Adjusting To Hearing Aids
It’s important to understand that your hearing aid canât make your hearing what it used to be. But as you use it, youâll become more aware of sounds and where they are coming from.
When you first get your hearing aids, be patient. It may take some time to get used to them. In most states, you are allowed a trial period after you buy a device. Then, if yours don’t work out for you, you may get a partial refund and be able try a different type that works better for you. Also ask about warranty coverage.
Take time to learn how your hearing aids work and insist on a good fit. Work closely with your audiologist to avoid problems such as:
- Echo-like sounds from your voice
- Feedback or a whistling sound
- Background noise
- Buzzing with cell phone use
It may help to start wearing your hearing aids in quiet areas and to keep a diary about how you feel.
Do You Need Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can be fit for a broad range of hearing losses in more styles and sizes than ever before, in part due to the miniaturization of electronics. More people than ever can wear tiny, nearly invisible models, and even the larger-sized instruments are available in modern, sleek styles. Need to get fit for hearing aids, or think you have hearing loss? A good next step is visiting our directory of consumer-reviewed hearing healthcare professionals to find hearing aids near you.
This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Amy Sarow. She obtained her Doctor of Audiology degree at the University of Iowa. She spent her 4th year residency at the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to her full time work as clinical audiologist, she enjoys writing on hearing health and wellness.
What Are Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are sound-amplifying devices designed to help people who have hearing loss. Most hearing aids share several similar electronic components:
- A microphone that picks up sound.
- Amplifier circuitry that makes the sound louder.
- A miniature loudspeaker that delivers the amplified sound into the ear canal.
- Batteries that power the electronic parts.
Hearing aids differ by design, technology used to achieve amplification , and features such as wireless connectivity and software applications.
Some hearing aids also have earmolds or earpieces to direct the flow of sound into the ear and enhance sound quality. Hearing aid selection is based on the type and severity of hearing loss, listening needs, and lifestyle.
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Problem: Hearing Aid Sound Is Weak Or Dead
First things first: Check to make sure you have a fresh battery in your device and replace the battery regularly as needed.
The most common reason for a hearing aid to sound weak or dead is that it is clogged with wax or debris. If your hearing aid has a wax guard, try replacing it with a fresh one. If you have a cleaning tool , clean both the microphone and receiver . Learn more about caring for your hearing aid.
What Is A Hearing Aid
A hearing aid is an electronic device designed to improve your hearing in both noisy and quiet environments. Hearing aids work by magnifying sound vibrations entering the ear.
Hearing aids have one or two microphones to pick up sound, and most have an amplifier to make the sound louder and a speaker to produce the amplified sound in the ear. Beyond the basic operating parts, companies offer hearing aid devices with different designs, features, and technology.
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Easy To Use With Phone
With a CIC hearing aid, you can simply use devices such as phones without any adaptations. Most hearing aids do have the ability to connect to a phone in order to facilitate its use, but with a CIC hearing aid, you dont need to do anything special to use any phone you happen to be near. The hearing aid doesnt block the phone, so you just use it.
How Much Do Itc Hearing Aids Cost
The price for a pair of ITC hearing aids can run from around $2,000 to $7,000, depending on the technology and amount of personalization, according to Nelson and Dr. Zappi. This price typically includes visits with an audiologist to determine eligibility, creating a mold of the ear canal, fitting and programming the aid, and explanations or demonstrations of how to use the device.
Medicare doesnt cover the cost of hearing aids or the exams to fit them. However, some insurance companies will pay a portion of the cost. And, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , certain states mandate that insurance companies pay for hearing aids for children and young adults. Meanwhile, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island all require hearing health coverage for adults and children.
For people with health insurance, Dr. Zappi suggests calling the number on the back of their insurance card to find out if they have a hearing aid benefit. She also says hearing aids are eligible for reimbursement through a flexible spending account , health care spending account or a health reimbursement arrangement .
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What Is The Difference Between Analog And Digital Hearing Aids
Analog hearing aids are less common. They make continuous sound waves louder by amplifying all sounds in the same way. Some analog hearing aids have a microchip to store multiple program settings used in different listening environments, such as in a quiet place or in a noisy place . As the listening environment changes, the hearing aid settings may be changed by pushing a button on the hearing aid.
