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
Keeping your hearing aids in good condition is a must when these are necessary in most of your daily life activities. Your hearing aids, after all, are essential in communicating with others, enjoying music and nature sounds, and navigating your way in the world!
But there are likely things that you’re doing wrong with them! Keep in mind that hearing aids are complex electronic gadgets that are subject to wear and tear as well as damage. You have to know how to handle them well or else they will conk out prematurely.
Did we mention that hearing aids are expensive? There’s that matter of knowing what you’re doing wrong with them and of adopting better measures.
Wrong Storage
You don’t wear hearing aids to bed, to certain activities where moisture can be an issue and during alone time when silence is desired. In these cases, proper storage is a must to prolong their usable life.
But you may be placing them in the wrong places! These include moist places like the bathroom, under your pillow and in your hot car, and anywhere else where they can get wet, hot and squashed. You shouldn’t store them in a drawer full of kitchen tools, workshop tools and other large things that can damage them.
You should find a cool, dry and clean place where they can be stored when not in use, such as your bedside drawer. You have to place them in a box, too, so they don’t become mixed up with other odds and ends.
Tip: Leave their battery door open so as to let the battery compartment dry out. This will also prolong the batteries’ life.
Wrong Cleaning
Think of hearing aids as electronic appliances and, indeed, they are! As such, they can be damaged by dirt, dust and debris from your ears and the environment. They can also be damaged by moisture and earwax, which can burrow its way through the hearing aids’ tubing and receiver.
The result: Your hearing aids ceases to function well, if not stop functioning at all. In other words, you’re going about its cleaning in the wrong way! You’re either not cleaning them every day or cleaning them incorrectly.
Start by cleaning your hearing aids on a daily basis, such as in the evening after taking them off. Be sure to use a dry, soft cloth to clean their exterior parts. You should never ever use cleaning agents, such as alcohol, since these can result in internal damage – and water is a no-no, obviously.
Other wrong ways that you’re dealing with hearing aids is dropping them and wearing them during activities where moisture is present. These include swimming, taking a shower, going to the sauna, using a blow-dryer and spraying hair products, all of which means exposing your hearing aids to moisture. Just remove them first and put back later when you’re done with these activities.
Do you find this article useful? Please visit us to learn more.
If you think you need an 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
Just whistle while you work. While it’s good advice to boost your mood while at work, it isn’t a good sign when your hearing aids are at work! This is because whistling, a type of feedback, is a sign that something’s wrong with your hearing aids and you have to resolve it.
There’s also the fact that sudden whistling sounds, especially when heard for more than a minute, can be annoying and frustrating. You’re more likely to focus on the whistling sound than on the voice of the persons you’re in conversation with.
Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to determine the reason behind the whistling sound! Here are a few that we think are the common feedback-related issues.
Earwax Blockage in Your Ears
At their core, hearing aids work by sending sound waves into the ear canal. But when the sound waves encounter a physical blockage, these will bounce back into the hearing aids resulting in the whistling sound.
The common physical blockage is a build-up of earwax in the ear canal. Ear wax build-up isn’t just an icky thing but it can also cause earaches and worsen your hearing loss.
But never ever remove them on your own, much less use a Q-tip! You should have your ears cleaned by a professional and your hearing aids checked and cleaned for clogged vents.
Hearing Aids Aren’t Fitted Well
There are many ways that your hearing aids aren’t properly fitted and, thus, causing the whistling feedback.
First, these don’t fit your ears well. It may be that the hearing aids weren’t fitted well in the first place or your ears have changed in shape over the years.
The ear molds are the losing their seal around your ears resulting in sounds leaking out, thus, the whistling. In this case, you have to ask a hearing care professional for new and better-fitting ear molds.
Second, the tubes in the hearing aids are already damaged, usually through wear and tear. These require replacement, especially when these are already shrivelled up.
Third, the hearing aids aren’t properly placed in your ears. Don’t worry too much about it as it happens to everybody, especially during physical activities.
When you wear your hearing aids too loosely, the air also comes into your ear canal. You will then hear a whistling sound, as is the case when your ear molds aren’t well-fitted into your ears.
While you’re checking the proper placement of your hearing aids, you should also check that the volume is just right. When the volume’s too high, the sound waves are forced back into the hearing aids and the whistling sound happens.
You should also ask yourself whether your head covering, such as hat or scarf, is affecting the performance of your hearing aids. You may want to remove your head covering and adjust the hearing aids’ volume.
If the whistling feedback persists despite these measures, you should consult with your audiologist ASAP.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com