If you have been diagnosed with a clinically-significant but mild hearing loss, you may be wondering what to do next. Should you opt for hearing aids? Here is a guide to help you understand this situation. 

Mild Hearing Loss Isn't Insignificant

You may be tempted to wait and see if your hearing situation gets worse before looking for hearing aids. But studies have shown that even mild hearing loss can lead to some negative effects for your wellbeing, including reduced emotional wellbeing and frustration with their independence. Since hearing loss doesn't tend to get better with time, waiting to get hearing aids may only be opening you up for these issues to set in. 

Reasons to Get a Hearing Aid for Mild Hearing Loss

Aside from the emotional aspects of hearing loss, there are other reasons to get a hearing aid right away. Safety can be a concern, as even a mild reduction in your ability to perceive dangerous situations is worth dealing with. It can help you move with greater ease in the classroom, workplace, and other settings that you choose. By setting yourself up with a good pair of hearing aids now, you'll understand how they work when you need them most in the future. And since you won't be straining your ears to hear, you might be able to prevent some future hearing loss. A lot of hearing loss can happen when you turn sounds up to greater volumes to hear them better and, in turn, cause damage to the ear. 

Hearing Aid Features to Look For 

If you're just starting out and have mild hearing loss, then you may be looking for hearing aids that present minimal disruption to your life. You may want a design that's not too visible and is also easy to place and move around. Having automatic controls can also help; it allows you to program in the settings you want and change the settings with a push of a button. 

Many people with mild hearing  loss opt for behind the ear hearing aids. With this design, a thin tube is placed behind the ear to hold the earpiece in place. A small receiver is placed inside the ear. This design, while being discreet, also offers powerful sound amplification without blocking the entire ear canal. You'll still have the feeling of openness and natural air flow within the ear. This is only one of many potential designs for hearing aids, so speak with your audiologist about the best options.