What is a Digital hearing aid?
The term "Digital" can be very confusing. Generally when digital is used in the hearing aid world it refers to how the information is processed. The hearing aid operates just like a mini computer. The benefits to the end user are that they can process sound at very fast speeds (100 - 200 million calculations per second). The advantage to most digital hearing aids is that they are very flexible and able to be more precisely adjusted. In addition the computer chip can be programmed to make decisions on the incoming sound and decide what to amplify and what not to amplify. This can lead to better hearing in noisy environments.
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Background Noise
Most likely the number one complaint of hearing aid users is the inability to hear in noisy environments. The important thing to remember is that even people with normal hearing have difficulty in some noisy environments. New technology can reduce some of the unwanted noise but there is no device that "eliminates" background noise. With the advent of Digital hearing aids we have been able to more precisely fit the hearing aid to the persons hearing loss which helps the individual pick out what would normally be difficult to hear even in difficult background noise. In addition to the digital processing Directional Microphones and Digital Noise Reduction can also help a person hear better in difficult background situations. Directional mic's add 2 microphones to the hearing aids. The front mic is the amplifying mic and the back mic is the reducing mic. This process uses the theory that you look at the person that you want to hear and you don't need to hear what is behind you. Noise Reduction is a digital noise sampling process that is programmed into the computer chip in your hearing aid. Because single speaker speech is different than background noise, the hearing aid can make decisions of what needs to be amplified and what does not.
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How do I know if I have a hearing loss?
Hearing loss can be caused by many different factors including, aging, noise, trauma, disease, hereditary factors, and medications to name a few. It is estimated that there are over 28 million people who suffer from some degree of hearing loss in the United States alone and the number continues to rise. If you answer yes to any of the following questions you may have a hearing loss and should consult an Audiologist for a hearing evaluation.
- Do you hear people speaking but have difficulty understanding?
- Do you frequently ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do you miss the punch line to jokes?
- Do you complain that people mumble
- Do you need to ask others about the details of meetings or movies?
- Do you play the TV or radio louder than those around you?
- Do you not hear the telephone or doorbell?
- Do you find that looking at people helps you to hear them better?
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Do I need batteries for my hearing aids?
All hearing aids take some sort of battery. These batteries can be very harmful if swallowed so a person should keep these and all other batteries in a safe place and away from children and pets. If a battery should be swallowed, contact a physician immediately.
There are different sizes of batteries and the size of the battery is usually depended on the size of the hearing aid. The smaller the aid the smaller the battery. The typical sizes are 10, 312, 13, and 675. The size 10 lasts about 7 days, the 312 lasts about 2 weeks, and the 13 lasts about 3 weeks. The batteries are activated by removing the sticker attached to it and therefore a person should not remove a sticker until they are ready to use it. The batteries should be stored in a cool dry place and do not need to be stored in the refrigerator.
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What do hearing aids cost?
There are many considerations when purchasing a hearing aid including the style as well as the technology that goes into the hearing aid itself. Hearing aids can range in price from around $600.00 each to $3000.00 each. Most of the time the size does not affect the price however some of the very small completely in the canal (CIC) aids can be a couple hundred more for the same family of technology. For the most part the price is directly related to a few technology issues. First the number of channels can determine the price and quality of the hearing aid. Channels are what give the detail to meet the prescription of the persons hearing loss when the hearing is tested it is measured at 9 different frequencies when a hearing aid is matched to the loss you can use 1 channel up to 16 channels to fit to the hearing loss. Usually more channels equals more detail, better sound and higher quality...this usually leads to higher price. In addition the higher end aids typically have some sort of noise reduction and possibly feedback reduction. Noise reduction can be done in a variety of ways and is becoming very helpful for many hearing aid wearers.
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What style of hearing aid is right for me?
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| Behind the ear (BTE) |
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| In the canal (ITC) |
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| Completely in canal (CIC) |
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There are a wide variety of hearing aid styles. Behind the ear (BTE), In the canal (ITC), and Completely in the canal (CIC) to name a few.
Much of what determines the style of hearing loss depends on the
individuals hearing loss because the amount of power can be determined
by the size of the aid. In addition the Audiologist must take in
consideration how comfortable the person is with the looks as well as
the feel of the hearing aid style. Probably the number one effect of
the different hearing aids is the ability to vent the aids
properly. Venting or lack of can cause some difficult issues including
occlusion (the hollow feeling a person may feeling when they talk).
The most important thing a person should do is to try a particular
hearing aid prior to paying for it in order to determine if it is the
right aid for them.
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Realistic Expectations
Hearing aids work very well when fit and adjusted appropriately. They should be comfortable with respect to the physical fit and sound quality. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing nor are they as good as normal hearing. You will be aware of hearing aids in your ears. All hearing aids amplify sounds. Some hearing aids have features that make noisy environments more tolerable, however, hearing aids cannot eliminate background noise.
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Getting Used to Hearing Aids
When you wear your hearing aids for the first time you may find that
your voice sounds "funny". This is your voice being amplified through
the hearing aid. Most people need a few weeks or even a few months
before they are completely used to their new way of hearing. It is
important to keep a list of good and difficult hearing situations that
you are in when wearing your new aids. Share this list with your
audiologists so that they may fine tune the hearing aids to match your
specific listening requirements.
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What is that ringing?
Nearly 50 million people in the USA have tinnitus. Tinnitus may be described as a ringing, hissing or other noise heard in the ears or head, when there is no outside source for the sound. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition in some part of the body, ear, auditory nerve, brain or elsewhere. Most people who experience tinnitus are able to ignore it, although, about 12 million Americans cannot tolerate the sounds. When this happens it can interfere with the ability to sleep, concentrate, hold a job and interact socially.
The causes of tinnitus are largely unkown although exposure to loud noise from a single blast or long term noise exposure are the most common explanations.
"Do I have tinnitus?" The answer to that question is, if you hear it you have it. So, "what do I do about it?" First, get a thorough medical and audiological exam. This may uncover a treatable cause and point you to the most appropriate treatment. Two types of treatment are masking and amplification.
Masking is the introduction of an external, pleasant, low-volume sound that reduces the perception of the tinnitus.
Amplification with hearing aids helps to bring back environmental sounds that can naturally mask tinnitus. Since many people with tinnitus have hearing loss, there is often a double benefit for those patients.
For more information on tinnitus please visit the American Tinnitus Association at www.ata.org.
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