{"id":1127,"date":"2023-01-19T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T22:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/larsonaudiology.com\/?p=1127"},"modified":"2023-01-31T16:10:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T00:10:22","slug":"can-hearing-aids-worsen-my-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/larsonaudiology.com\/can-hearing-aids-worsen-my-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Hearing Aids Worsen My Hearing Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are many reasons people are hesitant to get hearing aids, from fear of appearing \u201cold\u201d to worry that hearing aids can actually worsen hearing loss. Both of these are myths. This post focuses on the latter: hearing aids do not <\/em>worsen hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do People Believe This Myth?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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If you\u2019ve been living with untreated hearing loss<\/a> for a long time, as most people do, you probably don\u2019t realize the extent of your hearing problems until you seek treatment. The contrast between how well you can hear with your hearing aids<\/a> and how poorly you hear without them can shed light on your hearing difficulties. This does not mean your hearing has gotten worse since starting to wear hearing aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, hearing loss is a progressive condition, meaning it worsens over time. If you\u2019ve been wearing hearing aids for many years and feel as though your hearing ability is declining, know that this would be true regardless of whether you had sought treatment or not. While hearing aids don\u2019t worsen hearing loss, they also don\u2019t prevent the progression of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Amplifiers Can Cause Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is not true for over-the-counter (OTC) amplifiers, which can, in fact, cause hearing loss. This is because, while prescriptive hearing aids are programmed to the exact specification of your hearing loss and can adjust sounds accordingly, OTC amplifiers amplify all sounds evenly \u2013 even loud sounds. This can damage your hearing over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefits of Hearing Aids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to one 2017 study<\/a>, \u201cThe aim of hearing aid use is to reduce the negative consequences of hearing loss and improve participation in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More specifically, hearing aids can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n