3000., $4000., or $5000. hearing aids (just unfair mark up). Remember, discounts are often just a reduction in an inflated price.

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• MYTH 7: The smaller the aid the better.
• FACT: While smaller may be helpful, it is limited in function by its very size. A larger aid can be more “feature rich” and often less expensive. You would be surprised at just how un-noticeable many aids can be.
• ADVICE: Your audiologist should give you the pros and cons regarding the size and benefits of a specific aid. You should always choose performance over size.

• MYTH 8: Hearing aids can eliminate background noise.
• FACT: Hearing aids are much more accurate in improving speech understanding in the presences of noise. No hearing aid can eliminate noise and amplify only speech.
• ADVICE: Your audiologist should explain and recommend the best options and strategies to maximize your speech understanding in all situations. Beware of ads that promise things that the normal hearing ear can’t do.

• MYTH 9: Hearing aids whistle all the time.
• FACT: The whistle (feedback) is something that should not occur in normal use.
• ADVICE: Even with older aids, your audiologist should be able to find solutions to eliminate feedback.

• MYTH 10: I have to have a volume control on my hearing aid.
• FACT: This was true in older aids because the aid amplified all sounds the same. Today’s aids are automatic and sense loudness and amplify accordingly.
• ADVICE: Your audiologist should explain how automatic technology works and in what instances a volume control might be indicated. Consider this; does a normal ear have a volume control?

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