Digital hearing aids are more common. They have all the features of analog programmable aids, but they convert sound waves into digital signals and produce an exact duplication of sound. Microchips in digital hearing aids analyze speech and other environmental sounds and store multiple program settings. The digital hearing aids allow for more complex sound processing during the amplification process which may improve performance in certain situations, such as background noise and whistle reduction. They also have greater flexibility in hearing aid programming so the sound they transmit can be matched to the needs for a specific pattern of hearing loss.
What Kind Of Hearing Loss Do You Have
If your hearing loss is primarily in the high frequencieswhich most people have, especially if they have age-related hearing lossthe open-fit RITE styles are the most comfortable because they let in the natural low-frequency sounds you are still capable of hearing, while amplifying the high frequencies. These options can also be equipped with advanced features to allow hearing aids to filter noise from speech, adapt to different environments, suppress feedback and wirelessly connect to mobile phones, a personal microphone system or other public assistive listening devices.
A low-frequency hearing loss can be tricky to fit with a hearing aid due to the perception of the sound quality. A custom hearing aid can work, if the patient prioritizes a discreet appearance. However, a premium behind-the-ear with an appropriately vented earmold is another option. Premium technology allows for more narrow-band fine-tuning adjustments .
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How Can Hearing Aids Help
Hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss that results from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. The damage can occur as a result of disease, aging, or injury from noise or certain medicines.
A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a persons hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. However, there are practical limits to the amount of amplification a hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into neural signals. In this situation, a hearing aid would be ineffective.
Visit A Hearing Clinic
You can visit a hearing center to get an audiologist consultation and buy hearing aids in person. Audiologists are hearing professionals with at least a masters degree in the field of audiology who diagnose and treat hearing loss, as well as fit hearing aids. Hearing instrument specialists are hearing professionals with a high school diploma or two-year degree and are only licensed to help fit or program hearing aids.
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Come visit one of our hearing clinics in Toronto so we can help you stay in touch with what matters most in your life and never miss another beat. Your consultation is cost free and zero risk. Take the first step towards better hearing and a more fulfilling life, contact us today.
Clients since 2011
Locations in GTA
Millions of Canadian adults suffer from hearing loss, ranging from a slight decrease in hearing to severe hearing loss that affects their ability to live a normal life. If youve noticed a decline in your hearing, a hearing aid can make a big difference to your quality of life.
As one of the Toronto areas top Audiology and hearing clinics, were here to provide the access you need to the latest hearing aid technology. Our team can test your hearing and offer advice on the best solutions to ensure your hearing loss doesnt negatively affect your life.
As an independently owned clinic, we are free to prescribe hearing aids from all major manufacturers.
The first step to determine whether you have hearing loss is to conduct a hearing test. Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists are specifically trained to conduct hearing tests for adults and children.
Hearing tests are available for both adults and children.
Completely In The Canal Hearing Aids Brands And Models
Most of these Completely In The Canal Hearing devices, from Siemens, Starkey, Beltone, Oticon, Resound, and Phonak are custom-molded one.
Following models of CIC hearing aids are available which is widely used :
- Century Rosebud
- Resound Live Phonak Milo
If you are from India and want to know about the prices and features of these models, read our page Hearing Aids price list in India.
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Advantages Of In The Canal Hearing Aids
In the canal hearing aids are more discreet than other larger styles of hearing aids which means that people are less likely to notice that you are wearing hearing solutions.
Thanks to their slightly larger size, they also offer an improved battery life and more features than smaller completely in the canal hearing aids and other smaller styles.
Get The Best Itc Hearing Aids
Learn everything about ITC Hearing Aids. See how they look when worn. Find their prices, benefits & limitations. Get Advice. Free Consultation available. Call us today to book your appointment.
ITC Hearing Aids is visibly larger in size than IIC and CIC and even have longer battery life. They are contained in tiny cases that fit partly or completely into the ear canal. The advantage is that only a small portion of the hearing machine shows in the outer ear. They are extremely comfortable and easy to use. As their size is bigger, they have an upper hand over other hearings aids with features like directional microphones.
They tend to work better in noisy places and have proper volume controls attached to it. Any individual wearing these is guaranteed to develop better listening skills. What is noteworthy is that they are immensely easy to insert and remove. They are appropriate for mild to moderate type of hearing loss and are popularly denoted as Mini ITC hearing aids. They give better accessibility to old people as they can control their features on their own.
