Category — Hearing Loss Info

In addition to hearing aids, a professional may suggest other devices to assist those with hearing loss. There are devices that can be attached to telephones to amplify conversation; even televisions and radios can have amplifiers attached that allow those with hearing loss to hear more clearly without irritating the rest of the family. There are also devices that can be attached to doorbells, smoke alarms and alert devices that include a flashing light to alert the homeowner to a visitor or dangerous situation. It is important for those with hearing loss to be examined and diagnosed as soon as possible so the patient may be able to make use of assistive devices available to those with hearing loss.  Read more... (276 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

Many hearing loss patients will deny they have a medical condition until the condition is well advance, and has begun to affect other aspects of the patient’s life. Unfortunately for most patients, hearing loss will affect personal and professional relationships well before the patient seeks medical assistance. Many patients still, even today, are put off by the stigmata of the bulky traditional hearing aids. Many of the patients who are affected by hearing loss are affected at a much earlier age than in the past. As the modern world gets noisier and busier, hearing loss affects more people than ever before.  Read more... (260 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

Most instances of hearing loss, as adults age, are considered mild to moderate and can be effectively treated with a simple prescription for hearing aids. Today’s modern digital hearing aids are designed to be programmed to fit a specific patient’s audiogram. The professional audiogram allows the hearing aid provider to program any style of hearing aid, from the behind the ear model to models fitting entirely in the ear canal to program the aid for each ear individually. This individual programming has been found to be the most effective in improving hearing clarity for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.  Read more... (314 words, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

Hearing loss can affect many aspects of a patient’s life. Not only can their personal life be affected, so can their professional and social life. It is extremely difficult to be part of an effective working relationship if you cannot hear everything that is being said to you. It is also difficult to make effective working decisions and provide correct information if you have no idea what question you need to answer. It is important for patients with hearing loss to be aware of how their loss is progressing and let their employer, and those they have working relationships with, know they have a hearing problem. This can greatly ease any misunderstandings or tensions in the workplace.  Read more... (339 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

If you simply cannot understand what the person you are speaking with is saying, politely request the speaker to reword their sentence and try speaking again. It has been found, in some hearing loss patients, they lose the ability to hear certain letter sounds. Rewording sentences can sometimes remove the letters that cannot be heard and replace them with more audible sounds. Also, it is important to let the person speaking know if you do not understand what they are saying. You may be able to move to another, quieter location which will assist you in hearing the person speaking more clearly.  Read more... (345 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

It is extremely difficult for those with undiagnosed hearing loss to function in normal society. From social situations to intimate dinners, those with hearing loss can find conversation full of anxiety and frustration. There is even the possibility untreated hearing loss can cause other major medical conditions, such as anxiety disorder and depression. There are small actions those with hearing loss can take in order to make their life a bit easier, the easiest action being simply letting people know you have trouble hearing. Unfortunately for some, just letting others know of your hearing difficulty can sometimes cause a whole other set of problems.  Read more... (345 words, 1 image, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Modern digital hearing aids are much more effective and discreet than the bulky traditional hearing aids most people are used to seeing on the elderly. Modern hearing aids are programmable and can be fitted completely inside the ear canal. The models that fit completely inside the ear canal are almost invisible to others. The programmability of digital hearing aids also make them the most effective in treating mild to moderate hearing loss in hearing impaired patients. Hearing aids can be individually programmed to improve the hearing in patients with mild to profound losses. Digital hearing aids are also available in many different styles including small behind the ear models, models that fit mostly inside the ear canal and models that fit completely inside the ear canal. A professional hearing aid dispenser, should be able to recommend the best model for a patient’s particular type of hearing loss. Not all cases of hearing loss, for instance, are effectively aided by one model of hearing aid. Depending on the type of hearing loss, the best model will be recommended based on best correction.  Read more... (326 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

Most hearing health care providers will recommend hearing aids for those who are experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. Some instances of very mild hearing loss can be easily identified and cured with a simple cleaning procedure. A build up of earwax inside the ear canal can cause mild hearing loss and should be treated prior to becoming a more serious problem. Earwax can harden inside the ear and require more extensive cleaning than a small build up. If a patient’s hearing loss is not so easily identified or correctable, the hearing professional will conduct a series of tests to determine the exact nature and severity of hearing loss.  Read more... (246 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

One thing caregivers and family members of someone with hearing loss may find difficult to accomplish is to simply get the patient to admit they have a problem hearing. Hearing loss is often a denied condition, with the patient often operating for years without an official diagnosis of hearing loss. This lack of diagnosis and treatment can make the condition much worse than necessary. Early intervention and treatment, either with medical procedures or hearing aids, are the most effective methods for handling hearing loss. With a physician’s diagnosis and prescription for hearing aids, a patient with hearing loss can find relief from a frustrating world without sound.  Read more... (217 words, estimated 52 secs reading time)

One thing that should not be done when speaking to someone with hearing loss is to shout. Shouting, speaking loudly or speaking extremely slowly does not help the person with hearing loss hear more clearly. The fact is speaking loudly or shouting can cause the words being spoken to come across less clearly or unintelligible. Speaking extremely slowly can interfere with those who use lip-reading techniques to understand others. The expressions of the face and mouth can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. It is also important that, while speaking at a normal speed and tone, one should not eat or chew gum while they are speaking to someone with hearing loss. This can also interfere with lip-reading techniques.  Read more... (359 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)