There are 48 million people in the United States suffering from hearing loss. However, only 20 percent of people who could benefit from the use of a hearing aid actually wears hearing aids.
Living with untreated hearing loss can lead to further harm – not only to your hearing, but also to your physical and mental health, career, relationships, and more. Don’t wait to get help. With the right hearing aids, you can regain control of your life.
Columbus Speech & Hearing is here to guide you through the hearing aid process every step of the way. Contact us online or call (614) 263-5151 to get started.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aids for You
Modern hearing aids are vastly different from the old, bulky models you might be imagining. Nowadays, hearing aids are known for being discreet or even undetectable, sleek, and technologically advanced. Manufacturers have improved battery sizes, unit sizes, and connectivity – they are now focused on adaptability, AI-assisted environmental learning, and other smart capabilities.
With so many options available, finding the right hearing aids can be a challenge. That’s why our experienced audiology team is here to create a personalized plan for you and your hearing loss needs.
Hearing Aids Should Fit Your Ears
Like fingerprints, everyone has unique ear canals. Our audiologists can make custom-fit earmolds using an impression of your ears so that your hearing aids fit more comfortably.
Additionally, because your ear anatomy is unique, the level of sound reaching your ear might be quite different from what is set in a hearing aid program. We will carefully program and adjust each hearing aid during a hearing aid fitting based on your hearing loss and other needs.
Columbus Speech & Hearing is one of the only providers to use Real Ear Verification to measure the amplified levels of a hearing aid in your ear. Real ear verification is known as the “gold standard” of hearing aid care, and we do it for every patient.
Hearing Aids Should Fit Your Lifestyle
Every hearing loss is different because every patient is different. For example, someone who spends most of their time in the garden, reading, and watching television has different needs than someone who likes to go to parties, loud concerts, and cycling classes. Even if both of those people have an identical hearing evaluation, they may not benefit from the same hearing aid.
During your hearing aid consultation, we will ask questions about your hobbies, activity levels, and more to find the best hearing aid for your lifestyle.
Hearing Aids Should Fit Your Budget
Many people worry about the cost of hearing aids. While it’s true hearing aids can be a big expense, don’t let lack of funding hold you back from getting help. As a nonprofit organization, Columbus Speech & Hearing serves everyone regardless of their ability to pay.
Our audiologists will work with you on finding affordable options without sacrificing quality. We offer flexible financing for hearing aids. You may even qualify financially for a low-cost or free device. We also allow a “trial” period so you can test out your hearing aids for free before making this important decision.
If you need more information about our programs and how we can support you, talk to your audiologist during your next appointment.
Benefits of Hearing Aids
While hearing aids have their limitations and are not a cure for hearing loss, they can significantly improve your quality of life. Some of the many benefits of hearing aids include:
General Health
- Improved Mental Health – Those that treat their hearing loss have a decrease in feelings of depression, anger and anxiety.
- Improved Cognitive Health – Individuals with untreated hearing loss are at an increased risk of cognitive decline.
- Improved Physical Health – Individuals with untreated hearing loss are three times more likely to suffer physical injuries, specifically falls.
- Improved Balance – Individuals that use a hearing device to treat their hearing loss may also see an improvement in their balance.
Professional Success
- Improved Ability to Focus – Untreated hearing loss leads to difficulty concentrating, especially when communicating with others.
- Improved Ability to Learn – New research suggests that untreated hearing loss can lead to problems storing new information.
- Increased Earning Power & Professional Success – Untreated hearing loss leads to reduced job performance and less monetary compensation.
Emotional Well-Being
- Renewed Confidence – Treating hearing loss enables an individual to once again be able to navigate the world on their own.
- Increased Control Over Life Events – When overcoming a reliance on others to understand what is going on in the hearing world, an individual with hearing loss will regain their sense of control.
- Better Relationships – Being able to successfully communicate with loved ones leads to healthier and longer-lasting relationships.
- Increased Social Interactions – Improved communication leads to a boost in confidence and more social activities with friends and loved ones.
What to Expect at a Hearing Aid Consultation
At Columbus Speech & Hearing, we will evaluate your hearing loss and find hearing aids that work for you. Knowing what to expect before getting hearing aids can make the change a bit easier.
1. We Will Identify Your Needs
Before we even perform a hearing assessment, we want to learn about you. What’s your lifestyle like? What activities do you do, and where do you spend time doing them? What have you given up because you can’t hear?
The right treatment plan, which may include hearing aids, addresses your individual needs and hearing loss head-on. Your life is multi-faceted, and so is your listening environment. Your hearing loss treatment should be personalized with this in mind.
2. We Will Find the Right Fit for You
After we’ve analyzed your test results, we’ll discuss solutions if a hearing loss is detected. We work with multiple hearing aid manufacturers, and every model is a little different. What do they have in common? They all meet current FDA regulations for medical devices. They are very different from anything that would be purchased as a “hearable” or “listening device” without the support of a medical professional.
3. We Will Provide Professional Ongoing Support
Hearing aids are just the beginning of your unique, individualized and comprehensive treatment plan. Our audiologists work with you to make sure your hearing aids are comfortable, correctly adjusted and that you have the training to use and benefit from their specific technologies.
We provide ongoing support and counseling for you and your family to assist you in acclimating to your new hearing device. The world is full of sounds; we’re here to help you hear them all.
Hearing Aids at Columbus Speech & Hearing
Call Columbus Speech and Hearing at (614) 263-5151 for more information or to schedule an appointment.