Hearing badly from time to time is acceptable. But if you have to yell things at you and you have trouble following a conversation, there is reason to ask questions. It may be time to consult an ENT, the hearing specialist, who can refer you to an audioprosthetist if wearing hearing aids becomes necessary.
Although the elderly are the audience most prone to hearing loss (9 out of 10 cases), it can also affect younger subjects. Hearing loss can also occur after a sudden shock to the eardrums, during exposure to excessive noise, during a concert for example. Those who work in a noisy environment (factory, construction site, musicians) are also prone to hearing loss.
It can be difficult to come to terms with the idea of having to wear hearing aids. However, hearing loss is not something to be taken lightly. Regardless of your age, not hearing well can lead to some form of isolation:at work, with friends or family, it's hard to fit in when you're struggling to follow a group conversation, or that we make the interlocutor repeat sentences several times, for example. The discomfort associated with hearing loss can also be felt when you are in the presence of a crowd, or when properly enjoying a movie or listening to music. Finally, it can lead to a certain fatigue at the end of the day, insofar as one concentrates and "forces" oneself to try to hear better.
Learn more about hearing
Are you wondering about hearing aids? Would you like to take a hearing test? This is an opportunity to inform you and raise awareness on the subject on National Hearing Day, March 11, 2021.
As soon as you experience difficulty hearing properly, it is important to have your hearing checked by an ENT specialist, on prescription from the general practitioner. It is this doctor, a hearing specialist, who will be responsible for testing it and issuing a prescription for the fitting of hearing aids if necessary. A hearing aid is recommended when the average hearing loss is greater than 30 decibels and constitutes a daily handicap.
How does a hearing aid work?
A prosthesis is equipped with a microphone, which captures sound waves from the environment. They are then converted into a digital signal, then retransmitted to a processor. Then comes the role of the amplifier, which processes and amplifies the waves as needed. Finally, the receiver takes care of transmitting them to your ear.
Hearing aids are medical devices subject to a prescription made by a health professional. Before proceeding with the choice of your hearing aids and their installation, the audioprosthetist, in charge of the installation, will carry out preliminary services:
Finally comes the time to provide you with a personalized quote, on which will appear the price of the equipment, as well as that of the installation services. This is also where you will find the model and brand of your hearing aids, with the commercial reference.
In France, hearing aids are classified into two categories:
Follow-up after fitting hearing aids
Regardless of the class of your hearing aids, you have 30 days of trial before acquiring them. Once these prostheses are in place, follow-up appointments twice a year are reimbursed by the Health Insurance. Also note that devices of this type are guaranteed for 4 years.
Social Security covers part of the hearing aid (prostheses and accessories). Since 1 st January 2019, the price of hearing aids is regulated by the State. The part covered by health insurance depends on several criteria, in particular the age and the nature of the disability of the person with the device. After reimbursement, the average remaining charge is €250, which can be covered by mutual insurance.
By the end of 2021, the objective is for the patient to be able to pay nothing, as part of the 100% Health offer and the reform of the remainder at zero charge. The 100% Health offer is already in place for people under 20, as well as for people with blindness.
Want to test your hearing?
You can have a hearing assessment with your doctor, who will carry out an initial screening and refer you to an ENT specialist if necessary. Note that it is also possible to test your hearing at home, thanks to certain apps such as hearWHO.
About 2 million French people have one or two hearing aids. These medical devices, some of which are subject to the 100% Health Insurance offer, are very well supported on a daily basis and allow you to regain optimal listening comfort. Need more information about hearing aids and their care? Discover the offers 100% Health Wellness Mutual.
And find our article on hearing aids:how to choose them well?
Find out more about 100% Health offers
Source:
https://www.ameli.fr/assure/remboursements/rembourse/optique-audition/protheses-auditives
https://www.santemagazine.fr/actualites/actualites-sante/audioprotheses-tout-savoir-sur-le-reste-a-charge-zero-335865
