| It was over 50 years ago in the midst of a western | | | | For those folks, here are some signs and symptoms |
| movie being filmed that a well-known actor was | | | | they may have that point to hearing loss; if they are |
| affected by hearing loss when a gun incidentally went | | | | doing things like asking for things that have been said |
| off near his ears. This man would have to wear two | | | | to be repeated often, startling easily, inattentiveness, |
| hearing aids for the rest of his life, one allowed him to | | | | asking to make the sounds louder, then complaining |
| hear sounds and the other balanced the sounds he | | | | that it is too loud, and showing inconsistent responses |
| was hearing, and he eventually became president of | | | | to sound, as well as some physical symptoms like |
| the United States. | | | | ringing in the ears, dizziness, ear infections, or |
| At the time of his accident, he became one of 24 | | | | frustration and withdrawal from family and friends. |
| million people living in the United States who have | | | | There have been too many people who have been |
| problems with hearing, speech or language. The | | | | told by their doctor that there was nothing they could |
| National Hearing Aid Society claims that, by the year | | | | do for their problem, so they don't seek further help. |
| 2050, we'll see a greater number of people with | | | | For the most part, these doctors are referring to the |
| hearing loss than will be newly born in the country, | | | | inability to solve the problem naturally. For the most |
| populace as an end product of the increasingly aging | | | | part, hearing aids can help people hear. |
| people. | | | | The idea that there's nothing that can be done is one |
| Due to the fact that so many more people are going | | | | that has lingered for years. The good thing about |
| to need hearing aids, the manufacturers want to give | | | | buying a hearing aid now is that there are 30 day |
| their items the best chance of succeeding. Among the | | | | guarantees offered on them, meaning if you don't like it |
| improvements are aids which are small enough to hide | | | | for whatever reason you can return it for a refund. |
| just inside the outer ear, and products that are able to | | | | There are cases in which a refund will be cut by the |
| differentiate between background noise and | | | | expense of their consultation or fitting, but a person |
| conversation. No matter how much they improve, | | | | typically gets most of their money back. |
| though, hearing specialists claim that the effectiveness | | | | If you or anyone you know seems to be having |
| of their corrective devices could use some help. If | | | | symptoms of hearing loss, make an appointment with |
| someone eventually loses their hearing over a course | | | | either your doctor or an otolaryngologist. If the doctor |
| of several years, hearing aids can be a hassle to get | | | | is unable to treat the hearing problem with surgery or |
| accustomed to. | | | | medicine, the patient will be sent to a specialist so the |
| There are many types of hearing aids to choose from, | | | | hearing can be tested, the device can be chosen and |
| but the three that are most common are the traditional | | | | fitted, and the patient can be helped in getting used to |
| over the ear model, the model that fits into the bowl of | | | | the hearing aid. Most specialists offer maintenance on |
| the ear, and the model that fits directly inside the ear | | | | the units they sell, as well. |
| canal. The model that is the most expensive and most | | | | Clinical audiologists often sell hearing aids, and they are |
| popular of the three is the inside the ear canal model, | | | | certified by the state Commission for Audiology and |
| and it is also the one that was worn by the former | | | | Speech Language Pathology to give you this service. |
| Commander in Chief. | | | | Hearing aid audiologists also have similar training, |
| According to the Better Business Bureau, the average | | | | through they may not have gone to college - either |
| hearing aid costs patients anywhere between | | | | way, the National Hearing Aid Society trains and clears |
| $400-1,000 initially, and generally includes any | | | | them to sell you a hearing aid if you wish. The |
| consultation costs as well as fitting and testing fees | | | | distinguishing features between the two is similar to |
| incurred throughout the process. Even though most | | | | what makes an optician and ophthalmologist different |
| people think hearing loss affects people of an elderly | | | | from each other. |
| age, 20% of the hearing impaired population is school | | | | It really doesn't matter who the hearing aid is |
| aged children. | | | | purchased from, as long as it is bought from someone |
| There is one local hearing aid professional who thinks | | | | who is licensed. Some people don't want to wear a |
| ego has contributed to preventing those who need | | | | hearing aid and won't admit they are really lip reading, |
| assistance from looking for it, but this is something that | | | | but you can tell they don't understand what is being |
| has been changing radically. To a greater extent, | | | | said unless they are looking at you. It just takes some |
| people are getting used to the notion that help is | | | | time for these people's families to convince them to |
| required in the event of hearing difficulty. Too many | | | | get help. That's a great thing because this is when they |
| times people don't see hearing loss coming. | | | | can start having better hearing. |