Hearing Aids Specialist in New Iberia LA

While your otolaryngologist or audiologist will be able to determine if you need hearing aids based on the quietest sound that you are able to hear (80dB or higher indicates hearing aids would be beneficial), there are some early signs that you can look out for to determine if you should consider having your hearing checked soon. Some of these early signs include:

• Difficulty hearing higher pitched sounds such as birds or alarm clocks;
• Finding that most people you have conversations with speak very quietly or it is increasingly difficult to follow along in conversations;
• Distinguishing words that have consonants such as f, h, p, s, and t is trickier;
• Frequently asking people to repeat what they say because they are speaking to softly or mumbling; and
• Difficulty hearing people when speaking on the phone.

Hearing loss is not able to be reversed at this point, but hearing aids are able to allow patients to hear almost normally again by assisting in how well the patient is able to follow normal conversations and just make hearing everyday sounds much easier. The hearing will not be 100% restored, but the patient’s quality of life and ability to hear everything that they need to in very good quality will be provided immediately after receiving a hearing aid that is properly fitted and adjusted for their specific needs. Hearing loss will continue to progress, particularly with age, so even if the patient is able to have majority of their hearing back through a hearing aid, they will likely need an updated version within 5 to 6 years to account for both the lifespan of the hearing aid as well as the changes in the patients’ hearing.

It is commonly recommended by audiologists that patient’s wear two hearing aids, but this also depends on the extent of hearing loss that the patient is facing in each ear as well as their personal preference. Our natural hearing process is fairly dependent on having somewhat equal hearing capabilities from both ears, so if there is a significant disparity between the two, the patient will have worsened abilities to localize sounds and will probably just not be able to hear as well in general. That being said, many patients are able to hear just fine with one hearing aid. If there is a presence of hearing loss in both ears, a hearing aid for both ears will be highly recommended to provide the best possible hearing and comprehension capabilities, as well as better localization. Your audiologist will be able to go over various treatment options with you that will be best suited for your particular conditions that also takes your personal preferences or capabilities into account.

It is very common and likely expected that you will have some difficulty getting used to wearing a hearing aid for the first time, especially if your hearing has been slowly declining over a longer period of time as there are many sounds that you may have forgotten about that take some getting used to again. The average adjustment period for hearing aids is between 2 to 4 months, at which point you will be able to enjoy all of the newly provided benefits. One of the biggest differences many patients face is hearing the sound of their own voice as it may sound unfamiliar and much louder than before the hearing aids. Other sounds such as chewing or swallowing may be very noticeable and often described as annoying at first until the patient has become more used to the hearing aids. Your audiologist will be able to provide some tips to help you get used to the new hearing aids as quickly as possible, often including taking breaks from wearing them at the beginning and gradually increasing the amount of time daily that they are being worn as well as the types of situations in which you wear them to make this adjustment period a bit easier.

Your ENT doctor may also perform additional tests depending on your specific symptoms. Our team of experts is committed to providing high-quality care including comprehensive diagnostics. We serve patients from New Iberia LA, Charlotte LA, Emma LA, Lydia LA, Loreauville LA, Romero LA, Capitan LA and surrounding areas!