The problem with hearing aids is of course whether it is the hearing aid for us and whether or not we need one in the first place. Obviously for this kind of decision, we need an audiologist’s advice.
The health care professional with expertise on hearing loss and, therefore, of hearing aids is called an audiologist.
How can audiologists help those with hearing problems?
There are two problems associated with hearing loss. First, unless a baby is tested for hearing problems at birth, people do not usually detect hearing problems until hearing is already 50 percent damaged; and, second, whether or not we believe there is hope for ever being to hear well again.
First, they can determine the type of problem, the degree of the problem, the probable cause of the problem, the possible relief, and how such relief can be achieved. So perhaps these are the first questions to ask and whether or not a hearing aid is a healthy option.
Second, since they must have knowledge of all products available in the market that can help those with hearing problems, they can professionally present options for treatment and choices of products to go with the solution chosen. Once the decision is to go for a hearing aid, the next question is what hearing devices are available, in the local market or even online. So questions like “should I go visible or invisible?” or “should I go for comfort of for hearing efficiency?” The other obvious question to ask is what to look for in a hearing aid.
There are simply a wide variety of hearing devices to choose from and without a health professional to help make a choice, the hearing problem may get worse . There are also fitting problems to deal with as well as adjustment problems. Making properly-fitted, affordable hearing aids and cochlear implants and providing accessible follow-up services in all parts of the world will benefit many people with hearing loss .
Third, since every treatment ends up with economic considerations, and most insurance already recognize hearing problems as a disability, then questions about insurance coverage and treatment plans must be asked and answered and whether or not counselling is part of the sales service.
If one is clear about all these considerations, then and only then can one can invest on a hearing device.
If you think you need a hearing aid, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
1 in 2 adults over age 65 experience hearing loss in different levels. This age related condition is referred to as presbycusis or hearing loss due to aging.
Just like other age related conditions, it can also be caused by other health factors such as diabetes, poor blood circulation, use of certain medications and a family history of hearing loss
As for avoidable causes, this can seriously result from smoking and the most common culprit – exposure to loud noises.
The main symptom of presbycusis or age related hearing loss is difficulty hearing voices of females or children because of an inability to hear high pitched sounds. It will also be difficult to hear others speak clearly and it will be hard to hear background noises.
This occurs because the tiny hair-like sensory hearing cells in your cochlea (inner ear), known as stereocilia of hair cells are the first to get damaged and they don’t regenerate.
These hair cells are responsible for translating the sounds the ears collect into electrical impulses that the brain will be able to read or interpret so the absence of these cells results to an inability of the brain to relate to the sound and it translates to us as difficulty in understanding what we hear or not hearing it at all because the brain couldn’t send a signal.
According to health journals, the hearing impaired person will then experience certain sounds seeming overly loud but at the same time have difficulty hearing in areas that are noisy. There is difficulty hearing the difference between “s” and “th” sounds and sometimes this is accompanied by Tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
The person will find himself having to always turn up the volume of the television or radio a little louder than normal because he can’t hear clearly.
He will always ask people to repeat themselves because he is unable to understand conversations especially over the telephone.
Even if age related hearing loss is unavoidable, it is still best to delay or stop it from happening by following basic prevention techniques like avoiding repetitive exposure to loud sounds, wearing ear protection in loud places and controlling one’s blood sugar since people with diabetes are most prone.
As for those who have it already, wearing hearing aids will help them hear better as well as assistive devices like telephone amplifiers.
Lessons in sign language or lip reading can also help those who totally lost most of their hearing go on with their daily routines.
If you have a hearing problem, it’s time you speak to a hearing specialist and if necessary, use hearing aids as they can definitely help. If you’re a teacher, pay close attention, and if you experience any difficulty hearing, go to a hearing professional immediately to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
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