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FAQ
Hearing Loss Frequently Questions
Below are frequently asked questions, you may find answers to common hearing loss questions here.
Most of the time hearing problems begin gradually without discomfort or pain. What's more, family members often learn to adapt to someone’s hearing loss without even realizing they are doing it. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether you have hearing loss.
- Do I / they often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do I / they have trouble following conversations with more than two people?
- Do I / they have difficulty hearing what is said unless facing the speaker?
- Do I / they struggle to hear in crowded places like restaurants, malls and meeting rooms?
- Do I / they have a hard time hearing women or children?
- Do I / they prefer the TV or radio volume louder than others?
- Do I / they experience ringing or buzzing in my ears?
- Does it sound like other people are mumbling or slurring their words?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, chances are you suffer from hearing loss.
Read more about recognizing hearing problems…
Only 13 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss. Since most people with hearing impairments hear just fine in quiet environments (like your doctor's office), it can be very difficult for your physician to recognize this problem. Only a trained hearing professional can determine the severity of your hearing problem, whether or not you could benefit from a hearing aid, and which type would be best for you.
This list of questions can help you get the answers you need from a hearing specialist.
Find a professional.
There are several causes. The main ones include excessive noise, genetics, birth defects, infections of the head or ear, aging, and reaction to drugs or cancer treatment. Each type of hearing loss has different causes.
Read more about the most common causes of hearing loss…
There are three types of hearing loss including: sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss. Most people lose at least some degree of their hearing as they age, and by the time they reach age 65 and older, one in three people has some type of hearing impairment.
Read more about the different types of hearing loss…
Yes, hearing aids are available for those with single-sided hearing loss. The Starkey CROS System delivers solutions for:
- Those who are unable to hear in one ear and have normal hearing in the other ear (CROS)
- Those with little to no hearing in one of their ears, and a hearing loss in their better ear (BiCROS)
Read this blog post about Muse CROS and BiCROS hearing solutions.
Learn more about single-sided hearing loss solutions…
Hearing loss can occur at any time, at any age. In fact, most people with hearing loss (65%) are younger than age 65! There are 6 million people in the U.S. ages 18-44 with hearing loss, and around 1.5 million are school age.
Only 5 percent of hearing loss in adults can be improved medically or surgically. The vast majority of Americans with hearing loss (95 percent) are treated with hearing aids. Read more about medications for hearing loss…
- Audiologists are professionals with master's degrees, Au.D.s or Ph.D.s in audiology, which is the study of hearing. They specialize in testing, evaluating and treating hearing loss. An audiologist may also fit hearing aids.
- Hearing Aid Dispensers are trained in fitting and dispensing hearing aids. Hearing Aid Specialists are often state-licensed and board-certified to test for hearing loss and to fit consumers for hearing aids.
- Otolaryngologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck disorders. They are also known as ENT doctors.
Learn more about hearing professionals and your options for treatment.
Find a professional.
You should make an appointment with a hearing professional like an audiologist, hearing aid specialist or ENT for an evaluation, consultation and hearing test. Many hearing care professionals offer this evaluation at no charge.
When seeking treatment for hearing loss, be sure to select a hearing professional who understands the available technology and offers follow-up care.
While you are no doubt concerned about appearance, compensating for a hearing loss by asking people to repeat themselves, inappropriately responding to people (or not responding at all), or even withdrawing from social situations is more obvious than wearing a hearing aid.
Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and more stylish than ever. Some are even invisible. And, chances are that once you have a hearing aid, your quality of life will improve so much that cosmetics won't be as much of an issue for you.
While hearing aids have helped millions of people around the world improve their hearing experience and quality of life, there are still some misconceptions about them. Don’t let these common myths keep you or someone you care about from getting help to overcome hearing loss.
Here are some common myths and facts about wearing hearing aids:
Research on people with hearing loss and their significant others has shown that hearing aids play a significant factor in a person's social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being.
More specifically, treatment of hearing loss has been shown to improve:
- Communication in relationships
- Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
- Ease in communication
- Earning power
- Sense of control over your life
- Social participation
- Emotional stability
Learn more about hearing aids improving your quality of life…
At their most basic, hearing aids are microphones that convert sound into electrical signals. An amplifier increases the strength of the signal, then a receiver converts it back to sound and channels it into the ear canal through a small tube or earmold. A battery is necessary to power the hearing aid and to enable amplification.
Read more about how hearing aids work…
Download PDF: How hearing aids work
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While no hearing aid can restore your hearing to normal (except in cases of very mild hearing loss), hearing aids are designed to let you hear soft sounds that you could not hear before, and prevent loud sounds from becoming uncomfortably loud for you. They are also designed to improve your ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments.
Hearing is a complex process that starts with the ears and ends in the brain where information is received, stored and "decoded" into something we understand.
Read more about restoring your hearing…
While no hearing aid can filter out all background noise, our advanced hearing aids are designed to reduce some types of background noise so that you can enjoy conversation and improve communication in places like restaurants, business meetings and social gatherings.
Read this blog post about directionality to learn more.
Find hearing aids.
Today’s hearing aids come in a wide variety of sizes and styles — from those that sit behind the ear to completely invisible hearing aids — and feature different technology levels to match your specific needs and budget.
Learn more about your options:
There are several factors that will determine which hearing aid will be the right one for you. They include the nature and severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle and the activities you regularly enjoy, your job, your eyesight and dexterity, and the size and shape of your outer ear and inner ear canal. You can start with our Hearing Aid Finder Tool, though ultimately your hearing professional should advise you as to the best choice for you.
Read more about finding the perfect hearing aid…
Like many other high-tech devices (TVs, phones, computers), hearing aids have experienced a major technological revolution in the past decade and especially in the last few years.
