Did you know that October is Audiology Awareness Month? This means there’s no better time to seek care for your hearing health.
Left untreated, hearing loss is associated with social withdrawal, feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, falls and even dementia. This is why it’s so important to treat your hearing loss with hearing aids without delay.
Below we review your options for hearing loss treatment and why hearing care is better than technology alone.
Hearing Loss Treatment Options
There are two routes you can take when it comes to treating hearing loss: over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids and prescriptive hearing aids.
OTC Hearing Aids
In 2017, the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act was passed, which allowed personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) to be sold directly to consumers who suffer from mild hearing loss. The FDA was scheduled to release a set of regulations on these devices by August 2020, but because of the pandemic, it is unclear when they’ll actually be released.
OTC devices are desirable to some because they often are available at a lower price point than prescriptive hearing aids. However, this is because the price is for the device only, not the care and expertise of a licensed audiologist. In addition, OTC hearing aids are much more basic level of technology than prescriptive hearing aids.
Prescriptive Hearing Aids
As the name suggests, prescriptive hearing aids are prescribed by an audiologist after a hearing test. Once you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, your audiologist uses your audiogram, which is a visual representation of your hearing loss, as well as a lifestyle needs assessment to select the right hearing aid for you.
Then your audiogram is used to program the device to the exact specification of your hearing loss. This means only the sounds you can’t hear well are amplified, rather than all sounds being amplified equally like with OTC hearing aids. This ensures you can hear your conversation partner at FIG with ease without the sound of dishes clanking overpowering them.
Why You Should Choose an Audiologist
When you buy hearing aids from an audiologist’s office, you get to take advantage of their expertise during the selection and fitting process. In addition, the cost of follow-up care, including reprogramming your devices and clean and check appoints, is also included in the price you pay for your devices.
One study found that hearing aid users are more satisfied when they receive hearing care services, including tips on how to hear better in certain situations and how to gradually increase wearing time.
For more information about the benefits of getting hearing care from an expert audiologist or to schedule an appointment, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.