Your Lifestyle and Hearing Aids

Hearing loss can be a result of the natural aging process, exposure to loud sounds cumulatively over our lifetime, disease, or genetics. For some people, hearing loss is an obvious problem that might be difficult to address, while others might not even realize that they are struggling with their hearing. Early signs may be subtle – your friend or partner may often repeat herself, or you may have difficulty hearing at a party or family gathering. As your hearing loss gets worse it will be more difficult to understand the world around you, and you shouldn’t have to miss a minute of it! There are a lot of reasons to take charge of your hearing, like hearing your friend next to you on the chair lift at Purg, a dinner date at a busy restaurant on Main, enjoying a symphony performance at the Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall, hiking Animas Mountain with your family, or training for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. We’re lucky to live in such an active community, and thanks to strides in modern technology, we can match your hearing needs to a device that fits your active lifestyle!

What to Expect on your First Visit

On your first visit to Animas Valley Audiology, in addition to a hearing test, we’ll ask you a few questions about your lifestyle and the activities you enjoy. Your lifestyle is one of the main factors we look at to determine what hearing aid would be best for you, and because everyone experiences hearing loss differently, it’s common to have distinctive needs and expectations for hearing aids. The days of awkward, obvious, and uncomfortable hearing aids are over, and since people are treating their hearing loss proactively at younger ages, the perception of hearing loss pertaining only to the elderly is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Because of this shift, there’s a whole new class of hearing aid options with dynamic features to match any degree of hearing loss. Digital technology is providing hearing aid wearers with far better sound quality, reduced background noise, and greater customization capabilities. Today’s hearing aids are also far less visible than in years past, with a wide range of discreet styles and sizes to fit your lifestyle. By learning about your day-to-day activities and lifestyle coupled with a hearing test, we can better understand your average listening environment and recommend a hearing aid that suits your needs perfectly. Which lifestyle best describes your experience?

A Very Quiet Lifestyle

People who lead a very quiet lifestyle are those that require hearing aids in listening environments that rarely include background noise. You might find that this describes you if you spend most of your time in and around your home, tending to watch very little television. When you do leave the home, it might only be for small, quiet events like small religious gatherings.

A Quiet Lifestyle

People who lead a quiet lifestyle require hearing aids while they enjoy activities in a listening environment that have limited background noise. You might appreciate quiet shopping trips or other short outings. A quiet lifestyle may involve regular visitors to your home, and include some television and a limited amount of music.

A Casual Lifestyle

A casual lifestyle requires hearing aids for listening environments that contain occasional background noise. This includes regular conversation and family gatherings, quiet restaurant dining and driving. You might also frequently watch television, and look forward to a few regular shows you enjoy.

An Active Lifestyle

An active lifestyle requires hearing aids that are designed for individuals that are in listening environments that include frequent background noise. Characteristics of this lifestyle often include being involved in demanding careers and participating in group events or meetings. You might also find that this describes you if you consistently enjoy music and video entertainment, and large outdoor gatherings like sporting events. People with an active lifestyle may participate regularly in outdoor activities like biking or hiking, family gatherings, and noisy restaurant dining.

It’s important to understand how your lifestyle and listening environment influence your ability to hear and utilize hearing aids. Whether you live a more active or quiet lifestyle, Animas Valley Audiology will guide you through the process of finding a hearing aid that suits you best. Those with an active lifestyle will find that hearing aid technology has evolved to suit their needs, whether you’re riding up a mountain or riding down the road. Hearing aid technology comes prepared with equipment that can capture a wider sound picture so you can hear both soft and loud sounds in comfort, and the best wind noise reduction system available so even in windy environments you can still hear speech. Hearing aids can now even detect your listening situation automatically and makes sure you hear the right sound at the right time in the right place. In short, we can ensure that your hearing aids fit perfectly with your lifestyle, however active you may be. Remember, when you wear hearing aids, you demonstrate to the world that you have too much life to live to let hearing loss get in the way. Be the dynamic person you were designed to be!