Millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss are hesitant to correct it. One of the primary reasons is the prohibitive cost — even inexpensive custom hearing aids can run in the thousands of dollars, and are rarely if ever covered by insurance. While people of all ages suffer from hearing loss, older people — who are often on fixed incomes — are affected in much higher percentages. Because of this, mass-produced sound amplifiers from retailers like Radio Shack are gaining in popularity.

These inexpensive hearing aid-like devices retail for less than $50. However, while pricier hearing aids come equipped with nifty features and can be programmed to fit your level and type of hearing loss, these inexpensive sound amplifiers do that and just that: make sounds louder. They won’t mask tinnitus or help you hear high frequency sounds. Despite this, they still have some usefulness: if you are watching television at home, and don’t wish to wake anyone else up, this devices can help augment the sound.

In the end, however, using the most inexpensive hearing aids as an everyday device can be dangerous. While sound amplification is better than nothing at all for those suffering from hearing loss, there are still safety and lifestyle issues they are unequipped to properly combat. Reviews suggest that they fare poorly in crowded or noisy environments, where being able to focus on certain sounds is of more importance than just the level of the volume. If you live in a big city, relying strictly on one of these devices while walking around could be dangerous.
Custom hearing aids are pricey, but the technology can help improve or even save your life. But, if you need a quick stopgap for personal home use, inexpensive mass-produced hearing aids could be of help.

Wal-mart has long been synonymous with variety. You can buy clothes, shoes, games, food…if you can think it, there’s probably already a huge aisle dedicated to it.

But hearing aids??

Yup, now you can even buy hearing aids at your local Walmart.You heard that right hearing aids!

Nestled within certain Walmart supercenters are Amplifon Hearing Aid Centers. Not only do they offer the low prices Walmart has become nearly synonomous with, they offer a variety of services, including:

• Full service coverage

• Full damage coverage

• Full warranty

I’m not sure this is such a good idea as hearing aids should be customized to every patient and even though they are low-cost, in this industry you get what you pay for. They don’t offer diversity and choices between different manufacturers. The only positive out of it is that they are providing hearing aids for the 36 million individuals that have some sort of hearing loss.

Be forewarned with this piece of news.

From November 16-18, 2009, Phonak hearing aids hosted the Hearing Care for Adults 2009 conference. One of the primary focuses of the conference was how to reconcile the constantly shifting technology of hearing aids, with an older consumer base that might not be used to using highly intricate devices. Phonak stressed ease of use and functionality in its presentations, stressing intuitive, fluid design.

To this end, Andi Vonlanthen, Vice President, Group Product Development and Dr. Stefan Launer, Vice President Advanced Concepts and Technologies at Phonak AG stressed the importance of ergonomics, wireless options, and signal processing: functions that make the technology less, not more complicated.

Another focus of the conference was a more holistic view of communication: it’s more than just hearing. Hearing aids are important, but they are just one tool in a wide array that can be used to enhance communication. Listening skills, communication skills, and cognitive-based interpretive strategies all play a role in interpersonal understanding. By combining strategy and technology, Phonak hopes to engender comprehension.

The participants at the conference noted that they highly appreciated the excellent speakers and comprehensive content. Hearing loss isn’t only an elderly problem, but senior citizens are at a higher risk for hearing loss, and helping them overcome it in an organic way is crucial.

Hearing aid technology can be intricate and complicated; this makes it all the more frustrating when something goes wrong. There are many places that specialize in hearing aid repair, but before you send yours off to be fixed, you might want to try a few simple possible solutions at home. Here a few tips for dealing with a few common problems:

If the volume on your hearing aid has become inadequate:

• Check the temperature of the aid and battery; a too-cold aid can lead to decreased volume.

• Check that there is nothing blocking the hearing aid or battery, such as dirt, debris, or wax.

• Make sure the battery is secure in the hearing aid and has not been jarred loose.

If the level of the volume is fine, but you are hearing a “whistling” noise.

• You might be experiencing hearing aid feedback. Make sure your mold is set properly and your volume is not up too high.

• Remove any caps or scarves that might be blocking the hearing aid, as sound can bounce off of objects and cause feedback.

• If you are still hearing a whistling noise, your hearing aid may no longer fit properly and you should see an audiologist.

If your hearing aid is not working at all:

• Start by making sure the on-switch is fully engaged.

• If the hearing aid is turned on, but is still not working properly, test the battery using a battery tester. Make sure it is properly installed into the hearing aid.

• If the aid is on and the battery is strong, the hearing aid may be blocked by wax or other debris: inspect the aid to be sure it is free of dietrus.

If you have used this troubleshooting tips and your hearing aid is still malfunctioning, a trip to a hearing aid professional may be in order.

First of all, wear your hearing aid! Between the hustle and bustle and (occasional, I’m sure) glass of sherry, it can be difficult enough to hear, even with the aid. Make sure your hearing aid is installed and functioning properly so you can get the most out of it.

Choose your environments well: If you have difficulty hearing, you should consider choosing a quiet venue. Hearing aids work best when they don’t have to compete with the loud bangs and squawks that can be only-too-common at certain places. Cut down on your personal hearing frustration by giving your aid a chance to work.

