How do I know if I have hearing loss?
Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age.
Hearing loss can be due to aging, exposure to loud noise, medications,
infections, head or ear trauma, congenital or hereditary factors,
disease processes and other causes. The vast majority of hearing
problems do not require medical or surgical intervention. Some 90
to 95 percent of all cases of hearing loss can be corrected with
hearing aids.
There are some 31.5 million people in the USA (as
of 2005) with hearing loss. Hearing loss is the single most common
birth "defect" in America. Approximately one third of
all seniors aged 75 years and older have significant hearing loss.
About 14 percent of all people aged 45 to 64 years have demonstrable
hearing loss. Hearing loss negatively impacts quality of life, personal
relationships and of course, the ability to communicate.
You may have hearing loss if...
- You hear people speaking but you strain to understand their
words.
- You frequently ask people to repeat what they said.
- You don’t laugh at jokes because you miss the story or
the punch line.
- You frequently complain that "people mumble."
- You ask others about details of a meeting you just attended.
- You play the TV or radio louder than friends, spouse and relatives.
- You cannot hear the doorbell or the telephone.
- You find that when people look directly at you while they speak
to you, it makes it easier to understand.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should
see an audiologist to get an "audiometric evaluation."
An audiometric evaluation (AE) is the term used to describe a diagnostic
hearing test, performed by a licensed audiologist. An AE is not
just pressing the button when you hear a "beep." Rather,
an audiometric evaluation allows the audiologist to determine the
exact type and degree of hearing loss, and it tells the audiologist
how well/poorly you understand speech. Afterall, speech is the single
most important sound we listen to and the ability to understand
speech is extremely important. Your ability to hear and understand
speech in quiet and noisy situations can be accurately tested by
your audiologist. The AE also includes a thorough case history (interview)
as well as visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum. The results
of the AE are also useful to the ear, nose and throat doctor, in
the event the audiologist refers you for medical or surgical alternatives.
Written hearing tests, "dial a hearing test"
and other online hearing tests are not 100% accurate and are not
diagnostic, but they may be utilized as screening tools. Screenings
are usually free and can be scored within seconds. Screenings may
help validate that a hearing problem exists.
Therefore, we’ve designed a written hearing
screening to provide you with general guidelines about your hearing
ability. It's free and it may offer you insight regarding the likelihood
that hearing loss is present.
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What are
the most common hearing aid styles?
There are many styles of hearing aids. The most common styles are
listed below:
ITE: In-The-Ear units are often the most
comfortable, the least expensive and the easiest to operate. They
are also the largest of the custom made styles.
ITC: In-The-Canal units are usually more
expensive than ITEs. They require good dexterity to control the
volume wheel and they are smaller than ITEs.
MC: Mini-Canals are the size between ITC
and CIC. A mini canal is a good choice when you desire the smallest
possible hearing aid with a tiny volume wheel.
CIC: Completely-In-the-Canal units are the
tiniest hearing aids made. They require a "removal string"
due to their small size and the fact that they fit deeply into the
ear canal. CICs can be difficult to remove without the pull string.
CICs do not usually have manual controls attached to them because
they are too small.
BTE: Behind-The-Ear hearing aids are the
largest hearing aids, often the least expensive, and they are very
reliable. BTEs have the most circuit options and they typically
offer more power than custom made units. BTEs rest on the back of
your ear. They are connected to the ear canal via custom-made plastic
tubing; the earmold. The earmold is usually custom made from an
ear impression to perfectly replicate the size and shape of your
ear.
PAC: Post-auricular-canal instrument. This
is a new hearing aid design which physically separates the processor
from the receiver/speaker. This design offers comfort and acoustic
options as the tiny processor is placed behind the ear, and the
receiver/speaker is placed deep in the ear canal.
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What are
the
There are bascially two levels of hearing aid technology; analog
and digital.
1. ANALOG technology has been around for many decades.
Analog technology offers limited capability, but is sometimes perfect
for specific purposes.
2. DIGITAL technology is the most sophisticated
hearing aid technology. Digital technology gives the audiologist
maximum control over sound quality and sound processing characteristics.
