Do you hold off on hearing aids until your hearing gets worse? Many people do, often because of myths. Some believe hearing aids stop hearing loss from progressing, while others think wearing them could worsen hearing. At Advantage Audiology & Hearing Aids in Tulsa and Tahlequah, owner Gene Woodard can evaluate your hearing, explain what is causing changes, and help you understand what hearing aids can and cannot do. Hearing aids can’t reverse hearing loss, but they can amplify sounds so you hear more clearly.
Can Damaged Hair Cells Recover, or Is Hearing Loss Permanent?
Damaged hair cells in the inner ear do not regenerate, so hearing loss caused by their damage or loss is usually permanent. Hearing aids cannot repair the damage, but 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 test helps identify the type and degree of hearing loss so you can explore the most appropriate options.
How Do Hearing Aids Help Your Brain Even if Hearing Loss Progresses?
Hearing aids help your brain by keeping the auditory system active and engaged, which may preserve its ability to understand speech, 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, speech may become increasingly difficult to understand, even once you begin wearing hearing aids.
Consistently wearing properly fitted hearing aids provides the brain with 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, earlier evaluation can make a meaningful difference.
Why Do Voices Seem Muffled, and How Can Hearing Aids Clear Them Up?
Voices often seem muffled because consonants such as “s,” “f,” and “th” fall in higher frequencies that are often the first affected by hearing loss, 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 your hearing loss, listening needs, and surroundings.
When those high-frequency sounds are difficult to hear, words can blend together. 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 Gene Woodard helps you get the most benefit from your devices.
When Should You Get Rechecked if Your Hearing Seems to Worsen?
You should get rechecked as soon as you notice a change, although if your hearing seems to worsen while you wear properly fitted hearing aids, the cause is most likely the natural progression of hearing loss rather than the devices themselves. Correctly fitted and programmed hearing aids are designed to support hearing, not damage it.
Some clients 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, Gene Woodard can reprogram your existing hearing aids to address new hearing needs.
How Does Gene Woodard Help You Choose a Hearing Aid?
Gene Woodard helps you choose a hearing aid by evaluating your hearing, discussing your communication needs and lifestyle, recommending appropriate devices, and programming them for your specific hearing loss.
The first step is a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. From there, the conversation may include 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. He can explain each option, help you choose a device that fits your hearing needs, comfort, and budget, and program it during your hearing aid fitting.
Meet Gene Woodard About Hearing Aids in Tulsa or Tahlequah
Noticing more missed words, or wondering whether your hearing aids still match your hearing? A visit with Gene Woodard at Advantage Audiology & Hearing Aids can help you sort it out. A hearing evaluation can clarify the cause of hearing difficulties and help determine whether hearing aids or other treatment options are appropriate.
Call 918-992-4908 for our Tulsa office or 918-871-2302 for our Tahlequah office, or contact Advantage Audiology & Hearing Aids to schedule an appointment.