Do hearing aids damage ears? Is the helping hurting in the long run?

As a disclaimer, your question is beyond me and I think you need to talk to an audiologist or otorhinolaryngologist to obtain a reliable explanation. That said, my understanding is that the "right" hearing aids can be adjusted to filter (bringing up the particular frequencies one is deficient in, without over-amplifying the others). One caveat I would say is that it seems that some over-the-counter (OTC) "hearing aids," or "personal sound amplification products" (PSAPs) are as effective for some people as "prescribed" hearing aids, and others or perhaps incorrectly selected PSAPs potentially could be harmful. There is a good article about this, "Personal Sound Amplifiers for Adults with Hearing Loss" by Sara K Mamo (https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(15)00935-3/fulltext). However, I am concerned about NOT wearing my hearing aids as much as possible due to the apparent association between "untreated" hearing loss (i.e., not wearing HAs) and cognitive decline, falls, dementia, etc. There is some interesting research by Sharma at University of Colorado and Lin at Johns Hopkins University about neuroplasticity (brain changes, in this case associated with treated/untreated hearing loss) and undesirable associated factors. Unfortunately, there are not many solid scientific conclusions regarding hearing loss and causality, but for myself - in the limited studies I've read - the risks associated with not wearing my hearing aids are too high. Hope this is helpful for you.

I think they do damage your hearing in the long run. They have for me. I went from a moderate hearing loss before hearing aids to now a profound hearing loss in 2 short years. I asked my audiologist about it and she had no clue. I'm not surprised she had no answer, she's pretty much clueless about most things people with hearing loss experience.

Oh one more thing about PSAPs - if you read the article above, it gives some background on the 2017 regulation that will provide guidelines for the new law allowing for over the counter "hearing aids." Also, you can read about the law at (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/670) and the ASHA position paper at (https://www.asha.org/News/2018/Hearing-Associations-Release-Consensus-Recommendations-for-New-Over-the-Counter-Hearing-Aid-Classification/). It is probably not a simple decision - personally if it involved me or a loved one, and the option was PSAP or NO hearing aid, I would opt for PSAP. However I would try to find an audiologist who would (willingly) provide me with a test and help me choose a PSAP appropriate for my needs... I think it is pretty complicated to just choose one off the internet, as a lay person. Maybe when issues, the FDA guidance will provide some User Guidelines.

tmcclain - I'm sorry you haven't had a good experience with your audiologist, and that your hearing loss has worsened. It could be possible there are other reasons your hearing loss has worsened. I would urge you to find a new audiologist that is more helpful to you. Good luck.

They do- my best friend years had powerful aids in the early days- now Deaf- no other explanation . She was one of 5 kids and others had no issues

I'm larking about audiologist supplied, prescription hearing aids, not a PSAP.

I had ReSound AIrs and now Oticon OPNs

Perhaps if we knew how many dba's maximum output these devices have, it would be helpful. A-googling-I will go.

I do know that anything over 85dba is potentially damaging.

Bob

Such a good question, Bobbly. I'd like to invite @judysmayo @julieo4 @imallears @jkmcelveen @mikepa and @judymartin into this discussion about hearing aids hearing decline - true or false?

While we wait to others to weigh in, you might also be interested in reading this discussion
- One or two hearing aids https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/one-or-two-hearing-aids/

PS: The Hearing Loss Group on Mayo Clinic Connect will be replacing the HLAA Forums so make sure to join. The HLAA Forums will be phased out in the coming months and will eventually be discontinued. See more info here: https://www.hearingloss.org/forums-mayo-clinic-connect/

Thank you, Colleen. I've replied to the discussion on One or two hearings aids just now. Fascinating stuff to consider and not easy to come up with a definitive answer for! Regarding Bobby's question, it fits that same pattern. Given my background of hearing-in-noise and spatial hearing R&D, I think some things that might be generally under-appreciated are how finely tuned our auditory system is to small time delays and frequency changes, how dependent we are upon hearing well in the 6-10 KHz range, and how the outer ear helps enable our ability to localize and extract target sound sources. Hearing aids in one or both ears slightly (and confusingly) change the timing and frequency information that our hearing has used over a life time of learning (presuming onset of hearing issues in older age) to sort out voices and other sounds. In addition, our ears are not exactly the same - the right one deals with speech better and the left one with noise. (Recall how an average person might lean forward with their hand cupped behind their right ear to hear better in a noisy situation). Finally, I'll toss into this mix the idea that while vision and hearing correction are only very superficially alike, one way that they might be is in how the brain learns to always expect a correction. In the early days of someone new to glasses, the change is a hard one. But, over a few weeks, the brain learns to adapt. The same seems to be generally true with hearing aids. Likewise, with glasses, one might be tempted to use them all of the time (even when not needed, like when viewing things far away when you are far-sighted) or even use higher magnifications even when not needed. This trains the brain in a way that is perhaps not optimal and there are those who argue that it even causes atrophy of muscles and neural pathways that would otherwise be beneficial. I'm not an audiologist nor an optometrist and will very willing accept correction by those who understand these matters more deeply. Very best, Keith

@bobbyboomer

Hi,
Do Hearing Aids damage ears in the long run?
My take on this is ultimately a properly programmed aid will not damage hearing in the long run. I will say that any loud noises will damage the ear and I am including otc PSAPS and the old analog hearing aids which I wore in the beginning of my journey.

Since a hearing aid is programmed to your particular loss then the decibel level is also programmed to your individual loss. At least it should be . It should never be at a damaging level. If you think your aids are too loud then they are. I can say that my hearing went downhill about 25 years ago when I was wearing one analog aid. Audiograms confirmed this. Then the aids became more sophisticated and my loss stagnated...it didn’t get any worse. It has been at a standstill for at least 15 years.
I attribute this to wearing 2 aids and the improved advances over the years. When I say my Phonak aids are powerful, I don’t mean they are loud. I mean that they are capable of doing so much more than ever before. I have gone through Audi’s bad and great and hearing aid techs both bad and great.
I have had aids that were way too loud...the decibel level wasn’t programmed properly. I’m sure that did damage.

It’s the DECIBLE level that is the CRUX of this very good question. And a very thought out detailed question. Properly programmed aids won’t damage your ears...improperly programmed ones probably will.

For people who are new to hearing aids....this can be a problem. They don’t know what to expect and perhaps think loud is good. Hearing people think loud is good. You can go through years and years of bad Audi’s or providers and have your hearing get worse and worse and blame the aids....it’s the person doing the programming. Then you opt for new aids and maybe that wasn’t necessary at that time.

So my answer is no.....aids do not damage ears unless they are improperly programmed. Hearing aid dispensers need to be held accountable and we need to be more demanding. I’ve had 45+ years of wearing aids and I still go back and back and back until they get it right. At this point I can spot a bad Audi right away....they SHOULD have the answers to my questions and they SHOULD know all this stuff and they SHOULD NOT let you out of their office until they are sure you understand.

Two vs one aid is another topic entirely

My 2 cents from FL Mary

@ jkmcleeven
Hi,

What jumped out at me was when you stated how finely tuned our auditory system is and how different we hear with one or two aids or under other external circumstances, frequency, timing, health .even the weather. Hearing people accuse us of selective hearing and it is hard to explain to them everything that affects our hearing and changes how well we hear or don’t hear at that particular time. Blank stares all around. An ongoing process with us. The brain is very adaptable and it is so true that it can accept what is normal but not necessarily optimum. But it can also change. Amazing brains we have😏
Thanks for a great post

Regards from FL Mary