Don’t be afraid to speak up! This doesn’t just mean talking louder; you shouldn’t feel any shame about asking your host to lower the music slightly, or the person you’re talking to to move to a quieter corner. What’s the point in going to a party if you can’t hear a thing anyone is saying?

Try talking to one person at a time. By focusing on the nonverbal cues of the person to whom you’re talking, you can get a lot of context you might otherwise have missed. If you’re at the dinner table, try asking your relatives or friends to address you one at a time rather than randomly shrieking at you. Note: this is worthwhile advice even if you don’t have hearing loss.

‘Tis the season…: Hearing aids can be expensive, especially the more advanced models. If your family or friends have a tradition of gift-giving, it might be a good time to receive or give a custom hearing aid.

The holidays should be a fun, if busy time. Don’t let hearing loss impede on that good cheer!

If you need a hearing aid in New York, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Happy holidays from Dunshaw Hearing Centers.

Custom hearing aids have a lot of benefits; because they’re tailored to your ear and your particular degree of hearing loss, they can be a much more efficient solution than cheaper hearing aids.

But how are custom hearing aids designed?

They begin with an impression of your ear. These impressions are custom-made by a hearing aid professional in her office and can be done in as quickly as 10 minutes. The hearing specialist places a foam or cotton barrier in the ear to protect the sensitive eardrum, then fills the ear canal with a waxy material. In 5-10 minutes, the wax hardens and the impression can be removed.

This impression is then used to design a hearing aid that fits perfectly into your ear canal. These custom hearing aids aren’t only more comfortable and fashionable, they can also provide much better sound amplification. Custom hearing aids are available are available as In-The –Ear hearing aids, In-The-Canal hearing aids and Completely-In-The-Canal hearing aids, the last of which is virtually invisible.

Having your hearing aid fit to your particular ear might be the right choice for you; consult an audiologist or a hearing instrument professional to determine if that’s the case.

A tax credit legislation currently in discussions in the House and Senate would make hearing aids significantly more affordable. This is extremely promising news, considering that barely a quarter of the nearly 36 million Americans who could benefit from the use of hearing aids actually use them.

Senate measure 109 and House measure 1646 would both provide a tax credit of up to $500 every 5 years. The Senate measure is free of age restriction, while the House measure restricts the credit for those taxpayers older than 55 or purchasing hearing aids for a dependant.

Considering the high cost of hearing aid and lack of readily available insurance that covers them, this is promising news.

All hearing aids are not made equal.

If you visit an audiologist and are diagnosed with mild or moderate hearing loss, it may not be necessary for you to purchase a costly top of the line hearing aid.

When choosing a hearing aid by price, it’s important to get all the needed personal features, even if purchasing an inexpensive hearing aid. Luckily, there are lower-cost hearing aids that ably amplify sound – the most crucial goal of a hearing aid. Some are directional hearing aids – making conversation easier by focusing the hearing aid in a particular direction.

Those searching for inexpensive hearing aids will find more digital options than ever before–with a wide range of features that can be tailored to fit your particular lifestyle. If you live a more relaxed lifestyle, you may not need the bevy of features offered by the most expensive hearing solutions. On the other hand, if you live an active lifestyle you may want to look into a more premium hearing aid.

As always, the first step to determining what kind of hearing aid is right for you is visiting a hearing specialist and getting tested.

If you need more information on lower-cost hearing aids or any inquiries in general, please don’t hesitate to call or email us.

The name is a little cheesy, but this small RIC (Receiver-In-Canal) hearing aid accommodates the latest in hearing technology, while providing a very comfortable hearing aid for its user. They are super light that you will forget that you’re even wearing it.

The Widex Passion have a program called Zen that plays random, non-repeated and infinite tones and chimes with no sudden changes in tonality or tempo. Great if you go birdwatching or hiking.

At the heart of Passion440 is the Dual Integrated Signal Processing (ISP) technology. Dual ISP doesn’t just analyse and process isolated sounds; it brings the details to life by creating a dynamic listening experience while giving you control of the preferences that suit you best.

I think the coolest feature is the SmartSpeak feature which actually uses recorded speech to inform you of various hearing aid functions, such as low battery power and program modes–SmartSpeak is available in over 20 languages.

If you want to check out Widex’s Passion 440, give us a call to help with your hearing aid questions & needs.

We’ve written before about conductive hearing loss, which is treatable, and sensorineural hearing loss, which is not.

What happens when you have both?

The result is a condition known as “mixed hearing loss.”

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds are not properly conducted from the outer ear drum to the ear canal and ossicles (tiny bones of the middle ear).  This can be caused by foreign object, an excess of wax, infection or malformation. Generally, some faint hearing is retained.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathways from there to the brain. It is irreversible. Causes include trauma, viruses, prolonged noise exposure, and, of course, aging.

Sometimes both types of hearing loss occur in conjunction. This condition is known as “mixed hearing loss.” In mixed hearing loss, there is damage to the outer ear or canal and the inner ear or nerve pathways. The conductive hearing loss may still respond to treatment.