What Can Help Me Improve My Hearing?

Does it seem like everyone is mumbling these days? Hearing loss can make it difficult to interact with friends and family members or hearing losseven enjoy your favorite TV show. Luckily, hearing aids offer an effective way to improve your hearing. Our Pittsfield, MA, otolaryngologist, Dr. Giulio Cavalli, explains how hearing aids can help you.

How do hearing aids work?

Hearing aids amplify sounds and also reduce background noise that may make it hard to hear. A hearing aid is a good option when your hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells in your inner ear. Although spending a lot of time around loud noises can damage hair cells, the problem may also occur due to the natural effects of aging or as a medication side effect, or may happen if you have certain diseases.

How can I tell if I need a hearing aid?

Do you have trouble hearing your more soft-spoken friends, or have you noticed that you don't hear every word in a conversation? A hearing aid can help you ensure that you don't feel left out or miss crucial information due to your hearing loss. Watching a movie in a theater can be difficult when you can't hear well. If you've noticed it's impossible to hear the dialogue above the background music, you may benefit from a hearing aid. In some cases, hearing can even cause problems in your relationship, particularly if your partner thinks you are ignoring him or her or not paying attention.

Aren't hearing aids ugly and uncomfortable?

Years ago, hearing aids were large and extremely noticeable. Luckily, there have been significant improvements in hearing aid technology in recent years. Manufacturers discovered how to decrease the size of hearing aids and also improve their effectiveness. Depending on your symptoms and your preferences, we may recommend a in-ear or over-the-ear hearing aid if we determine that you have hearing loss when you visit our Pittsfield office. Today's hearing aids don't just have one setting. You can adjust them as needed depending on the noise level around you.

Are you interested in finding out if a hearing aid could help you hear better? Call our Pittsfield, MA, otolaryngologist, Dr. Cavalli, at (413) 443-6116 to schedule an appointment.