High Tech Hearing Aids

Which battery do I need?

Hearing aid batteries have been standardised across the board now, and as such are fairly easy to identify. There are four sizes available, size 10, size 312, size 13 and size 675.

They are colour coded for ease of recognition. Size 10 batteries are coded with yellow labels and packaging, size 312 are coded brown, size 13 are orange and size 675 are blue.

Most of the smaller hearing devices from Phonak, Resound or Oticon will use a size 312 (brown) or a size 10 (yellow) battery. Some of the larger digital hearing instruments will use the size 13, and a few power aids such as the Oticon Sumo or the Phonak Naida will use the size 675.

As a rule, the larger the battery, the more life you will get from it and the longer you will be able to listen to your hearing instruments without needing to change the battery. Newer hearing devices, do generally tend to be smaller which is clearly desireable from a cosmetics perspective. These smaller hearing instruments tend to use 10 or 312 batteries. Try to find a quality battery brand such as Rayovac, whihc are specifically designed and manufactured for hearing aid wearers. These will most likely provide better performance with your hearing devices than other brands. You may find that some brands of hearing aid batteries will provide a recycling facility where you can send them back and these can be reused.

If you are unsure which hearing aid batteries are right for you, ask your hearing supplier for advice.

Most hearing audiologists will offer free hearing test and also advice on current or new devices.

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

After February 18, 2008 most major wireless companies will have switched to an all digital network in the US. This switch spelled the end of the oldest US cell phone technology, “Advanced Mobile Phone Services”, otherwise known as AMPS. The newer digital phones which the majority of cellular customers already had, allow services to handle a significantly larger volume of simultaneous calls, provide better voice quality, and give users the ability to transfer data via e-mails, text messages, and so forth.

Unfortunately, these newer phones also use higher frequencies which are more likely to interfere with hearing aids. The interference often creates a buzzing sound, making cell phone signals more difficult to hear. With AMPS disappearing, hearing aid wearers will generally be unable to make use of this lower frequency option any longer.

However, some digital phone models do offer a viable alternative. Determining which cell phone will be a good choice for those wearing a hearing aid has been made easier based on rating systems that have been implemented industry wide.

Here are some considerations:

Sources:

consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/cell_phones_amps.html

fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/analogcellphone.html

tap.gallaudet.edu/voice/DigitalCellFAQ.asp

accesswireless.org/hearingaid/

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

It is a psychological need of an audibility-impaired individual to not to be noticed because of this deficiency. It is this sense that drives such patient to avoid wearing his device in public places. The open fit hearing aids aim cater for this psychological factor and boost the patients confidence and of course communication in his/her public appearances. These open fit hearing aids come with optional external speakers to be attached depending upon the need of the user.

Design Of The Open Fit Hearing Aids:

The open fit hearing aids are designed in such a way that the only part in front of the ear is a tiny cylindrical transparent wire, which transports the sound to the ear. A sound magnification system is an essential part of the device and is concealed behind the ear. Several open fit hearing aids include a minute speaker placed in the canal of the ear to achieve more comprehensible magnification of sound.

The Target Audience:

The open fit hearing aids are basically designed for people whose hearing impaired ness is specific to specific frequency of sounds, generally the high frequencies. Such anomalies are found among people who have been exposed to noisy sounds of high amplitudes for a longer period of time.

The Price Range:

The open fit hearing aids are among the devices easily affordable by many. This factor makes them ideal for a larger range of audience as they provide more comprehensible magnification of sound at a reasonable cost. Though there exists a variation of costs among different varieties, but they do not exceed the reasonable cost range. The weightless design, almost undetectable transparent wire going to ear and an affordable price makes these open fit hearing aids.

Technical Problem Solved!

A great problem with most hearing aids is that the user does not get to hear his/her own voice, so he/she awkwardly talks louder. The open fit hearing aids tackle this problem beautifully by the inclusion of minute speakers in the earplugs, which when programmed enable the user to hear his/her own voice.

