Hearing Aids – Are They All the Same?
Hearing Aids – Are They All the Same?
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with significant hearing loss it is very likely that a pair of hearing aids will be needed. Hearing aids can cost from a meager hundreds to well over thousands in dollars. Why the big difference in cost and what makes one better than the other?
Are all these hearing aids the same or is there really a defining set of factors that justify a price tag?
Looking at the Basic Parts
In general, every pair of hearing aids uses the same parts. These parts are:
- A small microphone – this microphone will pick up every bit of sound that the ears are supposed to pick up on their own.
- An amplifier – this amplifier is designed to adjust the sounds and either makes them softer or louder. Of course being a hearing aid, most people adjust these to make sounds louder.
- Receiver/loudspeaker – this part is what delivers the amplified sound into the inner ear.
- Batteries – all hearing aids are electronic pieces so they require batteries to properly maintain function.
- Microchip processor – some of the newer hearing aids have built-in processors that program how the hearing aids operate. These processors have given way to far more advanced features never seen before such as the ability to focus on specific sounds or to drown out background noise.
Digital Advancements for Today’s Hearing Aids
Digital Advancements for Today’s Hearing Aids
Approximately one out of every three people over the age of 65 also suffers from hearing loss due to age or accumulative injury to the ears. This means every year more and more people are required to wear hearing aids. Unlike the basic hearing aids of the mid-1980s, today’s hearing aids are becoming far more advanced. They aren’t simple amplifiers that make sounds louder for a person with hearing loss.
In one basic sense of the word, these hearing aids enhance the auditory sense.
Enhanced Digital Gain Processing
This is a new digital system allows a user to focus on a particular sound of interest without having to suffer from discomfort or loud feedback. For example: a child could drown out the sounds of background chatter in a classroom and focus entirely on the sound of their teacher speaking. Continue reading
The Issue of Hearing Aids and Medical Insurance Coverage
The Issue of Hearing Aids and Medical Insurance Coverage
According to recent surveys, more than 55% of senior citizens do not avail of hearing aids even though the devices have been prescribed to them by their medical specialists simply because they cost too much.
That amount is simply for the device and for the initial tests at the clinic. You’ll still have to pay for the doctor’s professional fee, the medications required, and the accessories needed such as a testing stethoscope and extra batteries. You’ll be spending every month for maintenance and check-ups too.
Unfortunately, hearing aids aren’t covered by standard medical insurances. A cochlear implant or complete-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid might be covered by some medical insurance companies because they are prosthetics to help with hearing loss but behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids aren’t.
This means you’d be expected to shoulder all those expenses entirely on your own, in cash or credit. Continue reading
Lifestyle Changes for Better Hearing
Lifestyle Changes for Better Hearing
When people talk about lifestyle changes the things that come to mind are dieting to lose weight, quitting smoking and financial management, but you can take the same approach and protect your hearing. The thing about hearing protection is that it’s so easy to do provided you’re willing to carry through.
Know the Signs of Hearing Loss
Signs of hearing loss include straining to hear sounds that everyone around can hear, as well as feeling “lost” when in the midst of a group conversation. Tinnitus symptoms include hearing a roaring, buzzing or clicking noise, so if any of these manifest consult an ENT specialist. Continue reading
Habits to Break for Healthy Hearing
Habits to Break for Healthy Hearing
There are many reasons why people suffer hearing loss and forced to use hearing aids, but you can take steps now to protect yourself. Unlike other ailments, all it takes to protect your hearing are good habits, and it’s never too early or too late to start. Whether it’s the New Year or the middle of the year, anytime is a good time to break bad habits.
Avoid Loud Noises
This one isn’t too hard to figure out. Most music players today will issue a notification if you have turned the volume too high, so keep the volume to a reasonable level. This rule should be followed whether you’re wearing headphones or listening to speakers. Now if you’re going to a concert, bring along some ear plugs in case the music gets too loud, and you should do the same if you’re mowing the lawn, using a jackhammer or are going to be exposed to loud noises. Continue reading