12 misconceptions about hearing aids

1. Hearing aids are neither practical nor beautiful

Oh no, this is a thing of the past! The progress of the sector has reached a level that allows the production of miniaturized hearing aids, just like Ampli-Mini. There are real technical marvels on the market such as mini behind-the-ear and practically invisible in-the-ear models. The design has also changed over the years: instead of classic beige, now bright colors are the most popular way to transform small hearing aids into real fashion accessories. Are hearing aids not practical or beautiful? Forget this cliché!

2. A hearing aid only makes sense in cases of severe hearing impairment

Hearing loss is a slow and progressive process that does not happen overnight. For example, being unable to hear a clock ticking means you have already lost some hearing ability. If it is difficult for you to follow the chatter of a group of people with background noise (such as in a restaurant or on the street) or if the experience of listening to your favorite music is not as intense as in the past, it is very likely that a hearing impairment already exists. Neglecting this problem can have particularly dangerous consequences such as a loss of general perceptive faculties, which can lead people to literally isolate themselves from their social environment. We therefore recommend that you regularly book a hearing test.

3. The hearing aid is only needed in old age

The equivalence "hearing aid = old age" is no longer valid. The decrease in hearing ability is also found with increasing frequency among children or young adults due to environmental influences, insufficient hearing protection during work, live concerts or similar situations. Worldwide, two-thirds of all people affected by hearing loss are under the age of 64. Modern hearing aids have been perfected with this new target group accustomed to technology. Models with remote control, bluetooth or smartphone interfaces (such as Apple's iPhone) and many other features are already in the standard range today

4. Hearing aids are so expensive that I can't afford them

As with all high-quality technological devices, there are different price ranges for hearing aids. The models in the most economic category already have a solid and robust basic equipment. It is also possible to take advantage of our financing options. 

5. Only one hearing aid is needed even if I have lost hearing in both ears

Ambient noises reach our ears from all directions, are selected by our spatial hearing ability and transmitted to the brain. In this way, we can correctly localize sounds and noises and safely move around our environment. If impaired by hearing loss, this spatial hearing ability should be reconstituted as much as possible - and the only solution is to wear two hearing aids. We invite you to take part in a free trial: you will realize how much two hearing aids improve the perception of the environment around you.

6. With a hearing aid, I can immediately start hearing perfectly again.

Let's face it: that's not quite the case. Although a technical masterpiece, a hearing aid only works perfectly if it is adapted to the individual person. Having to process a number of sounds and noises that he no longer perceived without the hearing aid, the hearing center in the brain will also go through a learning process. Even the ticking of a clock can seem very strange at first. Therefore, plan at least a week of acclimatization and about three visits to your hearing care professional: only then will the adjustment of the hearing aid according to your needs have reached the optimal level.

7. A hearing aid whistles continuously

In older hearing aids there are often technical problems such as the presence of an annoying whistle. The cause is to be found in the processing of the output signal from the ear canal which, by mistake, is amplified again by the device. The result is feedback that causes the annoying whistle. The technical level reached by modern hearing aids is far superior: they have a "feedback control device" which suppresses this disturbance.

8. Hearing aids heavily alter ambient noises

Fortunately, the days when a hearing aid could only be "on" or "off" and its volume set to "high" or "low" are long gone. Modern models offer maximum comfort for individual needs: now it is possible to precisely adjust the volume, adapt the device to any hearing problem, exclude or superimpose ambient noises and select many other functions. As part of our after-sales services, our hearing care professionals will be happy to adjust your hearing aid to perfection.

9. Tinnitus cannot be "eliminated" with a hearing aid

Eliminate perhaps not, but certainly it can be greatly reduced! Have you ever heard of "noisers"? These are hearing aids adapted by hearing care professionals for the specific purpose of sending a uniform signal, which helps the ear literally "not hear"  the tinnitus. By affecting all audible frequencies, this sound allows for considerable attenuation, especially of the particularly disturbing peaks of tinnitus. Incidentally: noisers are also indicated for people who do not have hearing problems, precisely because they make tinnitus more tolerable.

10. You only need to adjust your hearing aid once

Unfortunately this statement is incorrect. It is imperative for a hearing care professional to make adjustments at regular intervals, as the ear continues to grow throughout life. Only in this way is the full functionality of the hearing aids guaranteed. Amplifon offers assistance services which also include periodic checks by your hearing care professional.

11. I can't test a hearing aid at home

But you can, and without spending anything! At Amplifon, we are convinced that the hearing aid can only be properly tested in the environment that is natural to you - at home, on vacation, at work. After you become familiar with the hearing aid and its various functions in this trial phase, you will be able to enjoy new listening experiences.

12. I can't make phone calls with a hearing aid.

If you use a cordless phone to make phone calls, it may happen that your hearing aid produces feedback (such as that described in step 7) generating an extremely unpleasant whistle. Fortunately for you, technical aids have in the meantime been developed that can turn hearing aid calls into pleasant conversations. For example, a wireless transmitter can be connected to the phone and the hearing aid, which creates exactly the required frequency to eliminate annoying whistling during calls. We are waiting for you in our Amplifon specialized centers to advise you.