Don't underestimate hearing problems
Hearing is the most important of our five senses - according to 41 percent of Germans. This was the result of a study by TNS Infratest. You only really realize how important your sense of hearing really is when you have a hearing impairment. Conversations with other people, your favorite music, safety in everyday situations - if you have to do without these things, you are not only socially restricted, in extreme cases there is even a risk of social isolation.
Long-term exposure to noise, an ear infection, a sudden hearing loss or old age can lead to permanent hearing problems. Whether this occurs spontaneously or gradually depends on the individual. In most cases, hearing impairments pass, but if they become permanent, urgent action is advised - a visit to a hearing care professional is then essential.
10 tips on what to look out for when your hearing starts to deteriorate
1. if you or those around you notice that your hearing is getting worse, don't wait too long, but have a hearing test. Hearing impairment does not get better by itself.
2. you are free to choose which hearing care professional you visit. The important thing is that you feel comfortable and trust the specialist.
3. your hearing care professional will determine the characteristics of your hearing and create a sound and speech audiogram. Tell your hearing care professional in which situations you find it most difficult to hear - during group conversations, at work, when watching TV, etc.
4. there are various hearing system alternatives, e.g. behind-the-ear and in-the-ear devices. Your hearing care professional will advise you in detail about the advantages and disadvantages of the different
hearing systems.
5. ears are as individual as a fingerprint. To ensure that the hearing system fits perfectly, hearing care professionals make individual earmolds. Take enough time to test their fit.
6 Your hearing care professional will provide you with several hearing systems to test. As hearing is subjectively perceived differently, you should take several weeks to try out the devices. Important: Test the devices in different situations!
7. tell your hearing care professional in detail about your experiences with the test devices so that they can make the fine adjustments that are ideal for your personal hearing situation.
8 Your hearing care professional will tell you how to care for and operate your device. Be sure to ask if anything is still unclear to you, because only then will you be able to make full use of your hearing system and its functions.
9. during the approximately six-year wearing period, you can contact your hearing care professional if you have any problems. His service includes cleaning the earmolds, replacing batteries and sound tubes
and sound tube replacement, reworking and replacement of the earmold, readjustment of the hearing systems as well as hearing advice and hearing training.
10 Hearing care professionals are also the right people to contact when it comes to prevention. They provide advice on hearing protection and technical accessories, among other things. Hearing aid acousticians also offer special tinnitus advice.