subject: Kiss Hearing Loss Goodbye [print this page] If your eyesight is weakening, you get glasses. If your tooth is hurting, you visit a dentist. If we break our leg, we see our the doctor to set and put it in a cast.
However, if our hearing decreases as we age, all we do is turn the volume up on the television so much that nothing else can be heard and then go on with our life as though nothing is the matter. Why is there such a stigma against hearing aids? The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimate that about twenty-eight million people are hard of hearing.
With today's technology you will be able to find the right hearing aid for whatever your circumstances may be. Yes, we all remember our grandparents and the hearing aids that looked like a small transistor radio complete with wires running from pocket to ear, but they have definitely improved them with digital technology just like computers.
Digital hearing aids make use of a computer chip, along with a small battery, a microphone and a receiver and are very easy to adjust for the needs of the user. You can more easily hide or disguise your hearing aid, and you can get it perfectly calibrated to your specific level of hearing.
Similar to snow flakes, no two hearing impairments are exactly alike. For a lot of folks their problem is distinguishing lower sounds, yet others will find it's the higher frequencies that they can't hear.
Difficulty hearing low frequencies poses a problem with the comprehension of vowel sounds, where as high frequency losses are generally problematic with the ability to decipher consonants. It is easy to understand how people can have difficulty understanding specific words or even entire sentences.
For many people it's the volume of the sound that causes them problems. which is often the culprit behind the constant requests to "speak louder" or to "turn up the volume."
An audiologist can administer hearing tests and determine just how the hearing aid needs to be programmed. They also recommend that people go in for testing each year after they notice there might be some loss of hearing.
Hearing experts come in three levels. Doctors who are able to diagnose and then treat whatever medical reasons there are for loss of hearing are otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat doctors.
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.
Often these professionals are more like sales people who try to sell hearing aids manufactured by a specific company. Remember, while they do not have as much education as an audiologist, they still need to be state certified to sell the hearing aids.
There are a variety of hearing aids available. The ones referred to as "completely in the canal" are the smallest and almost invisible.
they are also the most expensive. They are most frequently used for those patients who have severe to profound hearing loss issues.
The next size up are the "in the canal" hearing aids. are small enough to fit appropriately into the canal of the ear, These are generally used for mild or moderate hearing loss and have a slightly larger battery.
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. "behind the ear" hearing aids just go behind the ear, but they're large, and need a huge battery; however, they are the most effective at noise amplification. Of course the analog style hearing aids are still made available at a much lower cost, but keep in mind they are part of the older technology.
Statistics now show some 28 million Americans, in all age groups, have hearing loss problems.
Here are some other things you should know: Most hearing loss or impairment happens due to some sort of obstruction, disease, or an injury to one or several parts of an ear. For about 95 percent of those dealing with loss of hearing, the newer hearing aids are capable of correcting that hearing loss.
Younger populations are experiencing more and more hearing losses. A 17 percent increased in hearing impairment among 18 to 44 year-old has been reported from 1971 to 1990.
Otitis media is the hearing loss variety you'll typically run across. It is an ear infection that 70% of infants and younger children will suffer from.
