You can hear people talking, but are you missing the conversation? Discover the signs of hearing loss, modern hearing aid options and where to get help.
Everyone around the table starts laughing. You smile, though you didn’t catch the joke. You could ask someone to repeat it, but the conversation has already moved on.
The festive season brings time with family and friends: sharing stories over lunch, catching up with old friends, hearing your grandchildren’s excitement. You want to be part of it all.
But when conversations become difficult to follow, it’s easy to start sitting back. If so, consider these questions.
“I can still hear. Do I need a hearing check?”
Hearing someone’s voice and understanding their words are different things. You may manage one-to-one but struggle at a busy table.
If you often ask people to repeat themselves, miss words or feel that people are mumbling, it’s worth getting your hearing checked. You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling everywhere. A hearing assessment provides useful information without a purchase commitment.
“Aren’t hearing aids big, bulky and obvious?”
Hearing aids may seem bulky or obvious, but design has moved on. Some models fit completely inside the ear canal and are virtually invisible. Even those worn behind the ear are so discreet that others often don’t notice them. Your audiologist can help you choose a style that suits you and fits comfortably.
Behind concerns about appearance, there’s often another worry: “Will hearing aids make me look old?” But think about what they can help you keep doing: joining conversations, sharing jokes and staying involved. Not being part of the conversation is far more noticeable than a small device.
“Can they really be comfortable all day?”
Hearing aids are designed to be worn all day, but a good fit really matters. Your audiologist needs to get both the physical fit and the sound settings right. Expect a short adjustment period, with follow-up appointments to fine-tune things.
Comfort is also about how sound feels. This year, several major hearing aid brands launched new platforms that use AI, trained on millions of real-world sounds, to tell a voice apart from the noise around it and process the two separately. At a busy table, this is designed to help the voices you want to hear come through more clearly.
“Will they just make everything louder?”
In South Africa, hearing aids should be selected and fitted by an HPCSA-registered audiologist or hearing aid acoustician. Many cheap devices sold online as “hearing aids” are actually sound amplifiers.
Why does this matter? Amplifiers can make everything louder, including background noise, leaving you struggling to follow conversations. Too much amplification can also damage your hearing further.
Professionally fitted hearing aids are programmed to match your hearing test, adding the right amount of sound at different pitches. Features such as noise reduction and directional microphones help make speech easier to follow.
At hear.com, our hearing consultants take time to understand your lifestyle, listening challenges and budget. We then connect you with a partner audiologist, who will assess your hearing and recommend suitable hearing aids.
“Do good hearing aids have to cost R100,000?”
No. Hearing aids come in different technology levels, a bit like cars: a city car does everything most people need, while a 4×4 is built for tougher conditions. Prices range from around R20 000 per pair for entry-level models to over R100 000 per pair for premium ones. Mid-range options from around R35 000 per pair include features designed to help with speech in noisier places. Your audiologist recommends a level based on your hearing test and the situations you find hardest. You can spread the cost with a payment plan, and some medical aids may contribute.
“What if they don’t work for me?”
That’s a fair question. At hear.com, we work with a range of hearing aid brands. Your audiologist uses your hearing assessment, along with your lifestyle, priorities and budget, to recommend suitable hearing aids. Free follow-up visits help fine-tune the fit and sound.
You’re also covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. Try your hearing aids in everyday life, and if you’re not completely satisfied, return them within 30 days for your money back.
“Where do I start?”
Fill in the form for a free, no-obligation consultation call with a hear.com hearing consultant. We’ll listen to what you’re experiencing, answer questions about the process, pricing and payment options, and help arrange an appointment with a partner audiologist for a hearing assessment and personalised recommendation.
You don’t need to decide about hearing aids today. Just get the information you need to make an informed decision about your hearing health.
Request your free consultation call
Article by: Jay Chouhan
Clinical and Corporate Audiologist, hear.com
BSc MSc (UCT), MBA (UCT), ExDipGB (Oxford)
