Hearing Aids
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?
- People sometimes don't realize they have a hearing loss.
- Denial
- Higher Priorities
- Cost
- Lack of Transportation
- Fear of being seen as "failing" or incompetent
- Bad experience with hearing aids
1. People sometimes don't realize they have a hearing loss.
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.
2. Denial
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?
3. Higher Priorities
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.
4. Cost
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!
5. Lack of Transportation
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!
6. Fear of being seen as "failing" or incompetent
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.
7. Bad experience with hearing aids
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:
CIC (Completely in the canal)
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 (In the canal)
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.
ITE (In the ear)
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.
BTE (Behind the ear)
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
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.