Even with hearing aids, people with hearing impairments cannot perceive sound the way people with normal hearing can. This emphasizes the importance of knowing what to do and what not to do when conversing with hearing-impaired people, with or without their hearing aids.
With that said, here are a few effective tips in making your conversations with hearing-impaired persons more productive and enjoyable.
Face the Person
Facing away from whoever you’re talking to isn’t a good idea when you’re talking to a hearing-impaired person. While it works with people with normal hearing, perhaps in movies and television sitcoms, it doesn’t work in people with hearing loss for many reasons.
You have to face him so that he can actually see your lips for lip-reading purposes, as well as see your facial expressions, hand gestures and body language. This way, you’re giving him ample opportunity to actively engage in the conversation and make the appropriate responses.
Don’t just face the person either. You have to be on the same level as he is as well as ensure that you’re in a good light for him to see you well.
Get His Attention
Don’t speak without getting the other person’s attention, such as by tapping him on the arm or shoulder. You have to give him sufficient time to shift his attention to you and then to engage in the conversation. Other ways to get his attention are saying his name and using a hand gesture.
Maintain Eye Contact
Of course, eye contact is a must in effective face-to-face communication. But it’s even more so when talking with a hearing-impaired person. You can both determine the feelings of the other person by looking into each other eyes and taking into account each other’s words, facial expressions and body language.
Speak Normally
There’s no need to shout in front of a hearing-impaired person to be heard! Besides, that’s just rude and you won’t have a good conversation when you’re being rude from the start.
Instead, you should speak in your normal speaking volume. But don’t slur or hurry with your words. You should speak clearly, distinctly and slowly without exaggerated mouth movements, which will allow the other person to read your lips.
You may, of course, speak at a slightly higher volume of voice but don’t shout. Otherwise, the other person won’t be able to read your lips well, not to mention that it’s being rude.
Aside from avoiding exaggerated mouth movements, you should also avoid putting your hands in your face while you’re talking. Again, it has something to do with lip reading. You may also make it a point to position yourself in the other person’s good ear (i.e., the one with better hearing capabilities).
In the end, you and your hearing-impaired friend will enjoy good conversations if you make the effort first. Keep in mind that he may be hesitant about initiating the conversation so you may want to start it.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Faster heartbeat, faster breathing and the need to scream like the world’s gone mad! Yes, that’s exactly how we would feel, too, if our hearing aids become wet. And we’re not just talking about slightly damp due to the sweat in your ears – we’re talking about getting the entire thing wet in water.
What can you do? Well, don’t panic just yet so you can have a clear mind and calm disposition to deal with the issue. What’s done is done and the best thing you can do is to move forward and find solutions.
Here are the steps that you can do to rescue your wet hearing aids.
Remove from Water ASAP
Instead of just looking at your wet hearing aids in the tub or toilet, perhaps screaming a few times, you should immediately remove them! The sooner you can remove them, the better their chances of actually surviving the dunk in water. Their covering acts as a protective barrier, too, but it won’t last long so urgency is a must.
Turn Them Off
If your hearing aids were turned on when they were accidentally placed in water, you should immediately turn them off. Then, you have to remove the batteries and throw them properly. You should never turn them off and then on just to see if they are still working.
Close the battery door and remove the tube, if your hearing aids have one. Dry the tube and the hearing aids gently using a soft, clean and dry towel. Shake them as gently as possible so that more water can be removed from their inner parts.
Remove More Water
Even with the dry pats and gentle shakes, there will likely be water trapped inside the hearing aids. You should then use other methods to remove the trapped moisture.
In this case, a small fan or a hairdryer should do the trick.
After a few minutes, leave the hearing aids to dry out. This can take a few days to accomplish but be patient. You shouldn’t replace the batteries and turn the hearing aids on in an hour or so after drying them out.
Also, leave the battery door open while waiting for them to dry out. You may also place the hearing aids inside a humidifier pot, which will speed up the drying process.
After a few days, put on fresh batteries in the hearing aids and turn them on. You may just have a functioning pair already! Otherwise, you should consider getting them to a professional repairman.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Hearing aids are obviously designed to amplify the sounds of voices, nature and other environmental sounds. These are also designed to address the listening needs of a wide range of situations, from hearing your favorite music across the room to tuning out your next-door neighbors’ screaming match.
But do you know what makes the sound amplification and, thus, volume in your hearing aids increase and decrease? Let’s take a look at their two main types of volume controls.
Automatic Volume Control
Many hearing aids have built-in automatic volume control that makes it easier to use them, especially for beginners and for people with hand dexterity issues. Automatic volume control is just as it says – it means the hearing aids automatically adjust their volume according to the sound environment.
The level of sound amplification will obviously be based on your hearing loss. You and your audiologist will work toward getting the right amplification during the fitting session.
Furthermore, the automatic volume control on your hearing aids will amplify sounds based on their original volume. Thus, loud sounds will be amplified less than softer sounds.
Manual Volume Control
Many hearing aids with automatic volume control also have manual volume control. The latter is appreciated by people who want to manually adjust the volume based on their personal preferences and according to the demands of the situation.
Manual volume control usually comes in the form of small levers. These also have a tactile feeling to them, so if you adjust your hearing aids’ volume, you will get both the sound of a click and the feeling of the switch locking into position.
