MYTH: Everyone will notice I’m wearing a hearing aid.

FACT: False. Hearing aids today are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors to remove any concerns about vanity.

MYTH: I only have a mild loss. I don’t need a hearing aid.

FACT: False. Motivational factor is the most important part of a successful hearing aid fitting, which can be heightened if a family member is concerned about your hearing loss. However, research shows that early intervention with hearing devices can prevent auditory deprivation.

MYTH: I have tinnitus and hearing aids won’t help that.

FACT: False. Although tinnitus cannot be cured with hearing aids, it can be helped. Many of today’s hearing aids have tinnitus maskers that help manage your tinnitus in your daily life.

Tips for Hearing Aid Wearers

Dr. Motechin’s experience has shown him over the years that patience is key to hearing aid use success. He always counsels his patients to use their first week with their new devices to experience as many listening environments as possible and then to follow up a week later to report on their experiences. Based on this discussion, he’s able to customize the hearing aids through computer programming to make sure your devices best suit your preferences.

MYTH: Everyone will notice that I’m wearing hearing aids.

TRUTH: Even though this is the most common stigma we come across with our patients, it’s simply not true. No one is looking inside your ears; even though you may feel self-conscious, other people are probably not looking that closely at you. And even if they do notice, they’re not going to judge you for it. If anything, they’ll be glad they can have an easy and comfortable conversation because you can hear them clearly. We joke that someone would have to almost have their nose in your hair to notice you’re wearing aid.

MYTH: Wearing hearing aids means I’m getting old.

TRUTH: Hearing loss occurs at all ages, so having hearing loss says nothing about how old you are. Treating hearing loss is one of the best ways to stay young because you’ll be comfortable communicating with other people and staying active doing the things you love. It’s not the hearing aids that can make you look old, it’s saying “what?” all the time. If hearing aids will help you, go ahead and get them and get on with your life.

Hearing aids are big and clunky and whistle all the time.

TRUTH: People are sometimes nervous because an older family member had trouble with hearing aids in the past, but what’s available on the market today is not your mother’s hearing aid. Get rid of your preconceived notions of what a hearing aid is like and take a look at what we’ve got now. Today’s devices are physically more comfortable, offer a better sound quality, and are cosmetically more appealing. The difference between the myth of a terrible hearing aid and the modern reality is just night and day.

Hearing aid batteries are a challenge to change.

TRUTH: Modern hearing aids are much easier than ever before to maintain. They’ll let you know if your battery is running low, and actually physically changing the battery is much simpler than you might expect. We’ll show you how to change the battery and we will keep practicing it in our office until you’re completely comfortable. If you have challenges with your dexterity, there are also rechargeable hearing aids available.

You might notice that these answers all have to do with outdated perceptions of what hearing aids are like. To be honest, the entire stigma of wearing hearing aids is a thing of the past. We’ve noticed a trend that the people who see us for hearing aids are younger and younger because they recognize what treating their hearing loss earlier can do for them in terms of keeping them active and connected. Rather than worrying about what hearing aids used to be like or what other people might think about them, we suggest putting all that aside and giving yourself a chance to see what a difference hearing aids can make for you.

It is through continuity of care and good follow up that a relationship develops between Dr. Motechin, an audiologist and his patients that enables both to have a successful hearing aid experience.