As of 2005, the OVERALL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ratings of new hearing
aids (which are essentially 90 percent digital) is 77 percent!
There is qualitative and quantitative evidence
that digital instruments outperform analog hearing aids. Digitals
are not perfect, but they are extremely good -- However, not all
digital hearing aids are the same! Within the "digital"
world, there are better and lesser units...speak with your audiologist
to be sure you're getting the right one for you. I ALWAYS recommend
digital hearing aids, unless there is a compelling reason to recommend
a specific analog product.
Many people ask about pricing relating to digitals.
It is important to know that thanks to the integration of digital
products across hearing healthcare, better, faster, more reliable
and less expensive digital hearing aids are the "norm."
---Dr. Douglas L. Beck
For more information on hearing aids please visit the following:
Beltone
Bernafon
Interton USA
Oticon
Phonak
SeboTek
Siemens
Sonic Innovations
Starkey
Unitron Hearing
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Getting
accustomed to hearing aids: What to expect and realistic expectations!
GETTING ACCUSTOMED to your HEARING AIDS:
It takes time....People learn and adapt at different
rates. Some people need a day or two to learn about and adjust to
their hearing aids, most people need a few weeks and others may
need a few months. There is no perfect way to learn about hearing
aids.
I usually recommend...
Wear your hearing aids for a few hours the first
day and add an hour a day the following day, and the next, and the
next, until you are wearing hearing aids most of the day. Do not
try to set an endurance record! I recommend that you interact with
people familiar to you during your first days with new hearing aids.
Start in a favorable listening environment (such as one-on-one conversations
in quiet) and work towards more difficult listening situations.
Let your friends and family know you’re using your new hearing
aids.
Please do NOT wear them to a cocktail party or
restaurant during the first few weeks, thinking "this will
be a good test!" It will absolutely not be a good test –
it will be very difficult! You should not wear hearing aids in noise
until you are very accustomed to them!
Helpful Steps to Learning to Use a Hearing Aid:
1. At first, wear the hearing aids in your own
home environment.
2. Wear the hearing aids only as long as you are comfortable wearing
them.
3. Accustom yourself to the use of the hearing aids while conversing
with just one other person.
4. Do not strain to catch every word, even people with normal hearing
do not hear every word!
5. Do not be discouraged by background noise.
6. Practice locating the source of the sound by listening only.
7. Increase your tolerance for loud sounds SLOWLY.
8. Practice learning to discriminate different speech sounds.
9. Listen to something read aloud, "books on tape" are
available at your library.
10. Gradually extend the number of persons with whom you speak.
11. Gradually increase the number of situations in which you use
your hearing aids.
12. Take part in an organized course of aural rehabilitation, see
your audiologist to learn about these courses.
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS:
Hearing aids work EXTREMELY well when fitted and
adjusted properly. Hearing aids amplify sound! The left and right
hearing aids will probably not fit exactly the same and they probably
won’t sound exactly the same. You might find you like one
hearing aid better than the other Nonetheless, hearing aids should
be comfortable with respect to physical fit and sound quality. Hearing
aids do not restore normal hearing and are not as good as normal
hearing. You will be aware of hearing aids in your ears. Until you
get used to it, your voice will sound "funny" when you
wear hearing aids. Hearing aids should not to be worn in extremely
noisy environments. Some hearing aids have features that make noisy
environments more tolerable, however, hearing aids cannot completely
eliminate background noise. Background noise is a real bother for
many people. I encourage you to speak with your hearing healthcare
professional about options that do significantly reduce background
noise, such as directional microphones, and FM systems, they work
very well and I encourage their use.
---Dr Beck
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What are
ear impressions?
All custom made hearing aids and earmolds are made from a "cast"
of the ear. The cast is referred to as an ear impression. The hearing
professional makes the ear impression in the office. It takes about
10 to 15 minutes. The audiologist places a special cotton or foam
dam in the ear canal to protect the eardrum, and then a waxy material
is placed in the ear canal. When the material hardens (about 5 to
10 minutes later) the wax cast, along with the dam are removed from
the ear canal. Often, the ear canal will be "oily" after
the impression is removed. This is normal. The oil comes from the
earmold material and prevents the material from sticking to the
skin.
