Don't wait until you feel like your hearing is bad enough

PAID CONTENT

I have patients that tell me they want to wait until their hearing gets worse before they get a hearing aid. If you have a hearing test and hearing aids are recommended the time is NOW!

It is always best to get hearing aids when your hearing loss is mild to moderate instead of waiting until the hearing loss is severe. One has more trouble adapting to the sound of the hearing aid the longer they wait. Dexterity to handle small hearing aids also becomes more difficult as we age. In my experience it is much easier to fit a 60- to 70-year-old with mild to moderate hearing loss than to fit a 80- to 90-year-old with severe hearing loss. An 80- to 90-year-old accustomed to aids will have a much easier time adapting to new ones. It is recommended that you get new hearing aids every five years.

Some people think that when they get one pair they are supposed to last their whole life. Hearing aids wear out and hearing loss gets worse so it is very important to have aids that are strong enough throughout your life. Waiting to get hearing aids can also affect your ability to understand speech. You do not want your ability to understand to deteriorate so keep your neural pathway to the brain strong by getting those hearing aids when they are recommended. As always if you don’t get help from me get help somewhere. Make it a “New Ear’s Resolution.”

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Dr. Tia Flynn is a certified audiologist and has been in business for more than 18 years. Every Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Dr. Flynn provides free hearing screenings at 1601 Third St. in Coeur d’Alene, 208-664-2767. Visit our newly updated website www.affordablehearinginc.com for an online hearing test and watch helpful videos.