Hearing loss

As we age, the cells in the inner ear wear out and become less efficient. This age-related hearing loss is called ‘presbycusis’. It affects people aged 55 and over.

Presbycusis worsens with age and varies depending on your hearing history (noise trauma, noisy leisure activities, occupational exposure to noise, ototoxic medications, etc.). At age 70, 25% of the European population suffers from hearing loss of 30dB or more.

The first signs

The first signs of hearing loss are often subtle and can go unnoticed. Generally, these signs are as follows:

  • You have to ask people to repeat themselves.
  • You have difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments.
  • You turn up the volume on your radio or television.
  • You experience ringing or buzzing in your ears, or you feel like your ears are blocked.
  • You have to make an effort to follow a conversation, which tires you out.

If these signs recur, don't delay in having your hearing checked by an ENT doctor – there are solutions available to help you.

Act early

Hearing loss weakens the nerve connections between your ears and your brain. It is essential to act early to prevent irreversible decline.

What's more, if you act early, hearing aids are easier to fit and more effective. The earlier you take action, the easier it is to get used to the devices and enjoy them to the full.

The hearing aid

To compensate for hearing loss, your ENT doctor will recommend a hearing aid. This is a small device that amplifies sounds according to your needs.

Modern hearing aids are smart headphones. They are discreet, lightweight and comfortable, are customised to fit your ears, use artificial intelligence for noise cancellation and can be connected to your devices (telephone, television, computer).

The specialist for hearing aids is the hearing aid acoustician. They will first analyse your hearing and lifestyle in detail. Based on these measurements and your budget, they can suggest several devices for you to choose from and programme them.

The cost of hearing aids is covered by social security and certain supplementary insurance policies (see ‘Further information’ below).

 

5 important tips for successful fitting

  1. Understand your hearing
    Ask your hearing care professional to explain the results of your hearing tests. Which frequencies are affected? How does this affect your hearing? How much improvement will the hearing aid provide? Above all, ask for details about the target curve for optimal fitting and how your current situation compares to it.
  2. Compare several models
    Ask your hearing care professional to explain the differences and try out 2-3 different hearing aids. Since January 2025, social security has fully reimbursed mid-range hearing aids in all shapes and sizes and for all types of hearing loss. Unless you decline, your hearing care professional must offer you a fully reimbursable hearing aid.
  3. Listen to your hearing care professional
    To make a good choice, follow the professional advice of your hearing care professional and place more emphasis on the technical features of the device than on its appearance.
  4. Wear your devices every day
    Your brain needs to get used to hearing certain sounds again. You are constantly surrounded by familiar sounds that you can rediscover. Even though it may be difficult at first, get used to wearing your device every day.
  5. Have regular check-ups
    Visit your hearing care professional regularly to have your devices serviced and their settings adjusted to your progress and expectations.

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