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What are
digital hearing aids?
The term DIGITAL is used so often today, it can be confusing. When
the term "digital" is used when referring to hearing aids,
it generally means the hearing aid is 100% digital. In other words,
the hearing aid is indeed a "complete computer". 100%
digital hearing aids have been commercially available since the
mid-1990s and they are wonders of modern technology. 100% digital
hearing aids can process sound using incredibly fast speeds. Interestingly,
most 100% digital hearing aids have some analog components, such
as the microphone and the receiver. 100% digital hearing aids transform
analog information into a digital signal and process the sound to
maximize the speech information you want to hear, while minimizing
the amplification of sounds you do not want to hear.
Digital technology is tremendous and it allows
the audiologist maximal control over the sound quality and loudness
of the hearing aid. Importantly, digital technology allows the audiologist
to tailor or customize the sound of your hearing aids to what you
need and want to hear. In summary, if you want the best technology
-- get 100% digital hearing aids.
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Why does
my voice sound funny when I use my new hearing aids?
When you wear hearing aids for the first time, you’ll probably
notice your voice sounds funny! You’ll hear your voice amplified
through the hearing aid and some people describe this sensation
as feeling "plugged up" or hearing your voice echoing.
This is normal and will usually go away in a few days after you
have given yourself a chance to get accustomed to your new hearing
aids and learned to adjust the volume controls. However, there are
adjustments the audiologist can make to relieve these symptoms,
should they persist beyond the first few days, or it they are intolerable
and need to be addressed immediately.
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How are
''Hearing'' and ''Vision'' related to effective ''Communication''?
To maximally communicate, you need to hear from both ears (binaural
hearing) and you need to use your eyes and ears together. You will
not communicate well using your hearing aids alone. To facilitate
optimal communication, you need to pay attention to the speaker’s
gestures and facial expressions! To maximize communication remember
to watch the person speaking, reduce the distance between the speaker
and the listener, reduce or eliminate background noise and use good
lighting. If someone is speaking to you from across the room while
the TV is on and while you’re doing the dishes, it will be
very difficult to adequately communicate, despite fantastic hearing
aids!
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Binaural
Hearing Aids...Do I really NEED TWO?
YES! Basically, if you have two ears with hearing loss, and if both
ears could benefit from hearing aids, you need two hearing aids.
I know you were hoping to "get by" with only one hearing
aid, people tried that for decades and it simply does not work very
well.
In 2005, 86 percent of all new hearing aid wearers are fit binaurally
(both ears).
Here's why...
It is important to realize there are no "normal"
animals born with only one ear. Simply stated, you have two ears
because you need two ears. If you try to amplify sound in only one
ear, you cannot expect to do very well. Even the best hearing aid
will sound "flat" or "dull" when worn in only
one ear.
Yo do need two ears to tell where the sound is
coming from (localiztion). Localization is very important for determining
the origin of warning signals, alerting sounds and of course, conversational
speech.
Using both ears together allows your central nervou
system (your brain) to better focus on, and process sounds you want
to hear (human speech) while more or less "squelching"
(ignoring) sounds you do not want to hear (background noise). One
ear working by itself cannot do this very well. The brain needs
to compare and contrast loudness, pitch and the phase (timing) of
the sounds from the two ears to make sense of it!
It's sort of like using your eyes. If you close
one eye, you cannot get depth perception. In other words, if you
were to close one, it becomes very difficult to tell how far something
is in front of you. It is also difficult to read and you'll find
you get tired more quickly as you are straining and working harder
to make visual sense of the world. Of course, if you had two eyes
that were far sighed, or two eyes that were near sighted, you wouldn't
even think about getting a monocle...and that would be analogous
to wearing one hearing aid.
