High Tech Hearing Aids

From the Phonophor which its founder Werner von Siemens invented in 1872 to its 2007 status as the US largest hearing aids manufacturer, Seimens Hearing Instruments has come a very long way.

Siemens collaborates with experts in every area of hearing impairment–medical clinics, university research facilities and audiologists–in designing its hearing devices, and them equips them with state of the art technology.

High End Features

Siemens has applied that research and technology to its Siemens Artis hearing aids, making them compare favorable with some of its high-end hearing devices while costing considerably less. The Siemens Artis hearing aid is remarkable for the speech clarity produced from its digital 12-channel noise control system.

With its speech enhancement feature, the Siemens Artis hearing aid removes annoying background sounds; its also manages feedback with a high-speed cancellation system, and is even capable of picking up and eliminating the sound of wind so that you can understand what is being said in outdoor situations.

With its TwinMac directional microphone, the Siemens Artis hearing aid allows you to position your microphones towards a speaker or sound source and away from surrounding noises. Youll hear conversations and television or radio programs much more distinctly. And the behind-the-ear or customSiemens Artis hearing aids are equipped with their AutoPhone feature for optimizing their performance during telephone conversations.

The Siemens Artis hearing aid is protected from moisture, dust, and dirt with a specially- coated casing in a wide selection of colors, and can be closely matched to every complexion. Available in behind the ear, custom, and open fit designs, it can be programmed to suit almost any hearing impairment needs.

E2E

Siemens Artis hearing aids even have an optional e2e feature for binaural users. E2e is an amazing breakthrough which allows the Seimens Artis hearing aids to work in tandem, with the aid in either ear adjusting automatically to maximize the quality your total hearing.

And, although the E2E Siemens Artis hearing aids will adjust automatically, they are equipped with manual controls which will allow you to adjust them simultaneously; all you need to do is volume or listening program control on one of the hearing aids; they will then synchronize their settings and eliminate the need for you to fine tune them separately.

And Siemens Artis hearing aids are smart; with their DataLearning feature they remember and adjust to their users preferred volume levels for each of their programs, and keep a record of data so that the users audiologist will be able to detect the need for further adjustments at follow-up sessions.

Filed under: Hearing Aids Article by admin - 1 Comment →

Estimates are that one in two of people over the age of fifty will experience some high frequency hearing loss as the hair cells in their inner ears loss the ability to transform sound vibrations into the electrical impulses the brain utilizes to interpret sounds. And those figures do not account for people who suffer from broad spectrum hearing loss.

There are, in other words, many people who would benefit from hearing aids. And while digital hearing aids are the most useful for those who have to spend time in high noise environments, digital hearing aids are also much more expensive than analog hearing aids. The best option for those on limited budgets would, of course, be discount hearing aids.

Finding a Wholesaler

No one is going to give you a decent hearing aid for next to nothing, so stop entertaining that fantasy before you go on your discount hearing aid search. Your best opportunity to find a quality discount hearing aid lies with hearing aid wholesalers; there are several with online websites, and your audiologist might also refer you to some.

Hearing specialists often have connections with discount hearing aid wholesalers; once you have determined the degree and nature of your hearing loss, you will be able to narrow down the kinds discount hearing aids available to treat it. Depending on your needs, you may find an appropriate discount hearing aid for as much as 75% off the retail price. But that is only likely in the case of discount hearing aids which were not in great demand as retail models.

If you decide to purchase your discount hearing aids online, try to find a site which offers a trial period and a money-back guarantee. Most reputable discount hearing aid suppliers will allow you at least a thirty-day trial period, to make sure the hearing aids are appropriate for your particular hearing impairment.

Dare To Compare

Comparison shopping for your discount hearing aids is essential; many identical hearing aids are marketed under different brand names. So dont shop strictly based on a companys reputation; know the specific features for which you are looking n your discount hearing aids. You can pay for a name if you want, but if you can get the same quality in a less-known brand for substantially less money, why would you want to?

The Audient Program

Another tip: if you are in the US and simply cant afford a hearing aid, the Audient program may be available to assist you in finding discount hearing aids. If your individual income is no more than $24,500, with an additional $8500 for each family member in your household, you may qualify.

Youll get a hearing exam from an audiologist in the Audient national network, and then receive a digital behind the ear hearing aid at a price ranging between 30% and 75% below retail; youll also be given follow-up visits with the audiologist. To learn more visit www.audientalliance.org.

Filed under: Hearing Aids Article by admin - No Comments →

As a young child do you remember the game you used to play with a friend with two paper or plastic cups which were connected with a length of string, so that you each held one and used it like a telephone? This was passed down through many generations as a hearing experiment for a pretend telephone. It became an inspiration for the earliest type of hearing aid – this device was known as the ear trumpet. It was a helpful device for the hard of hearing, but doesn’t come close to the hearing aids we get today. The improved development through the years has really come on since the old days.

Hearing is the process of being able to perceive sounds, and ‘Otosclerosis’ is the medical term for hearing loss.

Getting the best hearing aid will help you overcome the barriers that you have to face every day which other people don’t understand is a challenge for you. You will find your communication improves as you can better understand what is going on around you. It isn’t easy being made fun of if you can’t hear a person or interpret what is being said to you straightaway. For a child it can be quite devastating, as it is a challenge trying to overcome the physical handicap. Once a child receives a hearing aid they are given more courage and their stress is eased a lot.

For many who have a hearing loss the importance of sign language and lip reading can be very helpful, although these tools are not learned by every person who is hearing impaired. They are not helpful in every situation.

