Let’s Talk About Your Options for Better Hearing and Quality of Life
Hearing loss isn’t just about what you can or can’t hear, it can really impact your relationships, confidence, and how you connect with the world. However, the good news is that there are more effective and personalized treatment options than ever before.
Whether you’ve just started noticing some changes in your hearing or you’ve been dealing with this for ages (the average person waits 7-10 years from when they first notice the signs of hearing loss to when the seek treatment), getting to know your options is an important first step toward improving your hearing—and ultimately, your life.
🦻 1. Hearing Aids: Small Devices, Big Impact
For many people with hearing loss, hearing aids are often the go-to solution. Some people are turned off at the idea of hearing aids because they picture their grandpa’s big “beige banana” hearing aid that squealed and didn’t seem to work too well. However, today’s devices are nothing like that. The are discreet, smart, powerful, and connected to technology.
Here are a few of the features of today’s hearing technology:
- Amp up speech while cutting down on background noise
- Connect straight to your phone or TV without a hitch
- Adjust automatically based on your surroundings
- Even keep tabs on your brain health and activity levels!
One important thing to watch for in choosing the right clinic to prescribe your hearing devices is if they do Real Ear Measurement (REM). This short and simple test is considered a ‘best practice’ in audiology, but only about 15% of clinics do it, which we find unacceptable. This quick test helps ensure that your devices are tailored specifically to your hearing needs and not just set to some generic settings.
🧠 2. Auditory Rehabilitation: Training Your Brain to Hear Again
Hearing loss doesn’t just impact your ears; it also changes how your brain processes sound. That’s why many clinics including ours have started offering auditory training programs, like LACE AI as part of their hearing loss treatment plans. This program helps retrain your brain to:
- Understand speech even in noisy situations
- Bolster memory and focus
- Cut down on that annoying listening fatigue
Think of it like physical therapy, but for your ears! If you’d like to learn more about LACE AI training, watch this video:
🛠️ 3. Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs): Hearing help in specific situations
Even with great hearing aids, some scenarios can still be a bit tricky—like when you’re in a packed restaurant or attending a big lecture. That’s where ALDs come into play:
- TV streamers
- Remote microphones
- Captioned phones
- Loop systems
These handy tools can work alongside your hearing aids or even on their own, making it easier to hear in specific environments.
🩺 4. Medical or Surgical Treatment (When Needed)
Keep in mind, not all hearing loss is created equal. If yours is caused by things like:
- Earwax blockage
- Infection
- Otosclerosis
- Cholesteatoma
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
…you might need medical treatment or a referral to an ENT specialist. In some rare cases, surgery or cochlear implants could be the best route, especially for those experiencing severe to profound hearing loss.
🩻 5. Cochlear Implants: When Hearing Aids Just Don’t Cut It
Cochlear implants can actually bypass the damaged sections of the ear and stimulate the hearing nerve directly. They’re generally recommended when hearing aids just aren’t doing the trick anymore.
While we don’t program or service cochlear implants, we are happy to recommend a good specialist in the area if needed.
👩⚕️ 6. Why Getting a Professional Evaluation Is Key
Starting your journey to better hearing? You’ll want to kick things off with a thorough hearing evaluation from a licensed hearing specialist such as the audiologists and hearing instrument specialists in our clinic. They’ll help you figure out:
- The type and degree of your hearing loss
- Whether it’s sensorineural, conductive, or mixed
- The best treatment options that fit your lifestyle, needs, and budget
Getting early treatment can really make a difference—helping to reduce cognitive decline, reducing your risk of falls, improving communication, and keeping you socially active and independent.
👂 Don’t Wait—Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing
If left untreated, hearing loss can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and even dementia. But remember, with early diagnosis and tailored care, hearing loss is one of the most treatable health issues out there.
So, whether you’re in the market for advanced hearing aids, need assistance in noisy settings, or just want to explore your options—you’re not alone. We’ve helped nearly 10,000 people in Utah over 22 years of treating patients in Utah and the surrounding states. Want to know more? Watch this video by Dr. Garrett:
