HEARING AIDS
TYPES OF HEARING AIDS. HOW TO CHOOSE A HEARING AID. NEW GENERATION HEARING AIDS. CARE AND MAINTANACE OF HEARING AIDS. BINAURAL VS MONOAURAL HEARING AIDS. WHAT DO HEARING AID CHANNELS AND BANDS MEAN. WILL MY HEARING IMPROVE WITH A HEARING AID. HEARING AID ACCESSORIES
ANALOG HEARING AIDS
Analog hearing aids work using old analog technology that collects all the sounds in your environment and delivers them to your ears at increased volume with an amplifier. These models were not preferred because they are sometimes too loud and amplify both voice and noise, resulting in poor speech intelligibility.
DIGITAL HEARING AIDS
Digital hearing aids have special chips that can differentially amplify individual sound frequencies based on the audiogram. You can optionally make speech louder while reducing noise. Digital hearing aids can also connect to phones, TVs, smartwatches and computers. There are also rechargeable models that are as convenient as possible.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT STYLE ?
Hearing aids come in all shapes and sizes, but the right choice depends on many factors, including :
1.Age.
2.Disabilities or dexterity issues.
3.Type and degree of your hearing loss.
4.Your lifestyle .
5.Disabilities or dexterity issues.
Our audiologists consider all these factors and help you pick the right hearing aid to suit your needs.
Is a minor hearing loss different from a major hearing loss?
more expensive?
The style of the hearing aid doesn’t set the price, it doesn’t limit the technical capabilities, and the technology inside the hearing aid changes the level from basic to premium.
TYPES OF HEARING AIDS
Behind the Ear (BTE):
This model is located behind the ears and has the shape of a small ring. Usually there are also volume buttons. The amplified sound is transmitted through the earmold to the ear canal to help hold the hearing aid in the ear. Because of their larger size, BTE models are often the only type of assistive device powerful enough to help people who are experiencing deep loss. It is also most often recommended for geriatric and pediatric clients.
Receiver in the Canal (RIC):
RIC hearing aids are the most widely used models in the world. It has most of the features, including Bluetooth connectivity and charging capabilities. This model is the perfect combination of size and amplification to compensate for a very small yet severe hearing loss. This is achieved by the fact that the receiving part, or “speaker,” of the device is separated from the body of the device and placed directly in the ear canal and is connected by a thin wire. This makes RIC very discreet and easy to use.
In The Ear (ITE):
ITE is a custom-made hearing aid. In other words, it is custom made to fit the shape of your ear canal. Because the entire device is at the entrance to the ear canal, there are no components placed behind the ear. Despite its smaller size, the ITE can have directional microphone options and longer battery life than smaller discrete hearing aids. They cover moderate to severe losses.
In the Canal (ITC) :
Most of these hearing aids are located in the ear canal and only a small portion is visible at the entrance to the ear canal. They are slightly smaller than the ITE and also have volume control or program buttons. ITC is a great option for those who want a discreet hearing aid that can provide amplification up to severe hearing loss.
Completely in the Canal
These hearing aids are almost invisible from the outside. It fits completely inside the user’s ear canal, allowing natural localization signals provided by the outer ear. This is the best option for people who have moderate hearing loss and want to hide their hearing aids from other people’s eyes.
Invisible in the Canal (IIC):
These hearing aids are almost invisible from the outside. It fits completely inside the user’s ear canal, allowing natural localization signals provided by the outer ear. This is the best option for people who have moderate hearing loss and want to hide their hearing aids from other people’s eyes.
WHAT’S NEW IN HEARING AIDS?
Gone are the days when hearing aids were bulky and uncomfortable to wear. With digitization, hearing aid technology has advanced by leaps and bounds and has grown to accommodate technological advances in other areas of patients’ lives, such as cell phone technology and artificial intelligence. Here are some of the latest features you can expect from hearing aids.
Bluetooth Connectivity.
If you’re worried that the days of listening to music or watching movies with headphones alone are over, now that you have hearing aids, think again! Hearing aids now stream music, video or video calls directly from your phone to your ears just like Bluetooth headphones.
Rechargeability.
Wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t have to fiddle with the little door of my hearing aid to change the battery every few days? Now with rechargeable hearing aids that come with a charging dock and a built-in lithium-ion battery (same as cell phones).
Apps and Smartphone compatible.
