Hearing Aids, The Information You Need To Consider
16th August 2015
Hearing Aids, What Exactly Do You Need To Know?
Perhaps you've thought about getting hearing aids, but you have some concerns about how it will look or whether it will really help you. Hearing aids have come a long way from the massive body worn devices they once were. You now have choices that range from completely invisible in the ear hearing aids to the conventional over the ear hearing devices. There are hundreds of types of hearing aids now available, as professionals we need to continually educate ourselves to keep up. The number of options are almost overwhelming, which is why we’re providing you an overview here, so you can be an informed consumer. However, we have a caveat, finding out if one type of hearing aid is right for you can really only be done in a consultation.
The right hearing aid for you or the range of hearing aids that may be ideal for you will not be clear until you have had a comprehensive hearing test. The decision of which hearing aid is right for you, is based on what your hearing loss is and what you want that hearing aid to do. Those are just two of the things that we take into account when we recommend a hearing aid to a Patient. We also take account of other factors such as dexterity, lifestyle and eyesight.
Hearing Aids The Facts
First and foremost, hearing aids can't restore normal hearing, the damage that has been done within your inner ear means that this is impossible. They will improve your ability to hear and restore a normal level of hearing. Hearing aids will amplify the sounds that you are missing in order that you can perceive them again. This gives you a more normalised level of sound which helps you to recover what you have been missing daily.
Modern hearing aids don't just amplify all sounds, they also try to reduce background noise, this allows you a much better opportunity to understand conversation in noisy places. Hearing aids were once simple amplifiers, however, with the introduction of digital platforms, modern hearing aids have become mini-computers for processing and amplifying sound.
Digital Hearing Aids
The digital revolution has had a huge impact on the way hearing aids look, work and have evolved. The introduction of digital chips have allowed for miniaturisation of hearing aids. Hearing aids can now be so small that they are virtually invisible. They are also much more natural sounding than they once were because they mimic the way you used to hear before you experienced hearing loss.
Digital Hearing Aid Features
Every modern hearing aid manufacturer has invented different features that deliver ever better hearing for their users. While each manufacturer has different titles for their features, they are all based on similar concepts. The main features are as follows:
- Dual microphones/ directional microphones allow you to hear better in noisy situations. They can be used to identify noise sources and reduce the input of that sound.
- Open technology that keeps the ear canal unobstructed eliminates that “talking in a barrel” effect.
- Feedback cancellation that cancels feedback yo before it reaches the stage where you hear it as an annoying whistle.
- Automatic switching technology automatically adjusts the hearing aids to work best in the listening environment you are in, whether you are on the phone, in a crowd or in a windy area.
- Noise reduction identifies competing noise and works to reduce it allowing you to get on with the conversation
- Wireless technology allows you to hear your mobile phone, television and home phone in stereo, directly through your hearing aids!
Digital hearing aids allow very versatile strategies for processing sound, they allow us to treat soft sounds in one way and on loud sounds in a completely different manner. This allows for a better and more customised hearing aid for the user.
All Hearing Aids Are All The Same Right?
Hearing aids vary a great deal in price, size, special features, how they look and most importantly how well they work. So hearing aids are most definitely not all the same, however, comparison of hearing aids isn't easy because of the need for technical knowledge. Hearing aids usually come in four broad technology levels running from low to the highest. The technology levels really relate to how well the hearing aids will perform in different sound environments.
So even within one hearing aid platform from one manufacturer, you could easily have four hearing aids that look the same, but are actually very different in features and how they perform. With this in mind, you can see it is not that easy to do a comparison without having all the facts. It can be difficult to do a comparison in the hearing aids from one manufacturer, let alone across different manufacturers. Each hearing aid family from the different manufacturers are usually from a singular platform, that is the term that is used to identify the chipset that is used in the hearing aids. Understanding platforms and when they were introduced is another important need.
Understanding Platforms
For instance, Phonak have just introduced the Venture platform, which includes their latest hearing aid models. Phonak hearing aids from the Quest platform which is several years old are still on sale though. When making a decision about the right hearing aids for you, it is important to be aware of the platform. A top of the range digital hearing aid from an older platform can be sold much cheaper than a top of the range device from a new platform. However, they can be still sold as top of the range, it is not exactly a lie, it is just an omission of some information in the marketing. That is why it is important that you get all the facts if you are shopping around.
Hearing Aid Manufacturers
The manufacturers we deal with are Phonak, Unitron, Resound, Widex and Starkey. These manufacturers are amongst the biggest and most trusted in the world. Each of these hearing aid manufacturers provides hearing aids that cover most hearing losses with styles and options that suit most people. Because we are an Independent Hearing Healthcare business we use hearing aids from all of the hearing aid manufacturers. It simply means that we have many options available to us and we can decide what hearing aid is right for you based on your hearing loss and lifestyle needs.
