Hearing Aids
Approximately 31 million Americans aged 48 and older have some form of hearing loss. Of these, about 20% will have a hearing loss that is medically or surgically treatable, while the rest can be helped with amplification (hearing aids).
Studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to depression, isolation, anxiety, and withdrawal from family and previously enjoyed activities. The best type of amplification for each person varies and is determined by your hearing loss, lifestyle needs, type of noise environments you may find yourself in, as well as manual dexterity and visual ability. There is a hearing aid available for most budgets.
If you think you may have hearing loss, some questions to ask yourself are:
- Do you feel that people mumble when speaking?
- Do you have to ask people to repeat what they've said, especially if there is other noise in the room?
- Do others tell you that your TV is turned up too loud?
- Can you hear the birds singing, or a watch ticking when held to your ear?
There are different styles of hearing aids available. Behind-the-ear (BTE's) and mini or open-fit BTE's are currently very popular styles of hearing aids. We also carry in-the-ear hearing aids (ITEs), in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids, as well as completely in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids. The style of aid you choose is based upon the degree of hearing loss, manual dexterity, and available features.
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| New styles of hearing aids have fewer adjustment issues and are nearly invisible. Photo courtesy of: HELEN MCARDLE / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY |
Technological advances in hearing aids allow them to function much like mini-computers in your ear, enabling them to perform millions of calculations and adjustments within milliseconds. They can continually adjust and adapt for different types of environments so that, while not like normal hearing, you can hear as clearly as possible. Some of the available features in hearing aids are:
Automatic Feedback Reduction - Helps to reduce the annoying whistling sound often heard with older hearing aids
Directional Microphones - Microphones which help you hear sounds in front of you and behind you. When the back microphone is turned off, it helps reduce sounds coming from behind, which is particularly helpful in noisy situations such as restaurants.
Multiple Memories - Three or four programs are available in the hearing aid so that we can program it to function differently in multiple listening environments, such as quiet, background noise, and telephone. We can also make a memory for more specific situations such as church, bowling, outdoors, and traffic, to name a few. Some hearing aids will automatically change and adjust for these situations, while with other hearing aids you can push a button to make it switch.
Automatic Telecoil - Automatically adjusts the hearing aid so that it's compatible with your home telephone and many cell phones. This allows you to hear comfortably without pushing buttons or removing the hearing aid from your ear.
Digital Noise Reduction - Helps to lessen loud sounds and improve comfort, especially in noisy environments
Automatic Switching - The hearing aid can determine noise level and the type of listening environment and automatically adjust itself so that you can hear in better in situations such as quiet, noise, music and telephone, among others.
Data Logging - the hearing aid records the average sound level input to the hearing aid, your volume control adjustments, battery life, how often it switches memories, and other information about your hearing aid use. This will provide information and make recommendations for adjustments so we can fine tune the hearing aid to meet your needs.
Remote Control - Some manufacturers offer remote controls so that you can control memories and volume without having to touch your hearing aids. Some remotes also allow the wearer to fine-tune and train the hearing aid for different listening situations. This allows the hearing aid to perform better for you. Remote controls are also good for people with manual dexterity problems as well.
Bluetooth Capablility - Some hearing aids are wired for Bluetooth connections, which allows you to wirelessly pair with your cell phone, MP3 players, TV and stereos so they will play directly through your hearing aids.
Wireless Coupling - Allows the hearing aids to work together, so that you can adjust the volume or program on one hearing aid and it will adjust the other ear at the same time.
Rechargeable Batteries - Some hearing aids use rechargeable batteries, so you may only need to change the battery about once a year.