These open fit hearing aids can be tried on by the users in offices of hearing devices companies and choose on the basis of their ease of use. The ear specialist often place their orders directly to these companies to have them as close as possible to the patients needs, but still minor discrepancies can be eliminated by the users feedback.

Even though the costs of the hearing devices are showing a decline, but still when buying such device, it is always in user favor to be able to try it on and have subsequent changes made as required. In short, the open fit hearing aids provide a superb solution at an affordable price and best options.

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

If you are trying to choose hearing aids, you will have to do a hearing aids comparison to figure out exactly what kind of device you are going to both be able to afford and that will work best for you. Do you want a in the ear or behind the ear? Can you afford a digital hearing aid or do you need to find an analog one?

When you look at the costs of the ITE and BTE hearing aids, consider the fact that the ITE ones may be a little more expensive, but that is because they have to be custom molded for your ear canal. Some think that this will give them the ability to hear better, but the reality is that you can pay the same price for a BTE that will offer you better components and programming.

Digital hearing aids are the latest and greatest in hearing aid technology. They receive the sounds that they hear and then filter everything through digital coding that enables you to hear something that is just as pure as if your hearing was 100% healthy. While a lot of the basics in these items will be the same, they differ in quality significantly because of the processor, receiver and microphone.

When you are doing a hearing aids comparison on analog devices, you are also going to want to take a look at the programming that is offered. The best devices may not have the digital clarity of the other hearing aids, but a good unit can come pretty close.

Something that you have to keep in mind is that analog hearing devices are much cheaper than digital ones. For some, the improved quality sound is just not worth the price. Your profession or general demeanor may mean that simply do not need that and if that is the case, you may just be better served by getting a top line analog device instead of a middle of the road digital one.

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

Maybe you have seen cartoons depicting the past where an old person is shown holding a large, trumpet-like device to his ear in order to hear better. We laugh now, but we do realize that hearing loss is anything but amusing. The image of the trumpet, too, may make some who suffer hearing loss feel comfortable about considering a hearing aid. Vanity may be a deterrent in improving one’s hearing, but the good news is that hearing aid technology has advanced greatly in the last few decades. One may wear such a device without anybody being able to tell!

If you think you may need a hearing aid to improve discernment of noise and conversation, it is important to consult a physician or hearing specialist. As a candidate for a hearing device, you may have a number of options to consider before being fitted. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular styles of hearing aids:

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids: Practically invisible, the BTE hearing aid usually consists of an “earmold” that sits inside your ear. The actual hearing aid rests behind your ear, while a plastic tube connects it to the earmold. This is the most common type of hearing aid – most digital hearing aids approved by the National Board for Certification of Hearing Instrument Science are BTE aids.

In recent years, an alternative method of fitting BTE aids had been developed, that does not involve an earmold. This is called an ‘open ear fitting’ and uses a smaller, soft ear piece at the tip of the tubing instead of an earmold. These fittings are less visible than earmolds, but are only suitable if your hearing loss is mild. These aids give you a very natural sound.

In-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids: ITE and ITC aids have their working parts completely in the earmold, so the whole hearing aid fits into your ear. These types of devices tend to require more repair than BTE aids. Some in-the-ear aids can be seen from the side, so they are not wholly invisible, either. The smallest ITC aids fit right inside your ear canal, where they can hardly be seen at all. If you have a severe hearing loss, or very narrow ear canals, these aids will probably not suit you.

Body-worn hearing aids: More noticeable than the tiny ITE and ITC aids, these devices come with a small box that you clip to your clothes or put in your pocket. This box contains the microphone and working parts. It is connected by a lead to an earphone clipped into your earmold. Body-worn hearing aids may be suitable if you have sight problems, or problems using very small switches or buttons. Some models are very powerful, and are not suitable for everybody.

From the microscopic to the multi-dimensional, hearing aids comes in all sizes and levels of power. Only a licensed professional can recommend and custom fit an ear device to improve your hearing, so if you think you may need hearing improvement do not hesitate to take action. The right fit can improve your quality of life immensely.

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