It is a well-known fact that untreated hearing loss may interfere with your child’s learning capabilities. However, experts at a hearing aid centre in Bhubaneswar claimed that hearing aids can help minimize the impact of hearing loss on your child’s learning capacities.
Also, research has shown that hearing-impaired children are able to learn speech and language better when they use hearing aids. The study also reported that the longer the child wore hearing aids, the better was their speech and language development.
How to know if your child needs hearing aids?
Hearing loss is often undetectable in young children. Also, in some kids, what seems like hearing loss may be a neurological condition like auditory processing disorder, as said by an audiologist of a hearing aids clinic.
So, whenever you notice hearing loss in your child, like failure to respond to sound or inability to hear sound consult an audiologist who is trained in treating kids for a wide range of hearing disorders. The audiologist will check your child’s hearing threshold and recommend appropriate guidelines.
When is the appropriate time to start your child hearing loss treatment?
It is recommended that children should receive hearing loss treatment as soon as possible. Moreover, audiologists at hearing aids clinic stated that children with confirmed hearing loss should receive hearing loss treatment by the age of six for early treatment.
Some of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss in kids are:
Can’t follow basic instructions
Does not show any interest in songs, rhymes, and stories
Does not use his/her voice for attention
Does not respond to his/her name
Does babble much
The ability to hear affects communication. Moreover, hearing can also impact the development of speech, vocabulary, and sentence structure in your child. Hearing-impaired children find it difficult to learn abstract and multiple-meaning words. They have trouble hearing sounds such as “s”,”sh”, “f”, “k”,”t’, which affects their sentence construction.
A well-known audiologist of hearing aids centreexplains some of the ways hearing loss can affect your child’s growth. These include
Delay in speech and language development
Communication difficulties
Language deficits
Lower academic achievements
When it comes to limiting the impact of hearing loss, seeking early treatment is necessary. Early hearing loss treatment not only enhances speech and language development but also improves social skills.
Patient Review
One of our patients has shared his experience:
Joyeeta Gupta
“We’ve been visiting this organization since 2017. Everyone is attentive to the needs of the person with hearing impairment. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who needs hearing aids or further assistance. Thank you.”
Rechargeable hearing aids have in-built batteries that do not require regular removal, unlike traditional hearing aids, which come which comes with disposable batteries. Most rechargeable hearing devices are well-suited for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, there are some brands of rechargeable hearing aids that are recommended to patients with even severe to profound hearing loss.
Let’s discuss the best brands for rechargeable hearing aids.
Some best rechargeable hearing aids brands
Below are the top brands of rechargeable hearing aids recommended by audiologists as the best hearing loss treatment options.
Oticon: They are one of the largest manufacturers of hearing aids, selling various hearing aid styles according to your requirement. Oticon hearing aids are the smallest hearing aids available in the market with speaker wire.
Starkey: Starkey’ rechargeable hearing aids are small and easy to use and offer long-lasting charges for daylong hearing. Starkey offers portable chargers which provide charging without plugging into the wall.
Phonak: Phonak is one of the largest rechargeable hearing aids manufacturer. Phonak hearing aids provide natural sound quality and also have wireless technology with Bluetooth connectivity.
Interton: Interton is a part of the GN Group based in Denmark. Interton hearing aids offer great sound management options for listening comfort and better speech understanding. These hearing aids also have rechargeable battery with Bluetooth connection.
Signia: Signia is one three brand of hearing aids. They have hearing aids with technology and features for better speech and hearing ability. Signia hearing aids covers all types and severity of hearing loss
Widex: Widex hearing aids have latest technology offering high quality and natural sound even in noisy environments. Widex offers rechargeable hearing aids suitable for patients with different range of hearing loss.
Audio Service: With its newest motion technology, Audio Service hearing aids can automatically adjust itself to over 120 different sounds in the environment and ensure that the users have the best possible hearing experience.
Coselgi: Coselgi offers affordable rechargeable hearing aids offering excellent sound quality to people and modern features. The advanced technology in Coselgi hearing aids helps patients with natural sound quality and you can even the best hearing option that best matches your workibg environment.
You can get the latest models of rechargeable hearing devices from an ear machine centre in Kolkataand get the best hearing aids as per requirements and budget. But before buying hearing aids, it is advisable to consult an audiologist who will recommend hearing devices for your specific needs.
Before buying hearing aids, you might be bothered about their effectiveness and price. There are different types of hearing aid brands available in the market, promising the best hearing experience to patients. Hence, it is important that you visit an audiologist to know which brand you must buy according to your needs.
In this blog, we will discuss the different brands available for the hearing aid domain. So let’s get to know them.
Best hearing aid brand to consider
According to the opinion of audiologists of a hearing aid centre in Kolkata, the below hearing aid brands are the most popular in India:
Phonak: Phonak is one of the largest hearing aid manufacturers. Phonak hearing aids have modern features to boost patients’ hearing ability. Phonak hearing aids have wireless technology allowing sound transfer over Bluetooth-compatible devices and FM systems for improved connectivity.
Oticon: It is the smallest wireless hearing aid in the market. It provides wireless connectivity and 360 hearing experience.
Starkey: It has cutting-edge technology, such as real-time ear
measurements in its hearing aids and use the improved 2.4GHz Wireless
connectivity.