The manual volume control levers are also usually separate from the push button for the programs. For example, the volume’s toggle key is at the top of the hearing aid while the push buttons for the programs are at the bottom. You won’t then have to accidentally turn off your hearing aid when you only wanted to change its volume level.
Your audiologist will explain the proper use of the controls on your hearing aids. If your hearing aids have a lever for manual volume control, it’s easy to use.
In many hearing aids, adjusting the volume in the right ear will change the volume to the same level in the left ear and vice versa. Others have separate volume controls for each ear.
Hearing aids and their volumes require some getting used to, especially if you’ve experienced hearing loss for quite some time. Just use them every day and you will eventually become accustomed to them, even think of them as part of your body.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Your automatic hearing aids are being fitted and you’re enjoying their features. But then you see manual volume control on them and you ask yourself, “Why do these things have manual volume control when these are already automatic?” Here are things that you will want to know about it.
Automatic Function Complements Manual Control
Many hearing aids, especially the mid-range and high-end ones, have automatic volume controls as part of their standard suite of features. These controls adjust the surrounding sounds, such as from voices, music and ambient sounds, to audible levels. These are designed to ensure maximum comfort for the users, particularly by taking into account your hearing loss and amplifying sounds as needed.
Indeed, automatic volume controls are included because of their high efficacy in getting just the right level of sound. But there are also instances when automatic volume controls cannot account for personal preferences and the wide range of situations in everyday life.
This is where manual volume controls come in. You can manually adjust the volume of your hearing aids depending on your personal preference for specific situations.
You may want, for example, to decrease the volume when you’re at a party so you don’t hear too much of the loud music. You may also want to increase the volume when you’re having a leisurely dinner in a restaurant with your family.
While automatic volume control has its uses, manual volume control puts the control back in your hands. This is among the reasons why you’re using a hearing aid in the first place – to gain back a certain degree of control over something you didn’t have control before.
Self-learning Feature Is Also Great
Aside from automatic volume controls, many high-end hearing aids also have a self-learning feature. This means the hearing aids learn, so to speak, your volume preferences and then incorporate them into future situations. The hearing aids do it by tracking the volume adjustments made in specific situations and then making these adjustments on their own.
Depending on the hearing aids, the volume adjustments can be made either through the manual voice controls or a remote control. Take note that automatic volume controls and remote control capability will likely increase the cost of hearing aids. You have to determine whether these features will increase the hearing aids’ functionality in your case.
There’s also the matter of manual volume controls being not for everybody. You may or may not want them but before deciding on it, you should discuss their pros and cons with your doctor and audiologist.
For example, you may not like manual volume controls because it will mean extra work on your part. You want your hearing aids to do all the work. You may not also like them because they mean larger hearing aids.
No matter your choice, the more important thing in hearing aids and their volume is their appropriate level for you. The volume should neither be too loud nor too low, just the Goldilocks volume.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Small but terrible – or in the case of hearing aids, small but powerful! Hearing aids may be so small they actually fit in your external ear but they have powerful circuits. These electronic devices can also change the lives of their users by allowing them to hear better and, thus, communicate better with others.
Their Power Starts During Manufacture
In the past, hearing aids were clunky devices that, more often than not, fell off the ears of their users and called attention to their disability. Fortunately, modern technology including powerful processing platforms and miniature computers has made it possible to make small yet powerful hearing aids.
These electronic devices have miniature computers that allow for customization and programmability, even connectivity with smartphones through Bluetooth technology. Their volume can be adjusted depending on the user’s hearing loss and environment, too.
Furthermore, these aren’t the fragile devices of the past! Modern hearing aids are made of strong and sturdy materials that can withstand dirt, dust and debris as well as moisture for longer periods than their predecessors. The most common materials used are plastic, metal and silicon, usually with nano-coating for added protection.
High-end hearing aids can also withstand a few drops although proper handling is still a must. Keep in mind that these electronic devices have sensitive circuits, among other parts, that can become damaged with one drop too many.
Of course, modern hearing aids are discreet enough not to be immediately noticed by others. Many of them are snugly placed inside the external ear that only a closer inspection will reveal their presence.
Their Power Must be Maintained through Proper Care
As small as they are, hearing aids are workhorses! Aside from being equipped with powerful micro-computers, they are also put to work every day and for most hours of the week.
But even powerful devices are subject to the wear and tear that daily use brings. Since they are placed on the skin and in the ears, hearing devices are regularly exposed to your sweat, earwax and oil as well as the moisture, dust and dirt from the environment. There’s also the oil, sweat and dirt from your fingers whenever you handle them during removal and cleaning.
The bottom line: Hearing aids require proper care and maintenance if their power is to last longer than expected! You have to clean them daily with a soft, clean and dry cloth, nothing else, for starters. You should also store them in a safe place, remove them when you’re likely to expose them to moisture (e.g., shower, sauna and blow-drying, even exercising), and have them checked out by professionals every 3-4 months.
On average, hearing aids can last for three to seven years depending on their brand, features and functions as well as their care and maintenance. You have ensure that you’re actually using and caring for them in the proper manner, and your audiologist is the best resource person for it.
For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid prescription, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription