Hearing aids are expensive personal devices so changing them can be a tricky issue. You’re likely reluctant to change them when they’re still working, sort of, because of the cost. You may put up with the occasional breakdowns just to extend their use.

But there are instances when changing your hearing aids is a must, a matter of maintaining your sense of hearing over time! Here are a few instances that, indeed, it’s time to buy new hearing aids.

Five Years Is the Limit

Most modern hearing aids will work well between five and seven years. You may want to make it last for, say, 10 years to get the best value for your money. But your hearing aids will breakdown within five years or so regardless of proper use and care.

Why? Hearing aids are complicated technological devices that are subjected to more wear and tear than your usual smartphone. There’s also the matter of hearing aids being exposed to bodily substances, such as ear wax and ear moisture, which hasten the wear and tear.

Tip: Consider changing your hearing aids in five years’ time.

Major Lifestyle Changes Have Happened

There are no one-size-fits-all hearing aids and, in fact, the best ones are customized to the specific needs and wants of their user. In the same vein, there’s no one pair of hearing aids that will work for all lifestyle preferences.

You should consider getting new hearing aids if you’ve made major changes in your lifestyle or your new job demands it. You may, for example, become more physically active or your new job has higher noise levels. Your old hearing aids may not be up to the job.

Changes in Health Have Happened, Too

Keep in mind that hearing aids should be customized to your hearing needs and wants. If you experience significant changes in your hearing, you have to consult with your audiologist about new hearing aids. This is true whether you’re hearing has improved or worsened since new features will likely be necessary.

But it isn’t just your hearing that should be considered when changing hearing aids. You may want new ones because your fingers aren’t as agile as before or your skin is easily irritated by your old hearing aids.

For example, in-the-canal hearing aids are more difficult to operate than behind-the-ear devices. The small battery door of the former makes it challenging to open for people with arthritis.

Your attitude toward hearing aids will also change with time. You may want new hearing aids because you have a greater appreciation for them or you want better features.  You may even want to change your old ones because these are cheap and you can now afford more expensive ones.

Of course, you shouldn’t change your hearing aids on a whim! You have to work with your audiologist to ensure that, indeed, you’re getting the best ones for your needs.

If you need an new hearing aid, make sure to take the hearing test & assessment. For details, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Hearing aids make it easy to hear external sounds coming from televisions, radios and smartphones as well as the voices of people and animals. But there are instances when these external sounds are just too loud, too many and too noisy!

What then can you when you’re in a noisy environment that makes wearing your hearing aids uncomfortable? Here are a few effective steps to cope.

Determine the Quietest and Loudest Areas

You can’t always control the sources of sound and their volume. This is particularly true in public places, such as restaurants, pubs and public transportation, although it can also happen in your home. You may be throwing a private party and your guest are enjoying the music, for example.

Your first step then is to identify the quietest and loudest spots. You can then find a place in the quietest spot so you don’t have to be overwhelmed by the loud noises.

For example, in a public bus with music blasting from speakers, the quietest spot will likely be the front seat near the driver. You may want to sit in this spot instead of at the back where most of the speakers are installed.

Find a Face-friendly Position

Once you have chosen the quietest spot, you should find a position where you can see other people’s faces, as many as possible. This isn’t bringing attention to yourself although it may initially seem like it. Instead, it’s about being able to look at the facial expressions, hand gestures and body language of the people you’re in the room with.

You can then make appropriate responses even when you can’t hear too well above the noise.  You may even be able to lip read and it’s something that will come in handy in many situations.

You may also find a position where most of the noise is behind your back. You may also request the person you’re talking with to sit with his back to a wall, which will act as a barrier against the noise.  You shouldn’t hesitate to ask the host or hostess for a seat at the table that will allow you to engage in conversations with little of the noise.

Plus, look for a place with good lighting. You will then be able to see what your family and friends are doing so you don’t feel left out.  There’s also the fact that you can see them and, again, look for visual cues.

Most important, always protect your ears and their hearing ability.  You may have to leave the place if the noise becomes too loud.  Your already fragile ears have to be protected from further stress and it may mean limiting your social life to fairly quiet gatherings.

We are a specialist centre offering hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid prescription. 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

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

We discussed a few tips in becoming used to your new hearing aids in a previous article. We want to emphasize more practical tips in this regard in this article. Just remember that, in the end, it’s your determination to get the most from your hearing aids that will make you stick to actually wearing them.

Adopt a Positive Attitude

Your mindset will influence your attitude toward hearing aids, just as it influenced your outlook in life before hearing aids came into your life. You’re well-advised to adopt a positive attitude early on. You will find that while there are side effects to wearing hearing aids, the benefits far outweigh them.

When you have a positive mindset, you will find that you’re less frustrated with the initially weird feeling of having hearing aids in your ears. You will initially feel awkward with them in your ears, just as you would when it’s your first time to wear eyeglasses. But with consistent use, you will eventually get used to them.

Wear Them for a Limited Period Initially

You don’t have to wear your hearing aids 24/7 either! Keep in mind that your goal is to become accustomed to them, not cause more discomfort to your ears from the constant stimuli. You can wear them in environments and situations you’re comfortable in.

You can start wearing them at home only. You can then practice wearing them without making self-conscious movements like rubbing your earlobes. You can then transition to wearing them for a few hours at a time outside.

Keep in mind, too, that wearing them in everyday situations, such as when you’re at work or in other public places, is useful in determining which sounds you’re comfortable with. Your audiologist can then make the necessary adjustments based on your specific needs.

Wear Them in a Quiet Place First

On your first day of wearing your customized hearing aids, you should sit in a quiet place, such as your bedroom, with the external sounds tuned out. You will then be able to listen to the faint external sounds, such as a clock ticking or a radiator humming. You can get used to these subtle sounds first and then transition to louder sounds.

Practice Your Conversations

You may feel weird about hearing external sounds better and clearer. You may even speak in a louder voice because you feel like the louder sounds you’re hearing deserves a corresponding action on your part. You should then practice conversations with your close family and friends.

By doing so, you will learn to modulate your voice depending on the situation. You will also be able to practice your active listening skills, such as looking at the face cues, hand gestures and body language.

Think of your new hearing aids as something that will change your life but before they do, they demand some getting used to. Your attitude will change and you’re more likely to accept them.

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Hearing aids require getting used to because these are foreign objects inserted into your ears. You may be tempted to just remove them because they feel weird but we suggest that you keep them in your ears. You will become more accustomed to their presence until such time that they feel normal, even an essential part of your daily life.

These tips are also useful in getting used to your new hearing aids. Be patient, nonetheless, as good things take time.

Appreciate Your Hearing Aids

These are life-changing devices because these can open up your world in more ways than one. But you have to appreciate them beyond what they can do for you! You have to learn the basics of their proper use and care and, thus, appreciate their functions.

Your audiologist is the best resource person for proper use and care of your customized hearing aids. The information should include placing the devices in your ear and taking them out, cleaning and storing them, and resolving basic issues.

Wear Them as Frequently as Possible

Your brain requires time to become accustomed to the clearer and louder sounds coming from your environment. Your ears also require retraining, so to speak, so as to get used to the feeling of having foreign objects inserted into them. You will also require time to become accustomed to these new sensations.

For this reason, you have to wear your new hearing aids as frequently as possible. Your audiologist will recommend the number of hours each day that you can wear them. You’re well-advised to follow the suggested duration but you can increase or decrease the time depending on your preference.

Know What’s Normal with the Hearing Aids 

Many of the things that will make you want to remove your hearing aids are considered normal. But there are also things that aren’t considered normal and that require professional intervention in some cases.

A few things to keep in mind when determining what’s normal and what isn’t.

• The hearing aids feel weird, even uncomfortable, in your ears. You shouldn’t feel pain; otherwise, you should call your audiologist for a consultation for adjustments. You may also be instructed to wear them for only a few hours each day.

• The external sounds including your voice seem too loud, too jarring. Known as the occlusion effect, it’s quite normal since you’ve been used to quieter sounds. You’re likely to become accustomed to it over time but you can also ask your audiologist for adjustments.

• There are background noise being picked up by the hearing aids, and these noises are undesirable. Again, the background noise can be initially annoying but you may get used to it, too. But again, you can talk to your audiologist about your concerns.

In the end, you simply have to give yourself time to become accustomed to the new sensations that come with wearing new hearing aids. You may get used to them within a few weeks or a few months but once you become accustomed, you will consider them as essential in your life.

If you need an new hearing aid, make sure to take the hearing test & assessment. For details, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com

Hearing aids may be small in size but they are big on technology! These are sensitive instruments that require proper care and maintenance for long-term use. These are also subject to numerous issues, from minor ones like the sound being weak to major ones like pain experienced in the ears.

Before you call your audiologist, however, you may want to check the possible causes and resolve the issues. You can then save on the cost of repair as well as gain a better appreciation of your hearing aids.

Weak or Dead Sound

When you place your customized hearing aids in your ears, you will expect to hear clear auditory signals from your environment. But you may also get weak sound or a dead sound, a quite common occurrence in some older models.

Don’t worry just yet as there are a few effective ways to resolve this issue.

• Check that the hearing aids have fresh batteries in their battery compartment. Replace old and drained batteries with fresh batteries.

• Check that the batteries are properly placed in the slots. The positive and negative terminals should correspond with each other. If not, insert the batteries correctly.

• Check that the hearing aids are free of wax, moisture and other debris. These things clog the hearing aids resulting in their weak or dead sound generation. You can either replace the old wax guards with new ones or clean the receiver and microphone with a brush or pick.

• Check that the hearing aids are actually turned on. If you have telecoil hearing aids, make sure that the mic-telephone switch is in the telecoil position.

• Check the receiver port and the microphone port since these may be blocked. You can replace or clean the receiver port and/or microphone port, whichever is needed.

In all of these cases, a thorough check of the exterior components of the hearing aids will suffice to determine the cause and its possible remedy.

Feedback Sounds

Feedback refers to the buzzing, hissing or whistling sounds that come from the hearing aids when you put them on. Keep in mind that these sounds are different from the phantom sounds of tinnitus. You must then take the time to determine whether the sounds are coming from the hearing aids or from other sources.

A few tips to resolve the feedback issues: 

• Check that the earmolds are properly fitted to your ear in the first place. Customization is vital in getting the most from hearing aids. Consider having your hearing aids re-cased if the other methods don’t resolve the feedback issue.

• Ensure that the hearing devices are properly inserted into your ear canals.

• Check for possible damage in the earmolds. These can include air leaks, cracks in tubing, and cracks in tone hook. You can have the tubing or the tone hook replaced.

Of course, there will be issues wherein professional intervention is a must. You should draw the line at opening your hearing aids since you may be doing more harm than good.

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com