Assuming you have two ears that hear about the
same, you can do a little experiment at home to better understand
how important binaural hearing is:
First, gently close just one ear, by simply pressing
the little fleshy part in the front of your ear canal (the tragus)
into your ear canal -- a little. Do not apply pressure, do not hurt
yourself. Just close the ear canal to eliminate sound from entering
the ear. The idea is to close that ear for about ten minutes while
you watch TV or listen to the radio or speak with your spouse. Then,
after a full ten minutes, remove your finger. What an amazing difference!
Binaural hearing allows a quality of "spaciousness"
or "high fidelity" to sounds, which cannot occur with
monaural (one ear) listening. Understanding speech clearly, particularly
in challenging and noisy situations is much easier while using both
ears. Additionally, using two hearing aids allows people to speak
to you from either side of your head – not just your "good"
side!
People cannot hear well using only one ear. There
are studies in the research literature that show that children with
one normal ear and one "deaf" ear are ten times more likely
to repeat a grade when compared to children with two normally hearing
ears. Additionally, we know that if you have two ears with hearing
impairment and you wear only one hearing aid, the unaided ear is
likely to lose word recognition ability more quickly than the ear
wearing the hearing aid.
Bottom line...if you have two ears that can benefit from hearing
aids, fit both ears!
---Dr. Beck
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How do I determine the
best physical fit of my hearing aids?
One concern with all new hearing aids is the physical
fit. Hearing aids need to be comfortable, not too tight and not
too loose, they should fit just right. Do not wear the hearing aids
if they cause discomfort or irritations. Do call your audiologist
to schedule an appointment to remedy the problem as soon as possible.
Do not wear hearing aids if they are uncomfortable.
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What
is ''background noise'' and how do I deal with it?
Virtually all patients wearing hearing aids complain
about background noise at one time or another. There is no way to
completely eliminate background noise.
Remember, when you had normal hearing there were
times when background noise was a problem. It is no different now,
even with properly fit hearing aids! The good news is there are
circuits and features that help to reduce (or minimize) background
noise and other unwanted sounds. In fact, there are research findings
that clearly show that digital hearing aids with particular circuits,
FM options, and directional microphones can effectively reduce background
noises. Please speak with your audiologist about this.
Many early digitally programmable (and even some
digital) circuits, which claimed to reduce or eliminate background
noise, actually filtered out low frequency sounds. This indeed made
the sounds appear quieter, however, not only was the background
noise made quieter, but so too, was the speech sound.
Newer ways to reduce background noise are based
on timing and amplitude cues and other complex noise processing
strategies, which 100% digital hearing aids can process. These methods
work, but are not perfect. Directional microphones are available
and are useful as they help to focus the amplification in front
of you, or towards the origin of the sound source. Directional hearing
aids can offer a better signal-to-noise ratio in difficult listening
situations by reducing the noise from the sides or behind you. In
most 100% digital hearing aids, the noise control features help
make noise more tolerable.
The best and most efficient way to eliminate or
reduce background noise is through the use of FM technology. Please
speak with your audiologist about this.
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How should
I care for and maintain my hearing aids?
More than 75 percent of all hearing aid repairs
are due to moisture and earwax accumulating in the hearing aid.
The vast majority of these repairs are 100 percent preventable.
It is extremely important to clean the entire hearing aid every
time it is removed from your ear by wiping and brushing it. To better
protect your investment, use a DRY-AID kit every night! Electronic
dry-aid kits are the best. They include a germicidal light that
kills most bacteria and other germs. They also have desiccants to
absorb moisture and fans to circulate air around the internal components
of the hearing aid. Get in the habit of cleaning the hearing aid
after each use and keeping the hearing aid in the dry-aid kit at
night. The hearing aid is electronic and moisture is the enemy!
Preventive maintenance is the key to trouble free, long life from
a hearing aid. A well maintained hearing aid can easily last 5 to
7 years, maybe longer.
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Please
discuss hearing aid batteries.
All batteries are toxic and dangerous if swallowed.
Keep all batteries (and hearing aids) away from children and pets.
If anyone swallows a battery it is a medical emergency and the individual
needs to see a physician immediately.
