Category — Hearing Aids

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... (336 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

Often, in cases of hearing loss, a patient will spend a significant amount of time in denial of the problem.  Regardless of how many friends or loved ones tell them there is a problem, the patient will just not admit to a medical condition.  Under constant pressure, a hearing loss patient may lash out against those who try to remind them there is something wrong.  It is not uncommon for people in denial of a medical condition to lash out at those closest to them first.  This generally includes immediate family members and close friends.  Read more... (370 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

The FDA has strict regulations regarding the labeling and sales of hearing aids. Those devices that do not specifically follow the FDA regulations are not allowed to advertise themselves as hearing aids, only listening or sound amplification devices. Most of the FDA regulations cover the labeling of the actual device and the requirements for information that must be included in the user’s manual for a hearing aid.

FDA regulations consider a hearing aid as any device that is specifically designed for, or represented as, a device that assists a person with a hearing impairment. The companies who sell hearing aids are called “dispensers”. The dispenser of hearing aids is advised to recommend the patient purchasing a hearing aid should first consult a hearing professional prior to the purchase.  Read more... (368 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

High frequency hearing loss can prevent the patient from hearing high pitched voices, such as those of women and children, and consonants in words.  This type of hearing loss can also make it difficult for a patient to understand words in conversations in noisy social situations.

This is where digital technology has been a huge blessing for many who have a high frequency hearing loss.  Modern digital hearing aids are able to be programmed to amplify specific sound frequencies, depending on the results of a professional audiogram.  The digital circuitry in modern hearing aids converts incoming sounds into digital codes which are then analyzed by the hearing aid and amplified per the programming. The benefit being only the frequencies you need help with will be amplified.    Read more... (311 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

It has been found, through various medical studies, children with mild to profound hearing loss tend to fall behind their peers when learning language and communication skills.  Infants and children learn by sound input, which includes adults’ reactions to their actions and sounds, the spoken words and tone of voice of parents and caregivers and other environmental sound cues.  Hearing aid use in young children, as young as one month old, has been found to have significant benefits.  Read more... (454 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

HearPods are not your usual over the internet hearing aid company. They offer hearing aids that are both custom programmable and economical.  Hearing loss is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world.  By visiting your doctor for a professional audiogram, hearing aids can be selected to fit any specific type of hearing loss.  Even those with minor hearing loss can be assisted by early use of hearing aids.  Read more... (365 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

HearPods offer an excellent selection of hearing aids, depending on your level of hearing loss and your personal preference.  HearPods are available in three different styles, ranging from the non-prescription fully digital HearPal, to the custom programmed Micro, Mini and InvisiPod.  HearPods provides a full range of styles of hearing aids, from over the ear to completely in the ear canal style.

Basic hearing aids are available non-programmed and without a prescription.  This basic model is called the HearPal and is designed to be just the right amount of hearing assistance for those not yet needing prescriptive hearing aids.  The HearPal still fits inside the ear canal, so as not to be obviously seen by others, and is a digital hearing amplification device.    Read more... (322 words, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)