Posts Tagged ‘hearing aids’

Looking After Your Hearing Aid

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Since the hearing aid was invented, millions of people have been able to improve their hearing and enjoy a new lease of life. These delicate little units do need looking after, though. Overnight, or any other time you don’t wear the hearing aid, open up the battery compartment. This allows air to circulate through and rids the hearing aid of moisture. Clean the hearing aid daily with a dry cloth or tissue. Never use water or cleaning fluids to clean your hearing aid.

Always remove wax and moisture from the ear mold. Remove the mold and tube from the processing unit and rinse them under lukewarm running water. Soak them for ten minutes in mild soapy water if necessary. You should never use toothpicks or sharp objects when cleaning your hearing aid. Ensure the tube is completely dry before reattaching it to the ear mold and hearing aid unit. Once the plastic tube starts to harden or seem more brittle than usual, it should be replaced.

Without a battery, your hearing aid won’t work at all so take care of your batteries. Hearing aid batteries tend to last for anywhere between four and six weeks but you can get longer out of them if you look after them. Turn your hearing aid off when it’s not in use and make sure you replace dead batteries straight away. Keep your hearing aid at room temperature and make sure the battery and battery compartment stay dry to avoid corrosion.

The mortal enemy of the hearing aid is moisture. Moisture and humidity can damage batteries, cause rust and corrosion, short circuit the hearing aid or affect its ability to transmit sound. You should also be wary of aerosol cans and sprays and avoid using these near your hearing aid. Don’t leave them in direct sunlight – even leaving them on a windowsill or in a car could expose them to heat which may damage them or reduce their efficacy.

In order to keep your hearing aid in top condition, make sure you visit a hearing aid professional every three to six months. The specialist will clean your hearing aid professionally and will check it for any problems which may need fixing. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still clean it every day at home. If you want to clean your hearing aid more professionally, you may wish to take a look at some of the many special tools and products available for cleaning and looking after hearing aids.

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Hearing Aids : Advice For Buyers

Friday, October 29th, 2010

The technology behind hearing aids is changing and evolving constantly and there are many different types of hearing aid on the market today. The traditional style of hearing aid – and the one you will most often see – is the behind-the-ear aid. This type of aid has a molded ear piece which sits inside the ear and connects through a small tube to the plastic case which contains the amplification system and battery. This type of hearing aid is mainly used for mild hearing loss.

For those people for who behind-the-ear hearing aids are uncomfortable or unsuitable, in-the-ear hearing aids may be used. As the name suggests, this type of hearing aid sits entirely in the ear – within the outer ear bowl, or concha. ITE hearing aids are custom made to fit the ear of the wearer and although also used in mild hearing loss cases, can be used to treat quite severe situations. Patients with very severe hearing loss may experience high levels of feedback which means this type of hearing aid may not be suitable.

While the behind-the-ear style of hearing aid may suit many users, the sound quality can sometimes be poor. The receiver in the canal (RIC) hearing aid, however, solves many of these problems. Rather than the speaker being placed in the plastic casing and the sound traveling through a plastic tube, the speaker is placed directly in the molded ear piece, reducing distortion and sound quality problems. In addition, the plastic box and tubing are far less noticeable, giving cosmetic benefits.

Although most hearing aids are considered temporary or removable, some users have extended wear hearing aids fitted. This type of hearing aid is placed deep within the ear canal and can be worn for several months at a time without being removed. The wearer is able to adjust the volume and settings without the help of a hearing professional. Extended wear hearing aids, however, can often be uncomfortable and have restrictions regarding showering and underwater use, making them somewhat awkward for some users.

If you suffer from conductive or unilateral hearing loss, your hearing professional may fit a bone anchored hearing aid. This is anchored to the skull and processes vibrations before sending them direct to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ears. For medical insurance purposes, the bone anchored hearing aid is not a hearing aid at all – it is covered as a sound processor known as a Baha – and is used in cases of extreme or specialized hearing loss.

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Buying A New Hearing Aid

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Hearing aids have become a progressively familiar sight in our culture. You might think that this is the result of more people losing their hearing; however, the reason hearing aids are seen more often is because they have become less expensive and easier to obtain. There are three primary styles of hearing aids to choose from - ITC, CIC, and BTE. The type that someone selects is primarily a result of the severity of hearing loss, although activity level and appearance can also be a factor.

The CIC or completely in the canal model is suitable for those whose hearing loss is minimal. It works by enhancing the ear’s natural sound-collecting characteristics. It is therefore not suitable for someone who has severe hearing loss. Because they are placed far into the canal, the CIC model is nearly invisible. These devices only work in individuals who have an ear canal that is large enough for them to fit into and must be custom-made as a result.

in the canal hearing aids or an ITC, is exactly as its name suggests; it sits right in the ear canal. They are good for patients who suffer from a moderate case of hearing loss. They are bigger than the CIC’s because they feature a larger battery and offer better sound quality. Some can even come with a telephone switch. Both CIC’s and ITC’s are classified as In the Ear or ITE hearing aids because they sit within the ear canal and because they can help the mild to moderately hearing impaired. These hearing aids come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and styles.

