Hearing care questions, answered

Some of it is. Conductive hearing loss, the kind caused by earwax buildup or an infection, can often be treated. Sensorineural hearing loss is generally permanent, but it can usually be managed well with hearing aids.

Low cost sound amplifiers raise the volume of everything at once. They lack the technology to separate speech from background noise, which is the part most people actually struggle with. A professionally fitted hearing aid gives you clarity and comfort, not just volume.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears with no external source. Hearing aids can help by masking that internal noise, and several of the models we fit include tinnitus masking features.

Research shows a correlation between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including an increased risk of dementia and depression. That is a large part of why we encourage people not to put a hearing test off.

We suggest starting regular hearing tests at 55, or earlier if you are already noticing problems. After that, an annual evaluation is the sensible rhythm.

Clean them daily, protect them from moisture, and bring them in for a professional maintenance check every six months. Most of the repairs we see could have been prevented by those three habits.

Modern hearing aids are moisture resistant and are fine during exercise. Most people take them out to sleep, which conserves battery and gives their ears a rest.