One question often asked is "How long does
the battery last?" Typically they last 7-14 days based on 16
hours per day use cycle. Batteries are inexpensive, costing less
than a dollar each. Generally, the smaller the battery size, the
shorter the battery life. The sizes of hearing aid batteries are
listed below along with their standard number and color codes.
Size 5: RED
Size 10 (or 230): YELLOW
Size 13: ORANGE
Size 312: BROWN
Size 675: BLUE
Today's hearing aid batteries are "zinc-air."
Because the batteries are air-activated, a factory-sealed sticker
keeps them "inactive" until you remove the sticker. Once
the sticker is removed from the back of the battery, oxygen in the
air contacts the zinc within the battery, and the battery is "turned-on".
Since many of today's automatic hearing aids do not have "off"
switches, removing the battery from the hearing aid circuit, by
opening the battery door, when not in use, assures the device is
turned off. Zinc-air batteries have a "shelf life" of
up to three years when stored in a cool, dry environment. Storing
zinc-air hearing aids in the refrigerator has no beneficial effect
on their shelf life. In fact -- quite the opposite may happen. The
cold air may actually form little water particles under the sticker.
Water is made of oxygen and hydrogen. If the water vapor creeps
under the sticker, oxygen may contact the zinc and the battery could
be totally discharged by the time you peel off the sticker! Therefore,
the best place to store batteries is in a cool dry place, like the
back of your sock drawer, not the fridge!
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What
are Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)?
You may have certain communication needs that cannot
be solved by just using hearing aids. These situations may involve
telephone, radio, television, or the inability to hear the door
chime, telephone bell, and alarm clock. Special devices have been
developed to solve these problems. Like hearing aids, assistive
listening devices and alerting devices make sounds louder. Typically,
a hearing aid makes all sounds in the environment louder. Assistive
listening devices and alerting devices can increase the loudness
of a desired sound, like a radio or television, a public speaker,
or an alarm system, or may make an auditory alarm (such as a smoke
signal) into a visual alarm (such as a strobe light).
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Are ALDs
only for people using hearing aids?
No. People with all degrees and types of hearing
loss -- even people with normal hearing -- can benefit from assistive
listening devices. Some assistive listening devices are used with
hearing aids; some are used without hearing aids.
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What
types of ALDs exist?
There are many assistive listening devices available
today, from sophisticated systems used in theaters and auditoriums
to small personal systems.
Various kinds of assistive listening devices are
listed below:
Personal Listening Systems: There are several
types of personal listening systems available. All are designed
to carry sound from the speaker or other sound source, directly
to the listener and to minimize or eliminate environmental noises.
Some of these systems, such as auditory trainers, are designed for
classroom or small group use. Others, such as personal FM systems
and personal amplifiers are especially helpful for one-on-one conversations
in places such as automobiles, meeting rooms, and restaurants.
TV Listening Systems: These are designed
for listening to TV, radio, or stereos without interference from
surrounding noise or the need to use very high volume. Models are
available for use with or without hearing aids. TV listening systems
allow the family to set the volume of the TV, while the user adjusts
only the volume of his or her own listening system.
Direct Audio Input Hearing Aids: These are
hearing aids with direct audio input connections, usually using
wires, which can be connected to the TV, stereo, tape, and/or radio
as well as to microphones, auditory trainers, personal FM systems
and other assistive devices.
Telephone Amplifying Devices: Most, but
not all, standard telephone receivers are useful with hearing aids.
These phones are called " hearing aid compatible." The
option on the hearing aid is called the T-Coil. The T-coil is automatically
activated on some hearing aids and manually activated on others.
Basically, the telephone and the hearing aid’s T-coil communicate
with each other electromagnetically, allowing the hearing aid to
be used at a comfortable volume without feedback and with minimal
background noise. You should be able to get hearing-aid-compatible
phones from your telephone company or almost any retail store that
sells telephones. Not all hearing aids have a "T" switch.
Make sure your hearing aids have a T switch before purchasing a
new hearing aid compatible phone! There are literally dozens of
T-coil and telephone coupling systems. Speak with your audiologist
to get the most appropriate system for your needs.
