FAQs

Your Questions Answered

Do all hearing aids need batteries?

Yes. Because all hearing aids work on electrical power a battery is always necessary. The type of batteries used are designed especially for the safety of the hearing aid wearer.

Do I need to take my hearing aid out when I answer the telephone?

Not with a suitable hearing aid. Many hearing aids offer features that will allow them to work with the telephone system, making a phone conversation very easy.

Why do hearing aids always pick up loud background noise?

Modern hearing aids are generally designed to reduce background noise and make what we want to hear sound louder. It’s important to understand that some level of background noise is normal for all hearing aids. Modern hearing aids are getting better and better at reducing background noise even further.

Will hearing aids restore my hearing?

No. Once the sensory hairs in the inner ear have lost the ability to transmit sound signals to the brain, causing the hearing to deteriorate, it cannot be fully restored.

Should I be wearing two hearing aids?

If you have a hearing loss in both ears, even though one may be worse than the other, it is always better to wear two hearing aids. The brain relies on two good sound signals to localize sounds properly, and can often benefit from wearing two hearing aids. After all, no one would wear glasses with only one lens, just because one eye was worse than the other!

Will wearing a hearing aid cause me to have ear infections?

No. Your hearing aid audiologist will provide you with all the necessary advice on good ear hygeine, to ensure that the hearing aid will not cause any infection. If however you have been prone to ear infections in the past, your hearing aid audiologist will refer you to the Doctor for any appropriate treatment they may feel is necessary.

Should I wear my hearing aid all day?

Yes. Using a hearing aid at first involves a learning process for the brain, and wearing your hearing aid day in and day out will help you to regain your hearing and understanding of speech more quickly, and to the best possible degree.

Does wearing a hearing aid make your hearing worse?

No. Using a hearing aid on a regular daily basis will allow the wearer to understand more of what they want to hear. Wearing a hearing aid will also help to keep the brain active, as it begins to pick up more sound signals.

Why should I need a hearing aid? People just don’t speak clearly enough.

The natural course of aging causes our quality of hearing to diminish over time, and is often the root cause for feeling like people are mumbling. In most cases it is the listener’s sense of hearing, and not the speaker’s voice, which can create misunderstandings. This is often a sign that a hearing aid may be necessary.