The best of today’s hearing aids are designed to track body and brain health, virtually eliminate feedback, make listening in noisy environments easier and more comfortable, stream stereo sound from TVs and radios directly to the hearing aid itself, let you talk on your phone hands-free, and much more. Now, instruments are smaller (and in some cases, invisible), more comfortable, rechargeable and powerful than ever.
Yes. Most people need an adjustment period of up to four months before becoming acclimated to — and receiving the full benefit of — wearing their hearing aids. However, you should expect to notice obvious benefits during this trial period. Remember, your hearing professional is there to help. Do not be afraid to call or visit to discuss your concerns.
1. Be realistic.
Remember that your hearing loss has been gradual; over the years you have lost the ability to hear certain sounds in the speech spectrum and normal sounds of the environment, such as traffic and wind noise, the hum of machinery and other background noises.
2. Practice.
When you begin to wear hearing aids, these sounds will be restored but your brain will need practice and reeducation in order to selectively focus on and filter sounds. Some sounds may even startle you at first. Know that your brain will acclimate to these sounds again over time.
3. Be patient.
It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Wear them as much as possible at first to become more skilled at recognizing sound direction and to learn which hearing aid settings work best for you in different situations.
4. Rest.
The adjustment period may be tiresome. It’s a lot like retraining a muscle that hasn’t been used in a while. But the benefits will be worth it after you’ve made the adjustment.
Read more about adjusting to hearing aids…
Two-ear hearing (called "binaural") is better than one. If you have hearing loss in only one ear, you may be fine with one hearing aid. Age and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, you will probably benefit more with a binaural solution. Today, about two-thirds of new users opt for dual hearing aids, and as a group they report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single hearing aid.
Read more about hearing aids for both ears…
The price of a hearing aid will vary depending on the specific model and features you need, and how effective it is in various noise environments. Whatever the final cost, most hearing professionals do offer financing plans. You should also check to see if you qualify for free hearing aids or discounted hearing aids from your employer, union, the Veterans Administration, insurance provider, HMO or local charity (such as Lions Club).
Read more about hearing aid cost…
Inexpensive models are simply hearing amplifiers that will make everything louder (including all the ambient noises around you). They will not, for example, separate human voices from background noises, or hear directional sounds like today’s more sophisticated hearing aids are designed to do.
Read more about cheap hearing aids…
Yes. In fact, it was Starkey Hearing Technologies that first introduced the 30-day money-back guarantee, which is now the industry standard. But it is important to give yourself a reasonable chance to adjust to your hearing aid, knowing it often takes a few months to get comfortable.
Read more about the guarantee with hearing aids…
We believe that you achieve the best possible results with your hearing aids by consulting with a hearing professional in person, so we do not endorse retailers selling over the Internet. Read our policy regarding Internet sales.
Read more about purchasing a hearing aid online…
Find a professional.
There appears to be a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline according to research conducted and published by a team of physicians at Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging.
According to the study, “older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remembering than older adults whose hearing is normal.”
Read more about the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline…
Hearing and activity tracking
Livio AI is the first-ever hearing aid to feature integrated sensors and artificial intelligence that allows you to track physical activity and cognitive health as measured by hearing aid use.
Rechargeable hearing solution
Starkey offers a rechargeable hearing solution that is powered by a lithium-ion battery.
Full, rich sound quality
Our latest hearing aids provide better sound quality for both speech and music.
Personalized listening experience
We all have a unique perspective of sound. By customizing the relationship of soft sounds to loud sounds for each individual, your hearing professional can greatly enhance listening comfort with today’s hearing aids.
Comfortable sound and conversation in every environment
A new advanced operating system identifies the environment you are in and automatically focuses on preserving speech. This makes hearing and understanding easier, no matter what the noise source.
Enjoy the conversation, enjoy the music!
Our hearing aids now have the ability to tell the difference between music and speech, and can automatically change settings to let you hear and enjoy music.
Music the way you like it!
Music and speech are very different. For the first time, music can be processed with all its richness and nuance to provide the best sound quality and listening experience.
Enjoy hearing your phone calls!
Use your iPhone to hear phone calls directly through your Halo 2 hearing aids without an intermediate device. With our Muse hearing aids, imagine putting your phone to one ear and hearing the call in both ears! Improves your ability to hear, understand and connect with your world!
You have the control in your hand
Use our TruLink® app on your smartphone to quickly and easily control and personalize sound quality to your liking, no matter the setting.
Your hearing aid knows where you are
Imagine a hearing system so smart it can tell when you are at your favorite restaurant, in a place of worship, or at work, and then automatically adjust sound quality to that environment. That system is available today.
Invisible options
Hearing aids continue to get smaller and more powerful. Many styles, including wireless options, rest comfortably inside your ear canal, where they are virtually invisible to others.
Everyone enjoys TV at a comfortable volume
Plug our SurfLink Media 2 into your TV or stereo, and you can stream TV, music, or the game straight from the source to your hearing aids. No one else needs to hear it if they don’t want to, or if you don’t want them to.
Portable, personalized wireless accessory
Our SurfLink Mobile 2 works with your hearing aids to talk on your cell phone, listen to music or just do better at the card game!
Durable, dependable hearing aids
Our hearing aids come with Surface Nanoshield, our leading water, wax and moisture repellent. Surface Nanoshield protects hearing aids from the elements that cause them the greatest challenges, so you can wear them more and repair them less.
Customizable tinnitus relief
Starkey’s newest hearing aids feature our advanced Multiflex Tinnitus Technology. This technology allows you and your hearing professional to customize a soothing sound stimulus designed to help manage your tinnitus.
Starkey offers a rechargeable hearing solution that is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Learn more about the lithium-ion batteries that allow rechargeable hearing aids to last 20% longer than other systems.