From basic apps that allow hearing aid wearers to control the volume and change programs, to more advanced apps that allow them to learn about their daily routine and fine-tune their hearing aid programs (including features such as noise cancellation and feedback),
Remote Programming.
Hearing aids cannot be fully programmed for the different listening conditions often encountered in everyday life, and a visit to the hospital for multiple fine-tuning may not be possible. In these cases, you can activate the remote fine-tuning feature so that the.
Geotagging.
Home, school or work has a very different listening environment and you may find yourself changing the volume and noise reduction settings every time you visit these places. Geotagging allows your hearing aids to track you using GPS and automatically switch.
Find my Hearing Aid
Hearing aids are smaller than ever, and because of that, very easy to misplace. Through the find my hearing aid option, you will be able to locate your device using your phone whether it is in your house or elsewhere. This is a highly desirable feature for parents whose kids use hearing aids.
Binaural Sound Processing.
Our ears are designed to work together, and our brains gather this binaural information to get an idea of our environment. Binaural sound processing in hearing aids involves the intelligent exchange of key auditory information.
Accessories.
To make your listening more comfortable, your hearing aids are compatible with a variety of additional devices. Devices that stream sound directly from a TV, for example, are particularly popular with the elderly. For children.
7 TIPS TO CARE FOR YOUR HEARING AIDS.
Hearing aids provide the best sound quality on a regular basis and are reliable every day. However, they are also electronic devices and can sometimes malfunction or cause problems. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that your hearing aids perform at their best and last as long as possible.
1. Turn them off when not in use : Keep the battery door of hearing aids open when they are not in use so as to ensure you do not waste battery life. If your hearing aid is rechargeable, then use the switch off feature or place it in the charging dock as required.
2. Protect them from water : Most hearing aids are now waterproof, but it is best to avoid contact with water whenever possible. Remove your hearing aids when showering or when it is raining. Shake to dry and, if wet, immediately put into drying kit.
3. Watch out for wax : Earwax is formed in the ear as a natural defense mechanism. However, wax can sometimes clog the eartips of hearing aids and give the impression that they are losing volume. Clean the eartips frequently with the included brush or soft cloth/cotton.
4. Place them in the Dehumidifier/ Dry Kit once in a while : Sweat can damage your hearing aids, and in a tropical climate like ours, it’s important to put your hearing aids in a dry kit to manage potentially harmful moisture.
5. Change the wax guard : Individual hearing aids (IIC, CIC, ITC, ITE, RIC) have a small filter that prevents earwax from entering the hearing aid. They are often clogged with wax. There are often multiple replacement wax tips in the box with your hearing aids, so they need to be replaced as wax builds up.
6. Change batteries when required : Leaving the battery in your hearing aid for an extended period of time can cause rust or leakage, which can damage your hearing aid. So do not leave old batteries unattended.
7. Bring your aid to us for routine servicing : You can bring your hearing aids to us as your car may need regular maintenance and inspections to make sure everything is ok. Although taking care of your hearing aids is great on your own, there can be some issues that may go unnoticed, but a professional eye can spot them and fix them.
By following these simple tips, you can make sure your hearing aids are always working at their best. If you feel your hearing aids are not clean, or the battery is draining too quickly, or performing poorly, take them to the Hearing Point. Then our experts will be happy to help you set it up properly.
FACILITIES
HEARING AID
A hearing aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. Hearing aids are classified as medical devices in most countries and regulated by their respective regulations. Small audio amplifiers such as the PSAP or other simple sound amplification systems cannot be sold as “hearing aids”.
Hearing Evaluation
A hearing test provides an evaluation of the sensitivity of a person’s sense of hearing and is most often performed by an audiologist using an audiometer. An audiometer is used to determine a person’s hearing sensitivity at different frequencies. There are other hearing tests as well, e.g., Weber test and Rinne test.
Tinnitus Masker
A tinnitus Masker is an electronic hearing aid device that generates and emits broad-band or narrow-band noise at low levels, designed to mask the presence of tinnitus. Such masking noise is also referred to as white noise. For an individual suffering from both hearing loss and tinnitus, the masker and the hearing aid can operate together as one instrument.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy is a treatment that can help improve communication skills. It’s sometimes called speech-language therapy. Many people think that speech therapy is only for kids with speech disorders that affect pronunciation. But it also helps kids who struggle with spoken and written language.