How Do Hearing Aids Work
Hearing aids amplify sounds so that they fit within your reduced level of hearing, making them audible. Small microphones set in the case of the hearing aid collect sounds from the environment. A computer chip converts the incoming sound into a digital signal it can process. Then it analyses and adjusts the sound based on the hearing loss information programmed into it, your listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers.
The following are common hearing aid styles, beginning with the smallest, least visible in the ear. Hearing aid manufacturers keep making smaller hearing aids to meet the demand for a hearing aid that is not very noticeable. But the smaller aids may not have the power to give you the improved hearing you expect. Nor may they be suitable for people with dexterity or vision issues.
CIC hearing aids are very small, custom-made hearing aids that fit completely in your ear canal. Great cosmetically, they are suitable for mild to moderate hearing losses. As the name suggests, the hearing aid is nearly hidden in the ear canal. It is really only suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss. The CIC:
Is the smallest and least visible type
Is less likely to pick up wind noise
Uses very small batteries, which have shorter life and can be difficult to handle
Doesn't contain extra features, such as volume control or a directional microphone
Is susceptible to earwax clogging
Slightly bigger than the CIC hearing aids. Due to the bigger size, it allows for more power output, therefore it is suitable for mild to moderately severe hearing losses. It has a bigger battery, which also means longer battery life. An in-the-canal hearing aid:
Is less visible in the ear than larger styles
Includes features that won't fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but may be difficult to adjust due to its small size
Is susceptible to earwax clogging
Bigger than the ITC, and easier to handle. Due to its bigger size, it is possible to have more features added to the hearing aid. An in-the-ear hearing aid:
Can Include features such as volume control and directional microphones that are easier to adjust
Is generally easier to insert
Uses larger batteries, which are easier to handle and last longer
Is susceptible to earwax clogging
May pick up more wind noise than smaller devices
Is more visible in the ear than smaller devices
The biggest of the custom-made hearing aids. Bigger battery, which means longer battery life. Covers mild to severe hearing losses. Due to its size, it is possible to have manual features such as volume control added to it.Includes features such as volume control tele-coil and directional microphones that are easier to adjust
Is generally easier to insert
Uses larger batteries, which are easier to handle and last longer
Is susceptible to earwax clogging
May pick up more wind noise than smaller devices
Is more visible in the ear than smaller devices
The most versatile of hearing aids, suitable for mild to profound hearing losses. Bigger batteries, which means longer battery life. Due to its size, it is easier to handle and can have many features added to it. A behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid hooks over the top of your ear and rests behind the ear. A tube connects the hearing aid to a custom earpiece called an earmold that fits in your ear canal. This type is appropriate for people of all ages and those with almost any type of hearing loss. A behind-the-ear hearing aid:
Traditionally has been the largest type of hearing aid, but newer mini designs are streamlined and barely visible
Is capable of more amplification than are other styles
May pick up more wind noise than other styles, although manufacturers use technical features to overcome this
An open-fit hearing aid is a variation of the behind-the-ear hearing aid. This style keeps the ear canal very open, allowing for low-frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally and for high-frequency sounds to be amplified through the hearing aid. This makes the style a good choice for people with mild to profound hearing loss. The open-fit behind-the-ear style has become one of the most popular. An open-fit hearing aid:
Is less visible
Doesn't occlude or plug up the ear like the small in-the-canal hearing aids do, making your own speech sound better to you
Can be difficult to handle due to small parts and batteries
Often lacks manual adjustments due to its small size
It looks like the Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, however, it has the speaker part in the ear, which improves the sound quality significantly. It is smaller and cosmetically more appealing for younger people. Covers mild to severe hearing losses. Not suitable for people who have moisture in the ears (from exercising, for example) or with wax-build-up problems. A receiver in canal hearing aid:
Has a less visble behind the ear body and is therefore more discrete than most BTEs
Can amplify for most hearing losses no matter how severe
can be susceptible to earwax clogging
The Consultation
You really will not know which hearing aids are the best for you until you sit down with a professional. Take your new found knowledge along, get your hearing fully tested and have an informed conversation about what is on offer. A professional will explain your options and guide you through your decision. We know that many people are concerned about size and discretion, but there are so many features available that can help with so many problem areas that you also need to consider.
New hearing aid users come in to us and they are really only interested in the small ones, the ones no one can see. Second time users come in to us and all they are interested in is the best ones. The ones that will help them hear better. We understand that, priorities and understanding changes, you should be aware that the smallest may not be the bes for you.
However, if everything is explained and you understand clearly, you can make the best decision possible. We would be happy to see you at in our hearing aid centres in Aberdeen or Inverness and our clinics across the Highlands.