As you round out the holiday season, you likely spent a significant amount of time thinking about the perfect gift for your loved ones. While a hearing aid may not have initially crossed your mind, reconsidering this option for the future can be meaningful for several reasons.
In the United States, approximately 28.8 million adults could benefit from using hearing aids. Gifting a hearing aid demonstrates your commitment to supporting your loved one’s overall well-being, and it might just be the encouragement they need to make the decision themselves.
However, assisting a loved ones with selecting hearing aids isn’t a one-and-done gift. The process should involve an appointment with an audiologist and and repeated visits during the adjustment period. You should be prepared to support the person receiving the gift through the process. A great first step in gifting hearing aids would be to offer to book and attend the first appointment with the hearing specialist.
Why Hearing Aids?
If you’ve noticed your loved one’s declining hearing, whether it’s struggling to follow conversations at Offshore Restaurant or constantly adjusting the volume on the television, gifting them hearing aids is a thoughtful gesture. Addressing hearing loss is a commitment to helping them maintain social connections, as hearing impairment can lead to listening fatigue and strained relationships.
Apart from the social benefits, hearing aids offer numerous health advantages:
- Improved Balance and Communication: Hearing loss can contribute to balance issues and communication difficulties, both of which hearing aids can help address.
- Increased Social Interactions: The wearer is likely to engage in more social interactions.
- Reduced Listening Fatigue: Hearing aids decrease the strain of hearing by amplifying sounds.
- Background Noise Filtering: They filter out background noise, enhancing the ability to hear conversations or enjoy television.
- Enhanced Independence: Collectively, these benefits contribute to increased independence.
It’s essential to understand that hearing aids won’t restore lost hearing or slow the progression of nerve-related hearing loss. Additionally, wearers may take several months to adjust to using hearing aids, as they are not an immediate solution for most issues.
While it may be tempting to gift a single hearing aid if the person has hearing loss in only one ear, if the impairment affects both ears, wearing two hearing aids allows for more effective sound processing.
A gift of hearing aids should also not replace proper hearing care. Encourage your loved one to protect their remaining hearing by avoiding loud noises, taking breaks from such environments and wearing hearing protection when necessary. Encourage your loved ones to get their hearing checked regularly and consider accompanying them to appointments to learn more about the potential benefits of hearing aids.
To learn more about hearing aids or to schedule a hearing test for you or a loved one, contact Gary D. Schwartzberg, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology today.