Auditory Deprivation

Auditory deprivation: going without hearing aids when you have a hearing loss can lead to a disconnect between hearing and understating over time. This is why it is important to wear hearing aids even when not communicating with others. Additionally it is important to have your hearing tested regularly so that the hearing aids can be adjusted to correct for your current level of hearing loss. Having your hearing aids set too low can still lead to auditory deprivation.
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Referenced article:
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[@clayton896]

I have seen articles on how this is reversible but I'm wondering if it's possible in my case where it's been untreated for roughly 24 years? During half that time I was told there isn't any aid on the market for my high-frequency hearing loss in one ear. Then I started trying recommend aids but without any success probably because I had auditory deprivation. It wasn't until recently I had this explained to me and I need time to adapt to the hearing aid. Also, how long can it possibly take to adapt?

[@dnaak]

"Reversible" is not necessarily the correct word. You can be treated for it, and your Speech Discrimination score can be better than without hearing aids. Some people may notice an amount of increase in their Speech Discrim but it's genuinely unlikely. It's a truly sad thing, and is why people need to treat hearing loss much earlier than they do.
The solution is to get treated with properly fitted hearing instruments as soon as one needs to turn up the TV the first time!