Questions, myths and facts about hearing aids
Hearing aids are expensive
Not always You can have a hearing aid completely free of charge, fully covered by Czech public health insurance. There are hearing aids costing tens of thousands of crowns, but the cheaper basic hearing aids covered by insurance are also very good.
Hearing aids whistle
Not any more This is the 21st century — hearing aids provided through health insurance have automatic feedback filters, so when set correctly they do not whistle.
Hearing aids are big boxes
Not these days That used to be the case. Over the past decades hearing aids have undergone enormous development and miniaturisation — much like mobile phones. They are made to measure from an impression of your ear, so they can be practically invisible, hidden right in the ear canal. They have excellent sound, are fully automatic, simple to use, do not whistle, and some can even connect to a phone.
A “hearing aid” from the internet for a few hundred crowns — is it the same as one through insurance?
Absolutely not Devices sold freely in online shops are merely so-called sound amplifiers, even though sellers like to pass them off as hearing aids — mostly they are cheap products from Asia. A real hearing aid is a medical device: it goes through an approval and testing process and must meet strict quality standards. A hearing aid through insurance has:
- individual frequency settings precisely for your hearing loss,
- noise filters and speech enhancement,
- compression channels,
- output-limiting systems, so that your hearing can never be damaged.
An amplifier from the internet has none of this — which is why it can actually damage your hearing.
I saw an advert for drops that restore hearing. Do they work?
Beware, it is a scam They do not work — nothing of the kind exists. Hopefully one day there will be a medicine for hearing loss; clinical trials are under way and our practice takes part in them. When such a medicine exists, it will be available in the normal way like any other medicine — not through adverts that profit from the desperation of people who have lost their hearing.
Hearing aids are only for old people
No Hearing aids help people of any age — from children to seniors. Hearing well means staying active at work, in the family and among friends.
Will grandma or grandpa manage it too?
Yes There is nothing to worry about — we show and explain everything. We can set hearing aids for manual control or for fully automatic operation: if you wish, your only task will be to switch the hearing aid on and put it in your ear; it takes care of the rest itself. Wearing and operating hearing aids is simple at any age. Our patients include children from the age of 5 and people at the venerable age of over 100.
Is a hearing aid in one ear enough?
It depends on the loss First we measure how severe your hearing loss is and recommend a solution accordingly. With mild loss one hearing aid is usually enough; with more severe loss two are better: you understand speech in noise better and can tell more easily where a sound is coming from. If the conditions are met, the insurer also contributes towards a second hearing aid.
What is the lifespan of a hearing aid?
5–10 years The modern hearing aids we prescribe will serve you for 5–10 years if well looked after. Entitlement to a new insurance contribution arises after 5 years.
How long does a battery or one charge last?
Battery a week, rechargeable 1 day Battery-powered hearing aids run for about a week on one battery. Rechargeable hearing aids last all day on one charge, roughly 18 hours. So if you charge them overnight, you do not have to think about them all day.
What if I lose or damage my hearing aid?
We repair or replace it There is no need to worry. We will repair a damaged hearing aid or arrange a replacement — quickly, thanks to service directly in our practice or at the manufacturers' Czech service branches. With most modern hearing aids, an app on your phone also helps you find a lost device.
Can a hearing aid be connected to a television and a phone?
Yes It is standard with us. We connect hearing aids to your mobile phone (calls, music, app control) and to your television — we set everything up and show you how it works.
Can I do sport with a hearing aid? And what about rain?
Yes You can do sport without worry. Modern hearing aids often have an IP68 rating, so sweat and rain do not bother them.
Does a hearing aid also help with ringing in the ears (tinnitus)?
Often yes Tinnitus cannot yet be cured, but we can considerably reduce how you perceive it. A hearing aid can mask the hissing or whistling so that the noise recedes into the background, and many modern hearing aids also have a special sound-therapy programme that gently covers the tinnitus. Reducing noise, caffeine, alcohol and smoking can help too. First, however, an examination is needed to find the cause.
Do I have to wear hearing aids all the time?
No, as needed You wear hearing aids (just like glasses, for example) when you need them. Some patients put them on only in the evening for television; others put them on in the morning after waking and wear them until they go to bed.
How often should I have my hearing tested?
After fifty, every 3 years Up to the age of 50 roughly once every 10 years, after that at least every 3 years — and whenever you notice that you hear worse.
Should I bring someone with me to the examination?
Yes, we recommend it But it is not necessary. A person close to you will help you remember the information and support you in choosing a hearing aid.
How can I help someone close to me who hears poorly?
Speak slowly and clearly Face them when you speak, speak clearly and calmly — do not shout. When you talk together, turn down the television or radio. And above all encourage them to have their hearing examined: feel free to book the appointment for them and go along.