Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Fiction: Hearing loss only affects older adults

While hearing loss is common in older adults affecting one in three over 65 and half of those 75 and older, it can occur to anyone at any age. Some of the most common causes of hearing loss include exposure to loud noise. Statistics show about 40 million US adults aged 20-69 years have noise-induced hearing loss, often due to the use of earbuds and headphones at dangerous volumes. Other causes of hearing loss affecting people of all ages include the impact on the head, infection, certain chemical exposure, and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

Fiction: I can get along just fine without hearing aids.

Hearing loss is in most cases a permanent condition that takes years to develop at a very slow but steady rate. You may find that years pass, and you are struggling to hear the people in your life at home and at work, however, it often occurs so slowly that you don’t even realize you have a problem. This doesn’t mean that the issue isn’t real and that many negative effects of hearing loss aren’t affecting you. Cognitive decline, chronic depression, strain of relationships, and a greater risk of falls and accidents leading to hospitalization are all side effects of hearing loss that is difficult to reverse once they go on for years. However, with hearing aids, many of these side effects can be addressed and even prevented.

Fiction: Hearing aids are cumbersome and prone to feedback

The hearing aids your parents or grandparents used 20 years ago were clunky and could cause feedback at seemingly random moments. However, hearing aid technology has come a long way since then by leaps and bounds. They offer a strong digital signal, which is designed to suppress feedback and enhance the sound, all the while being easily programmed to amplify only the sounds you struggle with. They are easier to use and most are even available with rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need to replace the batteries all too often. Most hearing aids today can be controlled with the comfort of your smartphone and offer Bluetooth compatibility to offer a wireless connection to all your favorite media sources.

Fiction: If other people would speak up, I wouldn’t have trouble hearing.

Even with hearing aids, you may still need to ask people to maintain eye contact when you speak with them. In addition, a slow and clear pace can go a long way to help support healthy and successful communication. However, accommodations for hearing loss only go so far. Hearing aids help to amplify only the tones and pitches you struggle to hear, relieving your brain of having to strain. This means more ease of communication for you and less exhaustion and frustration throughout your day as you socialize.

Fiction: Hearing aids are too inconvenient and expensive for me.

Today’s hearing aids are designed for a wide array of users with various needs including improved dexterity for those with arthritic hands, water resistance for those who love to stay active, music settings for musicians and music aficionados, and wireless connectivity in public and private settings. The list of benefits hearing aids has to offer outweighs what may be holding you back. Many worry it’s the price of hearing aids, without understanding the greater picture. Untreated hearing loss on average has a serious impact on performance in work environments. A study from the Better Hearing Institute reported that on average those with untreated hearing loss make $30,000 less than those with normal or treated hearing.

The real question is what is keeping you from contacting us today? Are you ready for an improved quality of life that you can depend on for years to come? Contact us today to schedule a hearing exam!