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Myths and misconceptions
Myths and misconceptions when it comes to hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus
HEARING LOSS
ONLY THE ELDERLY EXPERIENCE HEARING LOSS
It is most certainly not something only elderly people experience. We can experience hearing loss at any stage of our lives, although age is a factor in hearing loss, the volume of music through our headphones or sometimes even our work environment can also have detrimental effects on our hearing health.
It is important that from the age of 60 we get our hearing health checked yearly. It is also important that at all stages of life we keep our music and TV volume at reasonable levels and make every effort to protect our ears.
HEARING AIDS WILL MAKE EVERYTHING UNCOMFORTABLY LOUD
It will be if fitted incorrectly hearing aids will make everything sound too loud. This is where we come in. To experience your hearing at its best, the most important thing is not volume, it is clarity. It does not matter how loud something is, if it is not clear, it is nothing but a nuisance. “Clarity is the king”.
I CAN IGNORE MILD HEARING LOSS
Never ignore hearing loss. Hearing loss is your body alerting you to a problem and it should always be checked. Make sure you take care of your ears, so they are in tip-top shape for the moments that matter most.
EVERYONE WITH HEARING LOSS USES SIGN LANGUAGE AND READS LIPS
Hearing loss spans across a spectrum from mild to completely deaf and not all people with hearing loss communicate the same way. Communication depends on a variety of factors, such as the degree of hearing loss, whether a hearing aid or cochlear implant is used, the age at which the person lost his hearing, the level of auditory training received, and the nature of the listening situation. The majority of people with hearing loss do not use sign language but it is still important to those whose communication depends on it.
HEARING LOSS ONLY AFFECTS YOUR HEARING
Studies have proven that untreated hearing loss can also increase your risk of cognitive problems that may lead to social isolation and depression. Described as the ‘cognitive load’ – the constant effort to understand what is being said puts great pressure on the brain.
This pressure can take away resources that our brain would otherwise use, such as short-term memory and other essential functions.
HEARING AIDS ARE UGLY AND OLD FASHIONED
When they think of hearing aids, they see big clunky, unsightly plastic equipment, which most of the time was nothing but a hindrance. Then we show them our hearing aids.
Technology has advanced greatly, hearing aids are now sleek, powerhouses that will stop any preconceived notions dead in their tracks. The hearing devices of today are built for every kind of hearing loss and with expert audiologists these hearing aids can be tailored to your needs. You can even choose what color you want!
IF OTHER PEOPLE WOULD JUST TALK LOUDER, YOU WOULD HEAR JUST FINE
Hearing is like the body's biological microphone. If you've ever heard anyone speak into a microphone that's damaged, it might be plenty loud, but there's a level of distortion that makes it hard to understand. The goal of today's hearing aid technology is both to make sounds louder and to reduce background noise and extract the more important features of sound to clarify speech. Other technology can turn your hearing aid into a Bluetooth device; some options let you stream directly from your cellphone to your hearing aid, not just for calls but for music apps such as Pandora.
TOO EARLY FOR MY NEWBORN TO DO THE HEARING TEST
All babies who do not pass the first screening which would mean upon birth prior to hospital discharge will have a complete hearing test before three months of age. Finding a hearing loss early and getting into a program that helps babies with hearing loss (beginning before a baby is six months old) helps a child to: Communicate better with others that will also prevent problems that may lead to deafness.
TINNITUS
TINNITUS IS A DISEASE
Tinnitus is a symptom that is the result of any number of underlying medical conditions. Damaging noise, neurological damage, vascular disease, or even traumatic brain injury are just some examples of health issues that can contribute to tinnitus. There is no “cure,” but there are treatments available that will lessen the symptoms and make tinnitus easier to live with.
I CAN JUST CHANGE MY DIET AND MY TINNITUS WILL GO AWAY
Tinnitus management strategies can include dietary and lifestyle changes, but these alone won’t “cure” tinnitus.
ONLY THOSE WITH HEARING LOSS GET TINNITUS
Yes, those with hearing loss can also get tinnitus, and they are often related. But it is also possible to get tinnitus without having hearing loss. If you are exposed to very loud noise, such as a rock concert or an explosion, you might experience temporary ringing in the ears.
EVERYONE WITH TINNITUS EVENTUALLY GOES DEAF
Tinnitus and hearing loss often coexist but are separate conditions. Hearing aids can correct hearing loss and can often manage tinnitus symptoms at the same time.
HEARING AIDS WON’T HELP WITH TINNITUS
The truth is that new developments in hearing aid technology can address both hearing loss and symptoms of tinnitus by increasing the sounds of external noise, thereby masking the internal sounds of tinnitus. This is known as "masking." Advances have been made in sound therapy with great success.
If you are experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness or have more questions about the condition, our team at Al Hadi Medical Center is here to help. To schedule a consultation, visit our website alhadimedical.com or visit us at Al Hadi Medical Center, Bldg. No. 6, Uhud St. Al Luqta P.O. Box 20890 Doha, Qatar.
Please note, Al Hadi Medical Center also accepts referrals from other clinics, centers and institutions.