As an audiologist with a passion for cochlear implants, bone-anchored hearing aids, central auditory processing, traumatic brain injury, vestibular disorders, and (thanks to my post-doc fellowship at Vanderbilt) all things balance-related. I spend my days helping kids and adults live life better, louder, and with room spinning excitement (only when they want it!), and nothing lights me up more than watching someone light up when they finally hear the sound of laughter or their favorite song again.

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But let’s be honest—there are some stubborn myths floating around out there that are quietly making hearing loss worse. Today we’re busting a few with zero finger-wagging, just good information and a little humor. Because you and your ears deserve better.

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Myth #1: “If I can hear some things, these open-dome, low-power hearing aids are perfect for me.”
Ah, the classic “I can still hear the air conditioning, so I’m fine” situation.
I can’t tell you how many patients walk through my door wearing severely underpowered hearing aids with open domes—basically turning expensive devices into very fancy earbuds. If you have moderate to severe hearing loss, that tiny speaker and wide-open fit is like trying to fill a swimming pool with a garden hose. You get some sound, sure… but you’re missing the good stuff: speech clarity, nuance, and the ability to hear in noise.

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Worse? Depriving your hearing nerve and brain of the sound it needs can accelerate the need for more aggressive solutions down the road (you'll have to make quite the trip down to Albuquerque to talk to one of my incredibly skilled neuro-otologist friends). Your brain is an incredible organ, but it needs consistent, clear input to stay sharp. Starve it of the very language it needs to function for years and it starts to forget how to understand language.

 

The hopeful truth: Properly fit hearing aids (or the right next step) can change everything. The most important step to ensuring your hearing aids are fit properly is the use of Real Ear Measures. If your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser hasn't verified what your hearing aids are doing, what have they actually done? I call that voodoo audiology. We have powerful tools today. Let’s actually use them.

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Myth #2: “Cochlear implants are only for people who hear nothing at all.”
This one is quite infuriating to hear...

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Roughly 1 in 25 patients I see who were told they “just need better hearing aids” turn out to be excellent cochlear implant candidates. Many have been struggling for years with devices that were never going to be enough or were flat out told that they "wouldn't do any good". The technology has advanced dramatically—modern implants delivers comparatively richer, far more understandable sound compared to their predecessors, and outcomes keep getting better, especially when we catch candidates earlier!

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Cochlear implants aren’t giving up. They’re getting your life back. And for the right (culturally hearing) person at the right time, they’re life-changing.

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The hopeful truth: If hearing aids aren’t cutting it anymore, don’t assume that’s the end of the road. A proper cochlear implant evaluation (not just a quick “you’re not there yet” chat) can open doors you didn’t know existed.

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Myth #3: “You had sudden hearing loss? Sorry, there’s nothing we can do.”

This one actually makes me see red. (In a professional, caring way.)

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Too many patients in New Mexico (and elsewhere) have been told by well-meaning providers that sudden sensorineural hearing loss is just something you have to live with, that there is nothing to be done... In the acute window—ideally within the first 2 weeks, and definitely within 8 weeks—oral or injected steroids can make a real difference for many people. No contraindications? It’s often worth discussing aggressively.

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Even outside that window, there’s still hope: proper hearing aid fitting, cochlear implant evaluation, assistive technology, and vestibular support if balance is affected too.

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The hopeful truth: Sudden hearing loss is an emergency. Push for fast action. And if the window has closed, we still have excellent options. “Nothing we can do” is rarely the full story.

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Myth #4: “Hearing loss is just an old-person thing” and “It’s not that big a deal.”

Tell that to the 8-year-old struggling in school with undiagnosed auditory processing issues, the young adult with noise-induced loss, or the active senior whose social life is shrinking because everything sounds like mush and they just do not want to endure the exhaustion, embarrassment, and awkward stares when they've missed the punch lines. 

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Hearing loss affects the brain, mood, relationships, and even fall risk (hello, vestibular connection). The good news? We’re seeing fantastic outcomes across all ages when people get the right care at the right time.

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So What Should You Do?

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If something feels off with your hearing (or your child’s):
1. Get a comprehensive evaluation (not just a basic screening).
2. Ask questions about your specific audiogram and what it really means for daily life.
3. Seek providers who stay current with cochlear implant criteria, best-practice fitting, and medical management of sudden loss.
4. Seek providers who can evaluate your central auditory processing abilities. 

Remember: technology and science have come a long way. There is hope.

I became an audiologist because sound connects us—to people, to music, to the world. If you or someone you love is struggling, please don’t settle for “this is as good as it gets.” Come see me, get a second opinion, or at least keep asking questions until the answers feel right.

Your future self (and your ears) will thank you.

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Got questions or a story of your own? Send me an email. I read every one!

Here’s to better hearing—and more moments of “Wait… I can actually hear that!”

— Your friendly neighborhood audiologist who’s slightly obsessed with getting this right

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This post is for educational purposes only. Content published within this blog does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own audiologist and/or ENT physician for personalized advice.