Category — Hearing Aids

I recommend cleaning your hearing aid at least once a day.  By using the cleaning brush all hearing aids come with and physically brushing the outlet where the sound comes out, you can keep the sound passageway quite clear.  Then on a regular basis you want to have the outlet cleaned out with suction or by physically removing the wax guard.  The wax guard which comes with HearPod hearing aids is a little basket that is designed to be replaced usually at least once every two months.  The basket may have to be replaced more often if you produce a heavy amount of wax.  I am frequently asked if when people look inside the basket and it appears to be clean, should they replace it?  Even though it may appear to be clean, please replace it on a regular basis.  Let me explain why. When you put your finger into your ear when it itches, have you noticed when you remove your finger that it didn’t look like there was any ear wax on it, however when you rubbed your finger you could feel a film of waxy clear substance.  That clear wax accumulates over the grid of the wax guard and will prevent the sound coming from the receiver inside the hearing aid into your ear canal.  Read more... (411 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

When considering purchasing a hearing aid, one of the most important aspects you should consider is the service provided with your purchase.  All hearing aids sound really good when they are new.  Then people are surprised that the quality of sound doesn’t last or quite often their hearing aid stops performing altogether.  So what could cause a hearing aids performance to diminish or even stop altogether?

Consider where you wear your hearing aid.  If you have a behind-the-ear model it will rest behind your ear, next to your skull and your ear flap.  From the part sitting behind your ear there is a piece of tubing or wire that comes around the top of your ear flap down into your ear canal. If you wear an in-the-ear hearing aid, then you have the complete devise fitting inside the ear canal.  Read more... (323 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

A full examination and diagnosis by a licensed hearing professional is the only way to determine the best hearing aid for a particular case of hearing loss. Hearing aids are generally recommended for both ears, regardless of the extent of loss in each ear. If you have two ears with a hearing loss and a hearing aid is fit for one ear this can put unnatural strain on the patient. Two hearing aids will allow the patient to more precisely identify sound and its location, much as both ears do in a person with normal hearing.  Hence better word understanding especially in groups or noisy environments.  Read more... (265 words, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

Not all hearing aids work the same for all patients. There are two distinctly different types of hearing aids available for hearing loss patients, analog and digital. Analog hearing aids work by converting sound waves into amplified electronic signals. These electronic signals are then transmitted to a speaker which is worn inside the ear. All analog hearing aids are programmed by the manufacturer or provider with a computer; however, sometimes they can be adjusted by the user for different types of sound environments. The analog type of hearing aids can be set by the user for locations such as crowded events, small dinner parties or open locations such as theaters.  Read more... (251 words, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)

There are five basic styles of hearing aids and, based on the extent of the hearing loss and patient preference, any of the five can be prescribed to treat mild to severe hearing loss. Traditional behind the ear hearing aids, for many years, were the only style available for patients with hearing loss. These hearing aids were usually expensive, bulky and uncomfortable to wear for the patient. Fortunately, advances in digital technology have provided hearing loss patients additional alternatives to the bulky traditional hearing aids.  Read more... (412 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Traditional hearing aids are worn in an over-the-ear style, with the electronics and volume control worn behind the ear and a speaker worn in the ear to provide sound amplifications. All hearing aids operate on the same principle and serve the same purpose. They are intended to amplify sound and transmit it directly into the ear canal so the wearer can hear more efficiently. Hearing aids contain three basic parts, a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker.  Read more... (379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

There is no excuse for not visiting a hearing professional at the first sign of hearing loss. Asking family or friends to repeat themselves constantly, turning up the television or radio to a volume that bothers others and accusing others of mumbling when they are speaking are some of the earliest symptoms of mild to moderate hearing loss. It may take friends or family some time to convince the patient with hearing loss to seek medical attention. Though this convincing may only take place after much disagreement and arguing, it should be done at the earliest stage of hearing loss possible.  Read more... (261 words, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

Analog hearing aids make speech louder but compared to the digital technology were very limited, especially controlling other sounds when you’re trying to listen to one person. Digital hearing aids can be smaller and offer programmability for the user to improve hearing without being bulky or obtrusive. Some hearing aid designs include a telecoil, which is an additional magnetic coil that makes phone conversations easier to hear and understand. Induction loop hearing aid systems are generally found in places where public events are held and movie theaters. The facility will generally have the system connected to the public address system, or will work with headphones which are provided to the hearing impaired or by simply turning your T-coil on.  Read more... (329 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

hearing exam

Anyone who suspects they are experiencing hearing loss should see their doctor right away. Hearing loss is a serious medical condition that can start out very mild and quickly progress to a severe, life altering problem. There are very simple tests a professional hearing health care provider can conduct to determine right away if there is a medical condition causing hearing loss. In some cases, mild hearing loss can be corrected with a simple procedure to clean out excess earwax in the ear canal.

A hearing aid feature called a telecoil can assist hearing over landline phones.

There is a feature available as an additional accessory to most types of hearing aids called a telecoil.  The telecoil feature was originally added to traditional hearing aids in order for the user to hear conversation over the phone.  The telecoil works by reading the changes in magnetic fields which represent transmitted sound.  Older landline phones utilized large magnets in their speakers in order for any sound to be heard through the receiver.  Even many newer phones are equipped with magnets and additional electronics that make them hearing aid compatible.  Read more... (335 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)