Once you realise that you need the help of a hearing aid, there are many things to think about. Think of how much hearing loss you have suffered and whether it affects one or both ears, and how much loss there is in each ear. You will need to look for a hearing aid provider and decide on what is best for your particular ear shape; how much it will all cost for the equipment and batteries. What aid would best suit your lifestyle and what testing you need to decide on your needs. If you have a child with a hearing loss, this is usually picked up by the school nurse when they are given hearing tests. Apart from this you will want to give your child the best, with the options that are widely available in designer hearing aids that come with a choice of colours. Having an attractive aid will help your child progress as they are encouraged and take more interest in wearing a hearing aid.

There are many top hearing companies on the market such as Beltone, Phonak, Rexton, Sebotek, Siemens, Sonic Inovations, Starkey, Unitron and Widex. The ‘Miracle Ear’ is popular and attracts the attention of everyone as there are ads everywhere in magazines to interest the elderly, there are flyers in doctor’s practices and many other places. When we think of hearing aids, we think of the elderly, but it is surprising just who wears one nowadays! It isn’t just the elderly who get a hearing loss, as this can be developed at any age. If you know someone who wears a hearing aid, you can ask them what their experience is like wearing one to give you some ideas on what you should choose.

Looking at hearing aids, you will find the best ones come with added extras such as an ear wax cleaning tool, instructions, a storage case, spare batteries, a good warranty and phone numbers of service centres to call if you experience a problem or have some questions.

Filed under: Hearing Aids Article by admin - No Comments →

As if suffering from hearing loss wasnt frustrating enough, now you have to sift through endless choices to determine the best hearing aids. There are literally thousands of hearing aids available, each claiming to be the best hearing aids available. Not to worry, though. Well give you the low-down on whats what in the world of hearing aids. It all basically boils down to three different styles of hearing aids:

Behind the Ear Models

This is one of the best models for children with hearing problems. They are the most powerful, have the longest battery life, and are less difficult to adjust the volume. They are typically larger than other styles; the exception to this is the open fit model. The open fit model is better suited to people with hearing loss affecting only their ability to hear high frequencies. With both behind the ear types, the base goes behind the persons ear. Sound travels through a tube and inside a mold specifically designed for the wearers ear canal.

In the Ear Models

For people who dont mind the hearing aid going in their ear, but dont want it going into the canal, here are the best hearing aids for you. In the ear models are relatively large (like behind the ear models). Its size lets manufacturers add on accessories like directional microphones or a telephone switch. These models are easy to put in and take out.

In the Canal Models

In the canal hearing aids, as the name implies, go into the ear canal itself. Some of them, called completely in the canal, go all the way in, while regular in the canal hearing aids only go part of the way in. Both are small and are designed to be discrete. They are custom fit by an audiologist. While they are more expensive, and while it is harder to change the battery or adjust the volume, they provide a nice option to those who dont want others to readily notice their hearing problem.

The Bottom Line…Whats the Best Hearing Aid?

Which of these is best? It depends on what your primary goal is. If youre looking for a cost-effective, easy to operate hearing aid, youll likely prefer either the in the ear or behind the ear style. If youre more interested in a more expensive, but more transparent and less cumbersome hearing aid, youll be turned on by the sleek design of in the canal models. Before buying any hearing aid, be sure to visit an audiologist, who can recommend a model that best suits your lifestyle. They can also offer alternatives, such as cochlear implants and bone conduction implants.

Filed under: Hearing Aids Article by admin - No Comments →

When looking for hearing aids most people accept the simple fact that digital hearing aids are better than analog hearing aids. No doubt digital aids are more sophisticated and state-of-the-art, not to mention that they’re easier to install and use, but sometimes analog hearing aids are more appropriate for your needs. Digital hearing aids have more options for the user, and so they are more costly than the analog variety, it just depends on whether or not you need these extra features.

Analog Hearing Aids

Modern hearing aids consist of a microphone which receives sound, an amplifier which makes the sound louder and clearer, and a receiver to convey amplified sound to the ear. Analog hearing aids can be divided into two categories: conventional analog hearing aids, and programmable analog hearing aids.

Conventional hearing aids are the least expensive of all and the simplest in terms of technology. They only offer the basic functions that you would associate with a hearing aid. Programmable hearing aids on the other hand have many more features to offer the user. They are actually very similar to digital hearing aids in the fact that they also contain a microchip to program required options and settings suitable for a patient.

Programmable hearing aids can be customized to be used in quiet or noisy environments. They are very easy to use, at a flick of a switch you can completely customize all of the settings. The only difference between digital hearing aids and programmable analog hearing aids is that in digital aids the sound is converted into digital signals which can then be used to perform additional functions, like speech recognition and noise reduction. These state of the art digital hearing aids are normally self-adjusting, however with the analog variety you will have to operate them manually using either a switch, or a remote control.

Programmable analog hearing aids differ from conventional analog hearing aids because they can be programmed to suit the specific patient’s requirements. If you are not comfortable with the present settings you can always have them changed to suit you better. An induction coil can be used in programmable aids to pick up sounds that are sometimes hard to hear, for example while using a telephone you sometimes need to strain your ears to hear what the other person is saying. Programmable hearing aids normally come with a switch for induction coil mode so you can easily switch between modes.

Because of these features and others, programmable aids cost more than the conventional ones. The conventional ones can only really be set up, not programmed. The main reason people will chose analog aids is because they are less expensive.

There are times when an analog hearing aid suits the user perfectly, not just because of the cost. Most people buy a hearing aid is to improve their hearing ability, so it doesn’t matter how much a hearing aid costs or how modern it is. Very few people would want a speech recognition system, although that would mean I could get rid of my receptionist, oh no that’s unfair it would have to make tea too. You can talk to your audiologist to decide which one will be suitable for the type of hearing loss you have.

Filed under: Hearing Aids Article by admin - No Comments →