Did you know that roughly 30 million Americans experience hearing loss. Roughly 10% of people experience tinnitus. That is about 28 million people. Since hearing loss usually occurs gradually, it is important to receive annual hearing tests to monitor your hearing levels. People think to get their annual eye exams and physical checkups, but the forget about getting their ears checked. It is recommended to get your hearing checked at least once per year, especially if you experience any of the following:
- You ask people to repeat themselves
- You can hear people talking, but speech sounds muffled and not clear
- You have trouble understanding in background noise
- You need more volume to hear on the telephone or television
- You work or have worked around loud noises
- You have a family history of hearing loss
- You experience tinnitus which is ringing, buzzing, crickets, or roaring noises in your ears
So what happens when you come in for your hearing evaluation? The process is painless and easier than you might think. When you come into our office, a licensed audiologist will look in your ears to make sure you don’t have a wax build up or anything that is obstructing your hearing pathway. You will get to see your ear canal on a big tv screen. Then we will present some beeps and words to see what sounds you are hearing and what you might be missing. We review the results with you and discuss options to fit your needs. If you don’t have a hearing loss, we will use the results to help you monitor your hearing levels. Most insurance companies will pay for an annual hearing test and some will even pay for part of the cost of a hearing aid.
Hearing aids have come a long way in the last few years. Hearing aids used to be big and bulky and made background noise louder, so people did not like wearing them. Advances in technology has made them smaller and less noticeable. They also process sounds faster and reduce background noise such as road noise or restaurant noise so you can enjoy conversations in almost every situation again. Hearing aids also have the ability to connect to your cellphones so you can hear over the telephone handsfree and understand what is being said on phone calls again. Some hearing aids are rechargeable, so no more batteries to change. Just put the hearing aids in the charger at night, and it holds a charge for 24 hours. In short, hearing aids have lots of options to help you connect to family and the world around you.
If you or a loved one has difficulty hearing or understanding and wants to start feeling more confident and enjoying conversations again, call Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana at 318-747-9191. We accept most insurances and we offer 12 months 0% financing plans with approved credit. With any hearing aid purchase, you will receive a 60 day trial period to make sure you are as happy and satisfied with your purchase. Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana provides personalized hearing healthcare you can trust.
