Hearing loss. For most people, it doesn’t happen suddenly.
The causes of hearing loss vary. Loud and constant noise can result in a loss of hearing. Or it’s a consequence of getting older where the damage to your hearing accumulates over time.
For most of our clients, the first step is a standard hearing check-up. Just like all the other health checks we need, having your hearing tested shouldn’t be a big deal.
If we find that you have a significant hearing loss, we often recommend hearing aids that will suit your hearing and your lifestyle.
That might mean making sure your hearing aids are discreet. We’ll also consider how comfortable you are connecting your hearing aids to your mobile phone, your TV and other digital devices. We’ll discuss your goals and your expectations. What are the situations where you struggle to hear? Where can hearing aids make the most difference?
Over time, you will probably need your hearing aids adjusted. In some cases, you’ll need stronger settings. This is especially the case if your hearing continues to deteriorate.
What do you do when hearing aids aren’t enough?
For some people, their severe to profound hearing loss results from an injury or a medical condition. Sometimes, even the latest hearing aid technology may not be enough.
In some cases, we’ll consider Cochlear™ implants as the best option.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are about 7.5 million people who could benefit from wearing cochlear implants.
For these people, we know the results from their implanted cochlear devices will far exceed the performance of hearing aids. They’ll hear and understand speech more clearly than ever before.
Here are a few stories from Australians who benefitted from cochlear implants.
Good reasons not to delay doing something about hearing loss
Like hearing aids, delaying the decision to do something about your hearing loss has consequences.
The longer you leave it and the older you are when you’re fitted with either aids or cochlear implants means:
- Longer time to adjust – It takes you longer to get used to the new technology – it’s all about training your brain to get used to new signals
- Poorer performance – the technology won’t work as well
According to leading Australian company Cochlear, age is no barrier. Older people with profound hearing loss will benefit from cochlear implants.
As always with better hearing, speech recognition is greatly improved when you’re using hearing technology that suits your hearing loss. This means being able to hear friends and family and being able to get out and about in shops and in public without fear of missing conversations.
How to pay for cochlear implants
Like hearing aids, there are various options to pay for cochlear implants. These include private health insurance, State Government support, Department of Veterans’ Affairs support – and self-funded.
Having worked in hearing care for more than 30 years, I know when hearing aids are simply not enough and I’ve developed trusted relationships with Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists who specialise in cochlear implants.
It’s all about choice. And having the right guidance on what’s best for your hearing health.