It is perfectly normal to experience some degree of hearing loss as we get older. However, sometimes illnesses or injuries are the cause of hearing loss. Hearing loss can occur at any age. Sometimes it is only temporary, but sometimes the problems become chronic. If this is the case, hearing aids are often needed to improve hearing and enhance quality of life.
But when do you actually need a hearing aid? How do you find out if you need a hearing aid, and which one is the right one? We would like to answer these questions below.
Key Takeaways
- Do I need a hearing aid?
- Degrees of hearing loss: a hearing aid is recommended from this level onwards
- How do I find out if I need a hearing aid?
- In which cases of hearing loss does a hearing aid help (or not)?
- When am I entitled to a hearing aid?
Do I need a hearing aid?
These indicators can provide clues
Hearing problems do not necessarily mean that you need a hearing aid. However, there are some general signs that may indicate you could benefit from a hearing aid:
Difficulty understanding conversations
Problems following conversations, as well as frequently asking for things to be repeated, may indicate hearing problems.
Hearing problems with background noise
Difficulty understanding speech against loud background or ambient noise such as music, conversations, street noise, etc.
Loud television
Do you often have to turn up the volume on your television or radio to hear better? Does this bother others? This could also be a sign of hearing loss.
Feedback from friends, colleagues and family
Close friends and family are often the first to notice if you are no longer hearing as well as you used to.
Hearing tests
ENT specialists or hearing aid specialists can objectively determine whether you have hearing loss and to what extent.
Degrees of hearing loss: A hearing aid is recommended from this level onwards
Hearing aids are state-of-the-art devices designed to help people with hearing problems or hearing loss to hear and communicate better. There is a wide variety of different types of hearing aids, manufacturers, etc.
Generally speaking, a hearing aid is always recommended when there is significant hearing loss that affects daily life. This, in turn, depends on various factors, including the individual needs and lifestyle of the person concerned.
However, there are different degrees of hearing loss. These are generally divided into four categories:
Mild hearing loss:
Hearing ability deviates by 20 to 40 dB from the defined hearing threshold. Those affected may, for example, have difficulty hearing quiet or distant conversations. Background noise can also make understanding difficult.
Moderate hearing loss:
Hearing ability deviates by 41 to 60 dB from the defined hearing threshold. Those affected may have difficulty hearing and understanding normal conversations.
Severe hearing loss:
Hearing ability deviates by 61 to 80 dB from the defined hearing threshold. Conversations are almost impossible for those affected to understand without a hearing aid. Even louder sounds must be closer to be heard.
Hearing loss bordering on deafness:
Hearing loss exceeds 81 dB. Only very loud sounds are perceived. Communication is generally not possible without hearing aids or sign language.
A value of 0 to 20 decibels (dB) is considered normal. If hearing loss is 20% to 30% or more than 25 dB, hearing aids are usually recommended.
How do I find out if I need a hearing aid?
If you notice one or more of the above indicators in yourself, it makes sense to investigate further.
The best way to find out if you need a hearing aid is to take a hearing test. Our online hearing test will give you an initial idea of whether you have difficulty understanding speech against background noise.
However, if you have hearing problems, it is advisable to have a professional hearing test carried out by a doctor or an audiologist.
A tone audiogram is often used to measure hearing loss. For this, the person being tested is played various tones at different volumes, via headphones and separately for each ear. The person must then indicate which tones they can no longer hear in which ear.
By comparing the hearing curve with a normal hearing curve on the diagram, the degree and type of hearing loss can ultimately be determined.
In which cases of hearing loss does a hearing aid help (or not)?
Depending on the degree of hearing loss, as well as physical conditions and other factors, there are various types of hearing aids that differ in how they work.
However, there are circumstances in which hearing aids do not help those affected, for example in cases of hearing loss bordering on deafness, various anatomical obstacles, or a lack of function in the auditory nerve. Possible intolerance or psychological and cognitive limitations may also be reasons why a hearing aid is not appropriate or functional.
In such cases, however, other forms of treatment or technologies may be able to help. These include, for example, cochlear or middle ear implants, as well as alternative communication methods such as sign language, lip-reading or transcription apps.
You should therefore always consult a hearing specialist to find the best solution for your individual situation.
When am I entitled to a hearing aid?
Whether you are entitled to a hearing aid - that is, whether your health insurance will cover the cost of a hearing aid - depends on your hearing loss or your hearing ability. This is diagnosed by an ENT specialist.
According to the “Guideline of the Joint Federal Committee on the Prescription of Medical Aids in Statutory Health Insurance”, the prerequisite for a single-ear hearing aid is that ...
“the tone audiometric hearing loss (DIN ISO 8253-1) in the worse ear is at least 30 dB at at least one of the test frequencies between 500 and 4000 Hz” and “the speech audiometric understanding rate in the worse ear with headphones (DIN ISO 8253-3) using the Freiburg Monosyllable Test at 65 dB is no more than 80%.”
(Source: Guideline of the Joint Federal Committee on the Prescription of Medical Aids in Statutory Health Insurance)
What costs for a hearing aid does the health insurance fund cover?
If an ENT specialist diagnoses hearing loss and prescribes a hearing aid to the patient, the costs are covered by statutory health insurance.
However, this only covers medically necessary hearing aids that meet the necessary requirements to enable a sufficient improvement in hearing ability.
You can find out which costs - that is, exactly which amounts - are covered on your health insurance provider’s website, for example.
If you would like a modern device with additional features or greater comfort, you will generally have to cover the costs or additional costs yourself.