Interton: This brand of hearing aids also has wireless connectivity, directionality, and sound management options for listening comfort and better speech understanding.
Signia: Signia is one of the top three hearing aid brands. The technology used in these hearing aids offers improved speech understanding and background noise processing. Moreover, they come in various styles and are suitable for patients with mild to severe hearing loss.
Widex : Widex hearing aids have latest technologies that offers high quality sound even in noisy environments. Widex have different types of hearing aids for different degrees of hearing loss.
All these companies have commendable features to improve the hearing ability of patients. Some of them have excellent noise cancellation features, while others have wireless technologies. However, the basic features of hearing aids are almost the same for all the brands.
You can get these brands of hearing aids at the best ear machine centre in Kolkata. But it is always advisable to consult an experienced audiologist who will decide which specific feature of which brand is required for you.
Audiologists are health care professionals who detect and treat your hearing impairment and communication competency and improve your quality of life by recommending the appropriate treatment options. They facilitate the prevention of hearing loss through proper testing of your hearing loss and fitting of hearing aids.
An audiologist must complete a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathologist(BASLP) and a 2 year Master Degree in Master of Audiology and Speech Language Pathologist (MASLP). An audiologist and speech language pathologist should be a member of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) and must have a registration number from RCI.
An experienced and licensed audiologist is responsible for the identification of the hearing loss and dysfunction of the auditory, balance, and other related systems. They not only help in selecting and fitting hearing machines but also in assessments of patients with cochlear implants.
Reasons to consult an experienced audiologist before buying hearing aids
Apart from identifying the type of hearing loss, an experienced and licensed audiologist in a hearing aids clinic also take major responsibility for the prevention of hearing loss. So let’s discuss the responsibilities of an experienced audiologist.
Prevention
Experienced audiologist guide people who work in highly noisy environments and make them aware of the consequences of hearing loss and aural hygiene.
Identification
Audiologists conduct painless hearing tests and assess your hearing and balance-related problems. Experienced audiologists also identify patients who are at high risk of hearing loss, tinnitus or, ringing sound in ears, dizziness and prescribe curative care accordingly.
Assessment
An audiologist performs various tests like behavioural, psycho-physical, psycho-acoustic, electro-acoustic, electro-physical etc, to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. Moreover, they prepare assessment reports and, if required, may send the patient to an ENT in case of medical treatment or surgery.
Rehabilitation
There are areas of hearing loss rehabilitation that are handled by an experienced audiologist.
Selecting and fitting hearing aid for patients with permanent hearing loss.
Recommend cochlear implants in case hearing aids are not working.
Regular monitoring and programming of hearing aids after they are suggested to patients.
Creating rehabilitation programs for hearing-impaired children and adults.
Specifying the required hearing aid protective device for those working in a noisy environment.
Consultation Experienced and licensed audiologists assist other professionals regarding the rehabilitation of a person and also determine ways for correct rehabilitation. They even show ways to interact and assist hearing-impaired people in families, society, schools, educational institutes, and also the professional field.
So whenever you are facing any hearing loss issue, always consult an experienced and licensed audiologist for hearing loss treatment who will guide you throughout your treatment.
Patient Review
Here is one of the patients sharing his experience at Hearing Plus
Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are completely moulded to fit inside the ear canal. These hearing aids are suitable for patients with mild to severe hearing loss. CIC is one of the most discreet hearing aids available in the market.
Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) is a small, discreet, personalized hearing aids. These hearing aids are shaped to fit deep inside the ear canal and are almost undetectable.
Both these hearing aids have modern features and are digitally programmable. These invisible hearing aids are well-suited for patients who feel embarrassed and uncomfortable wearing traditional and old-fashioned hearing aids.
IIC hearing aids are small and discreet. You will feel comfortable wearing these hearing machines. Since these hearing machines fit deep inside the ear canal, they are invisible.
As these hearing aids are placed near the ear canal, they offer more natural sound quality.
The hearing aids result in lower distortion of sound and need less power for amplification.
IIC hearing aids are easy to wear. They do not get pulled off while wearing or removing helmets and face masks.
However, IIC hearing aids also have some drawbacks, which are:
These hearing aids need more maintenance as they are more prone to earwax clogging
IIC hearing aids are not suitable for patients with profound hearing loss.
IIC uses small batteries that require frequent changing.
IIC hearing aids can’t be fitted properly in patients with small or collapsed ear canal.
Also, IIC hearing aids are not recommended to patients with middle ear infections or discharge from the ear and tympanic membrane perforation and.
Advantages and disadvantages of CIC hearing aids
CIC hearing aids offer several advantages to the wearers. However, there are also drawbacks that you must be aware of before purchasing one. So let’s discuss.
Pros
CIC can be customized according to the shape of the ear canal of the patients. As a result, they are comfortable to wear.
They are less susceptible to wind noise.
CIC hearing aids are easy to use with a phone.
Cons
These hearing aids have small batteries, which are difficult to handle and have a short life span.
Functions like volume control and directional microphone are missing.
CIC hearing aids are expensive.
CIC hearing aids are also not suitable for patients with middle ear infections or discharge from the ear, and tympanic membrane perforation.
Moreover, these hearing aids also can’t be fitted in patients having small or collapsed ear canal.
