Two myths keep many people from getting the help they need. The first is that hearing aids stop hearing loss from progressing. The second is that wearing them will make your hearing worse. At Volume Hearing & Audiology on North Division Street in Spokane, audiologist Ray McNiven, M.A., CCC-A, can evaluate your hearing, explain what is behind the changes you notice, 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 clearly.
What Wears Down the Hair Cells That Let You Hear?
Aging, noise exposure, and genetic factors wear down the tiny hair cells in the inner ear, and because these cells do not regenerate, the hearing loss that results 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 evaluation identifies the type and degree of hearing loss so you can explore the most appropriate options.
Will Hearing Aids Protect You From Further Hearing Loss?
Hearing aids generally will not protect you from further hearing loss, because they do not prevent or slow its physical progression. They may, however, help preserve the brain’s ability to understand speech by keeping the auditory system active and engaged.
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, clients may find speech increasingly difficult to understand, even once they begin wearing hearing aids.
Consistently wearing properly fitted hearing aids supplies the regular sound input the brain 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.
How Do Hearing Aids Target the Speech Sounds You Miss?
Hearing aids target the speech sounds you miss 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.
Many speech sounds, particularly consonants such as “s,” “f,” and “th,” fall in higher frequencies that are often the first affected by hearing loss. When these 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.
Could Your Hearing Aids Be Causing Your Hearing to Worsen?
Properly fitted hearing aids are very unlikely to cause your hearing to worsen; if your hearing seems to decline while you wear them, the natural progression of hearing loss is the most likely reason. 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, Ray McNiven can reprogram your existing hearing aids to address new hearing needs.
How Can an Audiologist in Spokane Help You Choose a Hearing Aid?
An audiologist can help 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.
This begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. From there, Ray McNiven 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, he can explain each option and help you choose a device that fits your hearing needs, comfort, and budget.
Explore Hearing Aids With Ray McNiven, M.A., CCC-A, in Spokane
If hearing changes are making conversations more difficult, a hearing aid consultation with Ray McNiven at Volume Hearing & Audiology is a helpful next step. A hearing evaluation can clarify the cause of your hearing difficulties and help determine whether hearing aids or other treatment options are right for you.
Call 509-236-8968 or contact Volume Hearing & Audiology to schedule an appointment at our North Division Street office.
