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How to Love your Hearing Aids!

1                    Try wearing your hearing aid only in familiar environments such as at home. Your ears will have a chance to get used to all the new sounds you can hear with your new aid. For example, you may find the noise of the refrigerator or the rustling of a newspaper to be quite annoying at first. However, as time goes on your brain will learn to ignore these sounds.

2                    Try more challenging listening situations as time goes by. (Don’t go to a concert the day after you’ve been fit with your new aids!)

3                    Try wearing your new hearing aids for a few hours at a time at first. Then as you start to get used to them increase the length of time you wear them until you’re comfortable wearing them all day.

4                    It is best to have conversations with one person only at first. You need to learn to hear the voice with a normal volume again.

5                    Practice using your hearing aid on the phone. First, hold the phone directly to the hearing aid, then, if you hear whistling, increase the distance between the phone and the hearing aid until the whistling stops.

6                    Do not store your hearing aids in the bathroom. The dirt and moisture are not good for your hearing aids.

7                    Do not wear your hearing aids at night. If you cannot hear your alarm clock without them, one of our hearing professionals may be able to suggest an alternative to a conventional alarm clock.

8                    Open the battery door at night so you don’t waste batteries while you are sleeping.

9                    Do not remove the sticker from the battery until you are ready to use it.

10                Clean the wax from your hearing aid every morning and night. This will prevent unnecessary visits to our office and costly repairs.

11                You will NOT hear every sound and voice, including your own voice, exactly how you like it. Even people without a hearing problem have trouble hearing people who mumble and are bothered by high screams and loud bangs.

It is always a good idea to read the manual that came with your hearing aid.

Volume Isn't Everything

Turning Up The Sound Is Not Always The Answer

  If someone can not hear something, the first thing they typically try to do, is make the sound in question louder. However, volume may actually have nothing to do with the fact that you are missing what is being said. The truth of the matter is that very few people who have a hearing loss actually need things turned up louder. In fact hearing loss has more to do with having trouble hearing in crowds or group conversations. Not being able to always understand what is being said, even though you can hear it. When a sentence seems to become one word, and it sounds like most people are mumbling or talking too fast. The fact is that making it louder for most people with a hearing loss only makes things worse.  At times, it can even be painful. Eight out of ten people with a hearing loss suffer from what is known as high frequency loss. Many may refer to it as tone deafness.  The common myth is that this can not be helped. 10 years ago that was true, but with modern technology, we have been able to make that a myth. Just like computers have advanced so have hearing aids, or personal communication devices. Not only are they virtually invisible, they have better sound quality and are more flexible to meet your hearing needs.  The fact is leaving your hearing loss (or tone deafness) untreated is more harmful. Just like any muscle in your body, if you don’t use it you lose it, and once you start losing your hearing you will not be getting it back. Wearing hearing aids will at least help you maintain your ability to understand speech. This in turn makes social gatherings more relaxing and enjoyable.

How Do I Know If I Have A Hearing Loss??

What Am I Missing?

  Your hearing like your eye sight should be tested regularly. Many people believe that hearing loss is only present in those who are aging. The fact is however, that hearing loss is more common than we think and affects everyone equally. Unfortunately, this loss often goes undetected, as it is easier to adjust to a world that is gradually getting quieter, than one that is getting harder to see. The only true way to know if you have a hearing loss or not is to have your hearing tested. A few signs to look for that may indicate a hearing loss, but are not limited to are as follows:

-You have to ask people to repeat themselves frequently, because they mumble, speech is not clear, or you have missed parts of what they said.

-You can hear fine one on one, but struggle to hear in noisy situations like a restaurant.

-Family members or friends are complaining you have the T.V. or radio too loud.

-You catch yourself lip reading.

-You find yourself turning one ear towards people when they are talking to you.

-In meetings you have to ask the person next to you what the speaker has said.

-Others are complaining that you can’t hear.

-You have a ringing in your ears.

-You have worked around loud noises most of your life.

-Children’s voices are harder for you to understand.

-You have had or still have numerous ear infections.

-You have said the wrong thing when asked a question and embarrassed yourself.

Having your hearing tested is a painless process, and one we all need to do.

You wouldn’t neglect your eyes….So why neglect your ears!!!!

Times Are A Changing

Big Brown And Ugly
Over time all things change. The development of newer smaller technology has allowed the hearing industry to move with the changes of the world. Even hearing aids have been able to break through the size, shape and style barriers. The days of Big Brown and Ugly are gone!! The hearing aid you remember your Grandfather carrying in his pocket, or the big brown thing sitting in Grandmas ear that she was or is constantly turning up and down are done… With new circuits comes new looks, more options and less embarrassment. Regardless the degree of hearing loss it is possible to increase your confidents and ability to communicate with others, without having to worry about other people wondering what is hanging out of your ear.  A new look, better sound quality, improved ability in noisy situations, user friendly, and much much more.  Bye Bye Big Brown and Ugly!!!!!!

Still the Leading cause of Hearing Loss

               Even today with many different types of hearing protection available, Noise Exposure is still the leading cause of hearing loss in adults and the only preventable one.  Helen Keller once stated “Losing her eye sight took her away from objects, losing her hearing took her away from people.”

Hearing allows you to be involved with the world around you. As a young child, you learned to speak by listening to and imitating the voices of others. Babies who are deaf have a hard time learning to speak clearly. You have learned most of what you know by listening to parents and teachers, television and radio. Music, the sounds of nature and the voices of loved ones can bring you pleasure; sirens and alarms can warn you about danger, even when you are asleep.

Long exposure to noise can damage the soft tissue of the inner ear.  If enough cells and nerves are destroyed, hearing is permanently damaged.

How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?

Do You Know What You're Missing

Take Control Of What You Hear

  There are various degrees of hearing loss. Although I do have a hearing loss and wear hearing aids, it does not indicate that I am deaf or getting old.  It just simply means I have a hard time hearing conversation when background noise is present, or enjoying a Television show without cranking the volume up which in turn making others uncomfortable. Wearing hearing aids and doing what we can to help ourselves communicate with others around us shows intelligence. People who are willing to deal with their hearing loss are individuals who want to get the most out of life. Imagine missing your loved ones tell you they love you, or not hearing your child cry for you from another part of the house. These are just a few things missed out on when hearing loss is left untreated.  Continuing to ignore a hearing loss can put yourself and others at danger. Ask yourself if you heard the Ambulance coming up behind you the last time, or how many blocks was it before you realized your signal lights were still on. Yes, they do make a noise!!

A Hearing Aid for You

          Your hearing loss is as individual as you are. When selection a hearing aid that will work the best for you, may factors need to be taken into consideration.

Your hearing aid provider needs to be aware of your hearing loss…not every hearing aid will work properly for ever degree of hearing loss. You need to have a current hearing test done. Most insurance companies/ government agencies will need a hearing test  that is no older than 6 months.

The shape and size of your ear and ear canal must also be taken into consideration. The very small in the ear hearing aids (CIC’s) require a larger ear canal to fit all the components inside for a virtually invisible look.

If you have a hearing loss in one or both ears will make a difference as well. If you have a hearing loss in both ears, both ears should be amplified for better more natural sound quality. Your brain is used to hearing with two ears and will adjust much quicker.

The individual capabilities of each person are extremely important. A persons dexterity and or visual concerns may determine the size and style of hearing aid a person can handle.

Last but not least a persons communication needs, cosmetic concerns and monetary situation need to be taken into strong consideration when selecting a hearing aid that will provide the best individual hearing.