Few health devices are as misunderstood as hearing aids. You may have heard that they keep hearing loss from getting worse, or that they slowly damage the hearing you have left. At Colonial Center for Hearing Audiology in Williamsburg, audiologists Jude Liptak, Au.D., Bethany Tucker, Au.D., and Theresa Council, Au.D., can evaluate your hearing, explain what is behind the changes you notice, and help you understand what hearing aids can and cannot do. They can’t reverse hearing loss, but they can amplify sound so you hear more clearly.
Is Hearing Loss From Damaged Hair Cells Permanent?
Hearing loss from damaged hair cells is usually permanent, because the tiny hair cells in the inner ear do not regenerate once they are damaged or lost. Most hearing loss develops this way, and while hearing aids cannot repair the damage, they can make sounds easier to hear and help you communicate more comfortably.
Sound travels through the outer and middle ear to the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear. Thousands of hair cells inside the cochlea convert sound vibrations into electrical signals, which travel along the auditory nerve to the brain.
Hair cells can be damaged by:
- Natural aging
- Exposure to loud noise over time or from a single loud event
- Genetic factors
Some hearing problems, such as earwax blockage or certain middle ear conditions, may be treatable. A hearing evaluation helps identify the type and degree of hearing loss so you can explore the most appropriate options.
Can Hearing Aids Help Preserve Your Ability to Understand Speech?
Hearing aids may help preserve your ability to understand speech by keeping the auditory system active and engaged, even though they generally do not prevent or slow the physical progression of hearing loss.
When hearing loss goes untreated, the brain receives less sound information over time. This reduced stimulation, known as auditory deprivation, can make the brain areas responsible for processing sound less active. As a result, patients may find speech increasingly difficult to understand, even once they begin wearing hearing aids.
Consistently wearing properly fitted hearing aids gives the brain the regular sound input it needs to process. This helps maintain speech understanding, which is often more important than simply making sounds louder. Because many people wait years after noticing hearing difficulties to seek care, an earlier evaluation can make a meaningful difference.
What Role Do High-Frequency Sounds Play in Understanding Speech?
High-frequency sounds carry many consonants, such as “s,” “f,” and “th,” so they play a key role in understanding speech, and hearing aids help by amplifying the specific frequencies you have difficulty hearing. Rather than making every sound louder, modern digital hearing aids are programmed to match each patient’s hearing loss, listening needs, and surroundings.
These higher frequencies are often the first affected by hearing loss. When consonant sounds are difficult to hear, words can blend together or seem mumbled. By restoring access to these sounds, hearing aids help make speech clearer and easier to follow.
Many hearing aids also include features designed to support communication, such as:
- Noise reduction to help in busy environments
- Speech enhancement to emphasize voices
- Feedback suppression to reduce whistling
- Automatic adjustments as listening environments change
Hearing aids cannot eliminate all background noise, and some hearing difficulty may remain. Adjusting to amplified sound also takes time. Wearing your hearing aids consistently and sharing feedback with your audiologist helps you get the most benefit from your devices.
Is a Hearing Aid to Blame When Hearing Loss Gets Worse?
A properly fitted hearing aid is rarely to blame when hearing loss gets worse, since the change is most likely due to the natural progression of hearing loss. Correctly fitted and programmed hearing aids are designed to support hearing, not damage it.
Some people notice that sounds seem quieter or more distant when they remove their hearing aids. This happens because the brain becomes accustomed to clearer, amplified sound. It does not necessarily mean hearing has worsened, but any noticeable change should be evaluated.
Hearing aids include maximum output limits to keep amplification safe. Problems may occur when devices are too loud, poorly programmed, or not designed for your hearing loss. You should never wear hearing aids that belong to someone else. Distorted, uncomfortable, or overly loud sounds may indicate a need for adjustment.
Schedule a follow-up appointment if you notice:
- More difficulty understanding conversations
- Sounds that seem distorted or uncomfortable
- Frequent volume increases to hear clearly
- Changes in hearing in one ear
An updated hearing test can confirm whether your hearing has changed. In many cases, our audiologists can reprogram your existing hearing aids to meet your new hearing needs.
How Do Our Audiologists Narrow Down Your Hearing Aid Choices?
Our audiologists narrow down your hearing aid choices by evaluating your hearing, discussing your communication needs and lifestyle, recommending appropriate devices, and programming them for your specific hearing loss.
The process begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. From there, Jude Liptak, Bethany Tucker, or Theresa Council may ask where you have the most difficulty hearing, how active your lifestyle is, and which features may be most useful.
Hearing aids vary in size, style, features, and price, including behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, and in-the-canal designs. During your hearing aid fitting, your audiologist can explain each option and help you choose a device that fits your hearing needs, comfort, and budget.
Choose Your Next Hearing Aid at Our Williamsburg Office
If you’re turning up the TV or missing parts of conversations, a hearing aid consultation with one of our audiologists can show you where your hearing stands. A hearing evaluation can clarify the cause of your hearing difficulties and help determine whether hearing aids or other treatment options are appropriate.
Call 757-279-7363 or contact Colonial Center for Hearing Audiology to schedule an appointment at our McLaws Circle office.