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A hearing aid or hearing device is a small device that can be worn in or behind the ear. It makes sounds louder so that a person who has a hearing loss can listen, communicate and participate more fully in daily activities.
Hearing aids typically have 4 basic parts: a microphone, a processor, an amplifier and a speaker. The microphone receives the acoustic signal and converts it into an electrical one. The processor is a computer chip that determines exactly how the sound will be amplified according to the individual’s hearing loss, the amplifier increases the power of the electrical signal accordingly and the speaker converts the electrical signal back into an acoustic one.
Despite the benefits of using a hearing device, research shows that only about one out of five people who would benefit from a hearing aid use one. Why is this?
There are plenty of people who don't know they have a hearing loss. Most of the time, hearing loss has a gradual onset and those affected have adapted to each slight reduction in their hearing ability.
People probably know at some level, but will not admit to having a hearing loss. There may be vehement, emotional denial when the issue of possible hearing loss is raised as in, "There's nothing wrong with my hearing; you mumble." Or, "This TV sounds terrible." Still, others know they have a hearing loss, but do not realize it is a problem for them or for others. Sometimes, a physician or other professional gives erroneous and harmful information, such as, "It's only a mild hearing loss; don't worry about it unless it becomes severe." It may be helpful to indicate, in a non-threatening way, how the hearing loss affects others. People who have hearing loss are often unaware of the adverse effects of it on other people. If someone knows they have a hearing loss, they might not think there's anything that can be done to help it. Again, sometimes professionals give erroneous, harmful information, as in, "My doctor told me its part of growing old, and I just have to get used to it." In this instance, a major barrier to overcome is the fact that a professional, e.g., "MY DOCTOR..." made the statement and it becomes cast in cement as an eternal verity. Who are we to question the opinion of the family physician?
Sometimes, people are well aware that they have a hearing loss, but there are other things happening in their life that have a higher priority, either another physical condition or work-related problem. The individual may intend to deal with the hearing loss after they have dealt with their first, more pressing issue. However, research has shown that the use of a hearing device can improve the quality of life of some people and benefit both their mental and physical states. Research has also shown that those persons who wear hearing aids earn an average of $7,000 more per year compared to those who don't use hearing aids. Why? Hearing aids can improve your communication, and an improvement in communication impacts job performance.
Cost is a very real issue for many people who do not have hearing aids. Older people on a limited income, people in low-paying jobs and children from economically disadvantaged families are those who are normally priced out of the hearing aid market. The average family will also have to move things around financially in order to purchase hearing aids.
Your insurance company may have a hearing aid allowance, reducing the amount you will have to pay out of pocket. The best way to find out if your insurance company covers a hearing device is to call and ask.
Dr. Beuhler offers several low to no-interest financing options and will work to find you the best hearing solution that best fits your budget and lifestyle. Please click here for a list of insurances Dr. Beuhler currently offers. We are looking to be credentialed with a host of other insurance companies, so check back often!
Though the thought of a lack of transportation seems ridiculous in this day and age, some people, either older or physically disabled, may not have the means or energy to travel to an audiologist for assessment and hearing aid fitting. Dr. Beuhler's office is located down a flight of stairs, which may make it more difficult for some to visit him in his office. There is also a conference room Dr. Beuhler uses to assess those who travel to his office; which is located on the main floor. However, we can make house calls and bring Dr. Beuhler's specialized care directly to you!
A common misconception with hearing aids is that they are a sign of old age and a symbol of frailty and sickness. The reasoning seems to be that "if I don't wear hearing aids, I won't be seen as old." People still in the work force are concerned that their supervisors or co-workers will see a hearing device and question their competency to continue to perform at work.
Typically, it's the inability of a person to fully understand what is being said to them that leads people to equate hearing aid with old. Younger and younger people find themselves having to have their hearing tested due to a hearing loss. Luckily, hearing aids these days can be small and discreet. From ones that are nearly invisible to the traditional (yet streamlined) behind the ear aids, the hearing aid design has been revolutionized in the past years.
Some people have already tried hearing aids in the past that either did not work well or the person failed to give enough time to adjust to them. There are some very low quality products out there that though they may be very inexpensive, produce a poor quality sound and/or improper volume. These tend to be one-size-fits all and offer no in-office support. It's very important to consider the person's past experience with hearing devices, as it shades future expectations.
It takes a significant period of time to completely get used to hearing devices. They will make sounds both louder and clearer, and people will hear sounds that may have escaped them for a long time. Hearing devices are very sophisticated now, and they will work differently depending on the environment. People who are first fit with hearing devices have to learn how to filter out unwanted sounds.
At Home Audiology Services, P.C., we use the LACE system. The LACE system is a home-based, self-paced, adaptive auditory training program designed to improve listening and communication skills.
Types of hearing devices:
These hearing devices are custom made and fit completely in the ear canal. They are almost invisible in the ear and require a small plastic wire or string protruding from your canal in order to remove them. These seem to be one of the more popular devices on the market today. However, CIC devices are not for those suffering from anything more than a moderate loss. Their small size means they are the least powerful and a higher amount of dexterity is needed to manipulate the small battery. Due to their small size, the batteries will have to be changed more often than the larger aids. CICs do not have manual controls due to their small size.
ITC custom made devices are larger than the CIC but smaller than the ITE hearing devices. The ITC aids can be seen by others, filling roughly half of the canal. Unlike the CIC hearing devices, the ITC aids have a volume wheel. However, similarly, good dexterity to change the battery and to use the volume wheel is a must. This hearing device can be good for people with a mild to moderate-severe hearing loss.
The largest of the custom made hearing devices, the ITE models fit completely in the ear. They tend to be more comfortable than the ITCs and the CICs. Though they are less powerful than the BTE devices, the ITEs are more powerful than the CIC and the ITC. They are also usually large enough to accommodate other features, such as a directional microphone, telephone switch and can also accommodate a larger amplifier. Their size makes them easier to handle and allows them to be used for a wider range of hearing losses.
The largest hearing devices on the market today are the BTE aids. These aids have all of their electronics housed in a plastic casing that sits behind the ear. Plastic tubing and a custom made ear mold direct the sound from the aid into the canal. These devices tend to be the most reliable and allow for the strongest amplification. Though these may be seen, they can be hidden by choosing a flesh-toned color.
Open ear or open fit hearing aids are the newest device on the hearing aid market. It is most effective for people who are suffering from a mostly high frequency hearing loss. Essentially, open hearing aids sit on the top or behind your ear. There is typically no ear mold to close up the canal and the tiny clear tube that runs from the device into your ear is near to impossible to see. They are extremely light weight and many users say that after a few minutes of wearing them, they could not feel them at all. Their small size, however, means that the small batteries need to be changed often.
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