Cell Phones: Most hearing aids can be used
with most cell phones. Importantly, digital hearing aids and digital
phones may create constant noise or distortion. There may be significant
problems for some hearing aids when used with particular cell phones!
The best person to address this problem is your audiologist –
speak with your audiologist BEFORE you buy a cell phone or hearing
aids!!!!
Regarding "hands free" systems, there
are many to choose from and hearing impaired users usually benefit
maximally by using binaural hands free systems, or, headsets with
loudness controls in tandem with telephone systems.
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General
Disclaimer for the FAQ Section of Healthy Hearing
Please review this information with your spouse
or loved ones and please feel free to discuss all of these issues
with your audiologist and/or your physician.
Federal regulation prohibits any hearing aid sale
unless the buyer has first received a medical evaluation from a
licensed physician. However, if you are at least 18 years old, you
can sign a form (waiver) that says you are fully aware of your rights
but choose not to have the medical evaluation. For people under
18 years of age, waiver of the medical evaluation is not permitted.
These rules and regulations may vary state-by-state and you need
to check with your state rules, regulations and laws. I do not recommend
using waivers.
I believe your best health interest is served by
seeing a licensed audiologist for a complete audiometric evaluation
and seeing an otolaryngologist for medical and/or surgical diagnosis
and treatment of all ear and hearing disorders and diseases.
The opinions throughout this article are those
of the author. Other audiologists, hearing instrument dispensers
and otolaryngologists may have different opinions and recommendations.
Additionally, each patient and each hearing problem is unique. "Self-diagnosis"
and treatment is unwise, is not recommended and may indeed lead
to a worsening situation.
State and federal rules and regulations vary from
location-to-location and they change over time. Therefore, it is
very important for you to check with your local licensed health
care professionals to verify and confirm the information in this
pamphlet and to best determine how it applies to you and your specific
situation -- if at all.
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What
are Bone Conduction Implants?
Bone conduction implants are designed for patients
with untreatable middle ear conductive or mixed hearing losses and
those who have a unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, or Single
Sided Deafness. In order the bone conduction implants to treat effectively,
patients must have at least one functioning cochlea.
Bone conduction implants are comprised of a tiny
titanium fixture, an external abutment, and a detachable sound processor.
The fixture is surgically implanted into the mastoid bone and forms
a permanent, secure bond during a process called osseointegration.
Via the abutment, the sound processor receives natural sound and
sends it to the functioning cochlea using the skull bone as a pathway
to bypass the middle ear. Candidates for bone conduction implants
do not have a functioning ossicular chain.
Currently, there is only one type of bone conduction
implant available – the BAHA system from Entific Medical Systems.
Answer from: Teri Sinopoli, M.A., CCC-A
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How often
do I need to change the batteries in my hearing aids?
Batteries should be changed about every ten to
14 days. The exact schedule for changing batteries depends on the
amount of time the hearing aids are worn and the power consumed
over time. Most new digital hearing aids have battery warning indicators.
Before the battery goes out, the hearing aid will "beep, beep,
beep" to tell you you have another hour or two before the battery
fails. Using excellent, fresh batteries is important, and changing
batteries should take no more than 60 seconds.
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How long
do hearing aids last?
The most common repairs required by hearing aids
are based on dirt and debris blocking the microphones and the receivers.
In other words, the majority of repairs required are sue to poor/low
maintenance. Your hearing healthcare professional will review with
you how to maintain your hearing aids, how to keep them clean and
dry, how to change batteries etc. Nonetheless, if the hearing aids
are well maintained, generally speaking, they can last 5 to 7 years.
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Does
Medicare/Medicaid cover hearing aids?
In general, Medicare does not cover hearing aids.
In general, Medicaid does cover hearing aids. However, each situation
is different. It is always a good idea to speak with your personal
(Medicare/Medicaid) representative that handles your account, to
determine your eligibility.
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Are
hearing aids covered by insurance?
Some insurers do cover hearing aids. However, each
situation is different! Even though a particular insurer offers
hearing aid coverage, you may or may not have it available to you,
based on your individual policy. It is always a good idea to call
the insurance company and speak with their representative to learn
about your personal hearing aid coverage.