Because it is positioned behind the ear, the BTE model is designed to accommodate an array of lifestyle concerns and often comes in a variety of colors to match hair and skin tone. Sound is driven to the ear canal by the use of tubes and other customized characteristics. Providing increased amplification over smaller selections, this model includes electronic features that are contained within a sturdy case and is often selected for children with hearing problems.

No two hearing aids are the same, thus it is safe to assume that hearing aids cost different amounts of money. How much you pay for a hearing aid will depend on its type, its features, its warranty, what type of sound processor it contains and how much your insurance company will actually cover. It will also depend on if you need one hearing aid or two. If you have to get two hearing aids, you can spend anywhere between $500 and $6000. The internet is a great resource to use to research and find the best hearing aid which will suit your lifestyle, your needs and your budget. Look for companies that offer discounts and rebates from the hearing aid manufacturers and also ask if they offer discounts if you are a senior citizen or are facing a financial hardship.

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A Guide To Hearing Aids

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

These are the main types of digital hearing aids that you can choose from…

You can get a hearing aid that fit directly into your ear canal. It is hard to tell that you are even wearing these hearing aids. The problem with them though is that a very small battery has to be used, and so the battery life is not as long as other types of hearing aids. A second option is a hearing aid which sits partly inside the canal of your ear and partly outside of it. People you talk to probably will not notice it, even though it is a little bigger than the first type. The battery life is reasonable, but still not as long as you would want it to be. The third type of hearing aid is the most common, and sits in front of the canal in the outer ear. It is especially convenient for those with severe hearing loss because it has lots of features and can have additional microphones attached to it. Its drawbacks are that it is very visible and may pick up background noises that distract from what you actually want to hear. The fourth type of hearing aid fits behind the ear. They fit behind the ear but also have a component that rests inside it to maximize their effectiveness. These are the most customizable, but are also the most visible. The only downside to them is their size; if you are not worried about that, then they are the best option for you.

If you cannot decide which hearing aid will be best for you, then ask manufacturers if they offer trial periods for their products. If a trial period is not offered, then should be wary of making a purchase from that manufacturer. As a final point, remember to get it properly tuned / adjusted by a professional as soon as you get it.

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You Have A Choice: Don’t Lose Your Hearing

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Things around us are getting louder with more traffic on the roads and in the skies, louder stereos, rock concerts and sound systems in the cinemas and our homes are contributing to a higher volume level of our daily lives. This increase has contributed to the number of Americans that are either deaf or hard of hearing which stands at over 28 million.

 

The good news is that it is possible to prevent completely or delay many types of hearing loss. The medical treatments that are available today and the newer more effective hearing aids mean that many more people can keep their hearing.

 

Hearing loss is now more likely to occur at a younger age as people are exposed to more sound at dangerous levels. According to statistics nearly 10 Million Americans have suffered irreversible damage to their ears and 30 million are being exposed to dangerous levels of sound in their daily lives.

 

The age group with the biggest decline in hearing is people between the ages of 45 and 64 with 85% loss amongst women and 365% loss amongst men. Unlike age, hearing loss from noise levels and infections, especially during childhood is preventable.

 

Regular hearing tests are recommended to prevent unnecessary hearing loss, starting at birth. Newborn babies can now receive an inexpensive test called otoacoustic emissions that is able to accurately diagnose any problems with their hearing. By the time a baby reaches six months it is already fast developing the language skills it needs for its life ahead and by testing its hearing early can ensure it gets the best chance to make the most of this important time.

 

The process of hearing involves the collection of sound waves in the air by our outer ears and converting these waves to electrical signals as they cause the ear drum and the tiny bones to vibrate. These electrical impulses are generated by hair like cells in the cochlea and are then sent to the brain. Once damaged, these cells have no way of growing back.

 

Some people who damage their ears from dangerous noise levels may start to suffer from a condition known as tinnitus which is the presence of a constant ringing in their ears. It is estimated that 40 million Americans have some form of tinnitus, but thankfully the majority can learn to live with it.

 

The effect of tinnitus can be the slight cases where the noises sound like crickets which can be soothing when trying to get off to sleep. But for others tinnitus can be simply maddening. 80 percent of 10 million severe cases of tinnitus can receive relief for their symptoms, but a cure has not yet been found.

 

The actor who played James T Kirk in Star Trek admitted that the torment of severe tinnitus nearly drove him to suicide. Close proximity to loud explosions on the set of Star Trek has been blamed as a possible cause of his condition.

 

It is possible to prevent hearing loss by considering the following. Earplugs are very effective at preventing hearing loss. Temporary loss of hearing can occur when you are exposed to over 90 decibels from things like lawnmowers and hedge trimmers for a long period of time. Exposure to anything over 100 decibels such as light industrial machinery without protection for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing damage. Rock concerts, racing cars and even chainsaws regularly produce over 110 decibels which is enough to cause permanent hearing loss.

 

Ear infections must be treated early to prevent damage to your hearing. Some ear infections do not involve any pain or fever. Hearing loss maybe the only symptom. It is always a good idea to talk to a doctor as soon as you notice any problems and take a hearing test.

 

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