According to Statistics Canada, just over half of Canadians aged 40 or older—54 per cent—have a measurable degree of hearing loss; for them, hearing aids can be life-changing.
By Marie-Josée Roy
Age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis, happens gradually over several years. “Family and friends are often the ones who notice when someone is turning up the volume on the TV, asking more often for things to be repeated, or having trouble following group conversations. These signs are often the first indication of hearing loss,” says Mathieu Hotton, an audiologist and associate professor at Quebec’s Université Laval.
People who notice that they’re having hearing problems should see a specialist sooner rather than later, as the effects of hearing impairment are significant and include irritability, fatigue, stress, depression, social isolation and loneliness, reduced self-esteem, and cognitive decline. “There’s a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline,” Hotton says, “perhaps because the areas of the brain that are normally used to process sound and speech are less stimulated.”
Lots of Options
All hearing aids work the same way: a microphone picks up sounds and sends them to a microprocessor as digital signals. The microprocessor reproduces the sounds in the ear canal using a speaker. Only the design of the device varies:
1. In the ear (ITE).
This device doesn’t include a piece that sits behind the ear. The components are located in the outer ear, in the concha, or in the ear canal. Although more discreet, they’re less powerful and not suitable for people with profound hearing loss.
2. In the canal (ITC).
This popular model has a small housing placed behind the ear that is connected by a thin cable to a connector equipped with a speaker. It’s appropriate for all types of deafness.
3. Behind the ear (BTE).
Easy to use and to clean, this device is the most powerful but also the bulkiest. The housing placed behind the ear is linked to a custom-moulded earpiece and placed in the ear canal. It offers precise hearing control.
“I don’t really recommend buying hearing aids online,” Hotton says. “I tested several hearing aids sold online in the lab, and the quality is not always there. However, off-the-shelf hearing aids in the United States must meet quality standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” Over-thecounter aids are recommended only for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Questions to Ask
Before seeing an audioprosthetist, make a list of your needs. “Can I use the hearing aids with my cellphone?
With the TV? To listen to music? Figuring out why you want hearing aids and in which situations you want to use them will help the specialist better guide you,” Hotton says.
Hotton says that the best hearing aids are the ones people will actually wear. “Does the device allow the person to hear well? Is it easy to use? Is the person happy with the look of it? I would say you need to find a balance among these three factors.
Some side effects can arise, including dizziness and headaches, physical discomfort, pain, and echoes or feedback from the speaker, known as the Larsen effect. Anyone wearing hearing aids for the first time must keep in mind that their brain has lost the habit of hearing certain sounds, so they’ll need to be patient.
“Usually, the adjustment period ranges from one to several months,” Hotton says. “There’s no great secret: to get used to them, you have to wear them.” Make a note of unwanted side effects and be sure to mention them as well as any discomfort at follow-up appointments with the specialist.
Hearing Pros —Who Does What?
Audiologist
An expert on hearing and the ear’s vestibular system— the sensory package that informs the brain on spatial orientation and balance— this specialist can do a full assessment of hearing function and, if necessary, direct a patient to a licensed hearing-aid dispenser.
Licensed Professionals
In Canada, only a licensed professional is authorized to sell hearing aids; these experts are trained to help each person make the right choice based on their needs and their budget.
ENT
Also known as an otorhinolaryngologist, an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) is consulted if the audiologist detects a problem other than age-related hearing loss.