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What
problems might I experience while adjusting to my hearing aids?
All hearing aids require adjustments. Some common
problems that can be corrected in the office include:
"My voice sounds like I'm talking in a barrel,
my hearing aids whistle, my ears feel plugged-up, I hear too much
background noise..." All of these common complaints/problems
can generally be addressed to the user's satisfaction using new
technology, better hearing aid circuits and excellent clinical protocols.
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What questions should
I ask before buying hearing aids?
There are many questions to ask before buying hearing
aids. The first two questions are: Do I have permanent hearing loss?
And -- Who should I see about this?
Some people have hearing problems caused by ear
wax, which can be removed by the professional. Sometimes middle
ear infections cause a temporary hearing problem which can be eliminated
after medical treatment. Sometimes auditory processing disorders
cause hearing problems. If any of these situations (or others) are
present, your audiologist will be able to recognize and diagnose
the problem and will manage or refer you to best handle these situations!
Before purchasing hearing aids, a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation
should be obtained, by a state licensed audiologist.
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How much
do hearing aids cost?
Hearing aid prices vary, depending on many factors.
Factors that influence price include...one versus two hearing aids,
aural rehabilitation programs, warranty, services included, accessories,
circuit sophistication, telephone coils, directional microphones,
insurance coverage and other factors too! Generally speaking, a
pair of hearing aids can cost anywhere from $500 to $6000 depending
on all of these services and options. Please consult your hearing
healthcare professional (audiologist or hearing instrument dispenser)
to discuss these options and find out what your final cost will
be.
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Where
do I go to get hearing aids?
Hearing aids are available at professional offices.
You can sometimes get a referral from your friends or physician,
or your health insurance company. Another way to find an audiologist
is to look in the yellow pages under "audiology" or search
the Internet, placing keywords in a search engine (Google, Yahoo...)
such as the name of your town or city, the word AUDIOLOGY, and/or
the word HEARING AIDS . Another option is place your zip code in
the FIND A PROFESSIONAL section on the homepage of our website.
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What
can I expect from my hearing aids?
You can expect that after you have adapted and
learned to use them properly (usually 4 to 8 weeks), many "speech
sound" benefits from hearing aids will become available to
you. You can expect your ability to perceive speech correctly will
be enhanced. You can expect most conversations will be much easier
with the hearing aids. You can expect more relaxed hearing, more
confidence and more satisfaction from your conversations. Additionally,
you can expect to hear warning sounds more readily with the hearing
aids, than without!
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Do all
hearing aids work the same way?
No. Hearing aids work in many different ways to
provide the needed and desired speech signals to the listener.
Some hearing aids deliver sound through the air,
some deliver sound through bone conduction. Some hearing aids use
FM signals, some use electro-magnetic signals (T-coils). Most hearing
aids use digital technology, although some still use analog technology...some
hearing aids use noise reduction technology, others don't! In brief,
there are dozens of varieties and alternatives in the way hearing
aids work!
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How can
hearing aids help?
Hearing aids serve different purposes and needs.
The goal of most hearing aid fittings is to make more speech sounds
available to the listener. However, simply making sounds louder
does not accomplish the goal! In 2005, most hearing aids process
sounds to present specific speech information (sounds) to the listener,
while reducing unwanted noises and sounds. In fact, with some hearing
aid technology, such as; T-coils, FM systems, Directional Mics and
Noise Reduction circuits, sometimes people wearing hearing aids
can actually perceive a better speech signal than people not wearing
hearing aids!
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Are all
hearing aids the same?
All hearing aids are not the same. There are huge
differences in technology, price, application and results! Please
see your hearing healthcare professional (audiologist or hearing
instrument dispenser) to review the many options.
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What
are the different styles of hearing aids?
In general, there are 4 basic styles of hearing
aids... Behind the Ear (BTE), In the Ear (ITE), In the Canal (ITC),
Completely in the Canal (CIC). There are variations on the four
basic styles. Your hearing healthcare professional (audiologist
or hearing instrument dispenser) will work with you to help you
decide on the best style for you, based on your needs and desires.
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