If your eyesight is weakening, you get glasses. If we have a tooth ache, we head for an appointment with the dentist. If we break our leg, we see our the doctor to set and put it in a cast.
However, if we start to lose our hearing, we simply turn the volume up on the television so loud it drowns out the rest of the world and act as though there is nothing wrong. What is the reason behind refusing to get hearing aids? According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders there are more then twenty-eight million people dealing with a loss of hearing.
Hearing aids can help with a wide range of auditory issues. Even today when people think of hearing aids they think of clunky, unreliable, wired devices that only old people wear, but in the past 5 years or so hearing aids have been improved thanks to surges in technological progress.
New digital hearing aids make use of a microphone, receiver, battery, and a computer chip to offer an audiologist great flexibility in adjusting it to an individual’s needs. These types of hearing aids are much smaller and discreet than their predecessors and can precisely compensate for the user’s individual hearing problems.
Hearing loss happens differently in everyone. There are people who have problems with higher frequencies, and other people who can’t hear lower sounds. Sounds such as vowels are on the low-end level and consonants on the high-end, because of this people with hearing loss often are unable to hear certain words and are left having to guess at what was said.
Some people just can’t hear softer sounds. If you can’t hear very loud sounds, you’ll probably continually ask people to repeat what they say, or turn the radio or TV up really loud.
An audiogram or hearing test, is an important piece of information that enables the audiologist to program individual hearing aids to optimize a patients’ ability to hear. That’s why they recommend you be tested each year as soon as you notice even a slight loss of hearing. There are three classifications of professionals who are qualified to address specific needs for those who are hearing impaired. The highest level is the otolaryngologist or ear, nose and throat doctor. He is trained to diagnose and treat hearing impairments caused by medical conditions.
The next classification of hearing specialist is an audiologist. They are professionals who are experts at administering hearing tests, making recommendations and properly programming hearing aids according to results of audiograms. Because of the level of expertise that is required, audiologists are required to possess a master’s degree and must be licensed by the state in which they practice. Finally there are the hearing aid dispensers who need to be state certified, but do not require the education level of an audiologist. People who dispense hearing aids are more like salespeople, and sometimes act as representatives for hearing aid manufacturers. Remember, while they do not have as much education as an audiologist, they still need to be state certified to sell the hearing aids.
Four varying kinds of hearing aids exist. The ones referred to as “completely in the canal” are the smallest and almost invisible. These of course are usually the most expensive, they are also not as effective for severe loss of hearing.
Then there are the “in the canal” devices. They can fit into your ear canal, but compared to the first type of hearing aid, they’re a bit bigger and much less discreet. The battery for a canal bearing aid is bigger, and you’ll use these if your hearing loss is moderate.
We’ve gone from “completely in the canal” to “in the canal” and arrive at “in the ear” devices. As opposed to the two former types of aids, these instruments are more visible, as they are worn outside of the canal. These types of aids are applicable for a wide range of hearing loss. The most well know hearing instruments are the “behind the ear” devices, which use a larger battery, are inside a case that goes over and behind an ear, and gives greater amplification than most of the smaller instruments. Although it is older technology, analog hearing aids remain appropriate for those who need amplification at a lower cost.
It is now shown statistically that some 28 million Americans, of any and all ages, are suffering from a loss of hearing. Some other “hearing facts” should be considered as well. The cause stems from either an obstruction in the ear, or disease, or injury to the ear. 95% of the people with hearing loss are able to correct their loss of hearing.
Younger generations are beginning to experience more hearing loss than ever before. As a matter of fact people ages 18-44 years have had a 17% increase in hearing loss in the years from 1971-1990. Otitis media seems to be the most commonly reported reason for a temporary losses of hearing. This condition is suffered by 70% of all infants and young children.
Further information on hearing aids types can be found there. To understand more about assistive listening devices visit this resource.