It is always best to talk about your own individual requirements with an audiologist or hearing care professional to make sure you are using the right hearing aid.
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Do You Have Problems With Dexterity
If you have dexterity issues , its usually better to avoid smaller devices. Low-profile ITE or BTE devices with earmolds might be suitable because they are the largest instruments and easiest to handle. Additionally, the batteries will be the largestsizes 13 or 675 or rechargeable, which are easy to use. Lastly, hearing aids that come with automated features should also be considered so you don’t have to use the tiny buttons to adjust the volume. You may also want to talk to your hearing care practitioner about the possibility of a remote control if the volume or program controls on your hearing aids are difficult to use.
Which Hearing Aid Is Best For Me
Finding the best hearing aid to fit your needs often requires the help of an expert who can conduct a hearing test and ask questions related to your hearing loss. You also need to consider the nature and degree of your hearing loss, lifestyle habits, occupation, environments you frequent, and what you want out of a hearing aid.
After working with a doctor or a hearing expert like an audiologist, you should have a better idea of your needs. Then, its time to identify a list of hearing aids that match your degree of hearing loss and your budget. And dont forget about the fit and feel of a hearing aid. Most experts say the best hearing aid is one you will wear regularly.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
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Caring For Your Hearing Aid
Your hearing aids will last much longer if you take good care of them. Some tips to keep in mind:
- Keep them away from heat, moisture, hair care products, children, and pets.
- Clean them as directed.
- Turn off your devices when you are not using them.
- Replace dead batteries right away.
Hearing aid batteries may last from several days to a couple of weeks. Battery life depends on the battery type, hearing aid power requirements, and how often you use it.
In general, hearing aids can last for 3 to 6 years. You may need a new one sooner if your hearing loss gets worse. Behind-the-ear hearing aids give you more flexibility since they can be programmed for a wider range of hearing loss.
Digital hearing aids get stronger and better every few years as computer technology improves. This often prompts people to upgrade their devices.
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What Determines Hearing Aid Price
Just like other medical devices and decisions, hearing aids are an investment in your overall health. As such, its critical to understand how they are priced, and how they will improve your everyday life.
Many factors that determine hearing aid prices, from the device quality to the professional care to the features that help your hearing aid easily fit into your lifestyle. While a lower-cost hearing solution may be appealing, it’s important to balance the price vs. health benefits.
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What To Consider Before Buying A Hearing Aid
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 37.5 million American adults have some level of hearing loss.10 While hearing loss can occur at any time in life, the problem becomes more common with age.
The NIDCD estimates almost one in four adults between the ages of 65 and 74 and half of people older than 75 have disabling hearing loss. It may come as a surprise that only one in three adults who could benefit from hearing aids has ever used them. As mentioned above, people with hearing loss tend to wait an average of 10 years before seeking treatment, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.11
There are many reasons that may prevent those with hearing loss from seeking help. The following are some of the more common:
- The cost of hearing aids and hearing care
- The fact that insurance companies and Medicare do not cover hearing aids
- The distance from hearing care providers
- The stigma associated with wearing a hearing aid12
We asked Michelle Brady, an audiologist with Access Audiology, a mobile audiology service in the New York City area, what shed like people to know about the purchasing process. According to Brady, the most important thing to consider when shopping for a hearing aid is time.
Do Small Hearing Aids Work
All hearing aids work to some degree. The style, size, and features determine how well they work for each type of hearing loss. Small hearing aids include larger styles, like in-the-ear , and nearly invisible styles, like in-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal . These types of devices are more appropriate for mild to moderate hearing loss, with a select few appropriate for severe hearing loss.
The advantage of small hearing aids is the almost invisible appearance they provide. Many people can wear these devices without anyone knowing they have hearing aids, which can help those who experience stigma surrounding hearing aids. Research shows that many people, especially older adults, associate hearing loss and hearing aids with stigma related to perceived feelings of lower cognitive ability, ageism , and vanity . And that stigma was enough to delay people from seeking help for their hearing loss. For those who experience similar stigma, small hearing aids may help. Small hearing aids are also lightweight and often provide a more natural sound quality because they are placed deep into the ear canal.
That being said, because they go in your ear, they may not be a good fit for everyones ear canal. Thats why its a good idea to go to a professional to get fitted for a hearing aid. Small hearing aids may also require more battery changes since they can only hold a small battery, and the compact size may result in fewer features.
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