Ear machines can change one’s life. If one has struggled to hear conversations, keeping up with meetings, or interact with people, wearing ear machines can have an incredibly positive impact on their confidence and wellbeing. There is no one-size-fits-all solution with hearing aids. There are numerous types of hearing aids and consulting an audiologist can help make sure that one achieves the best outcome from their ear machines.
Why is a hearing aid fitting essential?
Hearing aids come in various models and designs, and they can be customized to suit the user. Hearing aids have far-ranging capabilities, but they must be fitted and programmed correctly to obtain maximum results. Without a fitting, there’s a chance that the hearing aids won’t fit properly, they may not be programmed to serve the user properly and the patient may not be aware of how to adjust the settings to enhance their hearing.
A machine of ear fitting is vital for both comfort and levels of functionality. While attending an appointment with the audiologist, they will take the time to ensure that the patient is comfortable with their ear machines. They will also ensure that one has confidence when adjusting their ear machines at home or when they are out and about.
A hearing aid fitting can help to enhance comfort, but it can also provide the patient with vital information. If one has never used hearing aids before, it’s natural to have questions about their functionality, usage and maintaining them. At the hearing aid fitting, the patient can ask as many questions as they like and the audiologist will do their best to give them all the answers.
Getting used to hearing aids
According to a digital ear machineexpert, transitioning from not having ear aids to wearing brand new hearing aids comfortably can require time. At first, one can find that it feels very odd to wear hearing aids and it can be difficult to adjust to the fact that they can hear again. When the audiologist places the hearing aids in the patient’s ears for the first time, they will carry out some simple tests to modify the settings to suit them and help them get used to their new hearing capabilities. Once the audiologist has modified the hearing aids, the patient will be advised to book a follow-up appointment so that the audiologist can see how they are getting on with their ear machines.
Conclusion
We are all unique and one person’s ear aids can be completely different from another’s. It’s crucial to book a hearing aid fitting to make sure that the hearing aids are as comfortable as possible and enhance their chances of getting the best out of them. The audiologist will use their experience and training to modify the hearing aids to best suit the patient.
Hearing aids are essential for many people. They help them communicate with others and in their everyday routine and activities. Because of this, keeping them in ideal condition is vital.
Hearing aids are pretty durable, but they are still very tiny and complex instruments with electronic components. This means that things like earwax, heat, moisture and dirt can cause harm to them. In the following sections, an ear loss machine expert will explain some of the most common reasons for hearing aids to get damaged.
Not Keeping Them Clean
Hearing aids, like other electronic gadgets, can be harmed by moisture, but they are also close to another substance that can form difficulties – earwax. Earwax can cause hearing aids to fail or stop working entirely if it gets into the tubing and receiver. It is essential to clean hearing aids daily to keep them always working properly.
When one cleans their hearing aids, it is important to do them as instructed by an audiologist. One should avoid using water and alcohol or chemical-based cleaning agents, which can cause corrosion and irreparable damage.
Dropping Them
While hearing aids are pretty tough, they will not withstand being dropped onto a hard surface. Doing this, especially from a height, will certainly harm them, says the hearing aid device expert. When taking them out or putting them in, cleaning them, or changing the batteries, one should sit down or do it over a soft surface, such as a towel or a pillow, mainly in the early days when they are getting used to handling them.
Not Storing Them Correctly
When one is not wearing their hearing aids, what they do with them might be a major source of damage that necessitates repairs. One should avoid storing their hearing aids in damp or hot environments, such as the restroom or the car. One should find a cool, dry location and keep them there when not wearing them. It also prevents them from getting lost or knocked. One should leave the battery door open when not in use as well – this will dry out the compartment and extend its lifespan.
Wearing Them During Certain Activities
According to the ear loss machine expert, the ear machines are designed to be worn comfortably for most activities. That’s the whole point of them; to allow the user to lead a life where their hearing impairment does not hold them back. However, there are specific activities where one should not wear their hearing aids, as they can be harmed. These include:
In a hot, steamy and moist conditions such as showers, saunas and steam rooms.
When swimming
While blow-drying hair
When spraying hairspray or other deodorants near the hearing aid
Moisture, heat and chemicals that can block the microphone and receiver are all present in these situations. Even waterproof ear machines can be damaged by water if submerged for an extended time. It is good to take out the hearing aid and put them somewhere safe before doing any of these activities.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are convenient hearing devices fitting a wide array of hearing impairments. Moreover, this kind of ear machine is usually the most powerful. These devices come with numerous benefits, from coming in skin and hair tones and being ideal for adults and children alike. They sit behind the ear canal, so they are also extremely comfortable to wear, avoiding the feeling of having something inside the ear canal.
Who Can Use BTE Hearing Aids?
Many audiologists suggest BTE hearing aids for moderate-to-profound hearing impairments. If one tends to do moderate tasks, they can consider these aids because their strategic housing rests behind the ear and do not come in the way while working.
How Do BTEs Work?
BTEs come in different sizes, with the smallest being virtually less visible to others. BTE ear machines for listening broadcast the sound into the ear through a discreet tubing that leads into a customized ear mould.
Because BTE ear machines have extra space, they can accommodate more additional features to give excellent performance even if one encounters profound hearing issues. Finally, these machines are comfortable and easy to mould and manoeuvre around with them.
The Structure Of A BTE Hearing Aid
All ear machines have similar features. Other than those, a BTE hearing aid has exceptional components. It has a microphone that picks up sound vibrations and transforms them into electrical signals. It also has an amplifier that enhances the volume and makes sure that sounds are clear. A BTE has a speech processor that adapts depending on the user’s hearing requirements.
BTE hearing aids also have an audio input that takes up signals from other external devices. Also, these aids use a battery for energy supply. One can either use a disposable or a rechargeable battery, with the latter lasting for up to 24 hours with only one charge.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of BTEs
The best thing about behind-the-ear hearing aids is that they are effortless to handle, insert and adjust in the ears. Furthermore, they are appropriate for a wide range of hearing loss, and there is always room to fit more electric features to enhance their performance. Also, behind-the-ears hearing aids have longer battery life because of their larger batteries.
However, BTE ear machines have a few disadvantages, like more visibility and sensitivity to the wind like any other device.
With BTE, one can experience improved hearing since these aids will amplify and filter sounds to have a clear hearing. However, it will be best to get recommendations from an audiologist rather than purchasing them yourself. Contact Hearing Plus, the best ear machine centre if you suffer from hearing loss.
Invisible ear machines are tiny and unnoticeable hearing machines, which usually sit deep inside the ear canal instead of behind the ear. Invisible or IIC hearing aids are excellent for mild to moderately severe hearing loss and they are nearly impossible to see when in place.
The latest invisible hearing aids use advanced digital technology and these are customized to fit the exact shape of a person’s ears. They offer many advantages expected of modern hearing aids of a larger size. In the following section, one of the best hearing aid centres Hearing Plus has mentioned the benefits of invisible hearing machines that one should know before making a purchase decision.
Benefits of invisible hearing aids
Invisible hearing machines can pick up sounds more naturally. Many are designed to imitate the way sound resonates inside the ears. It makes it more effortless for people to understand the direction of sounds around them.
Invisible aids give users the ability to hold their phone up to their ear without feedback.
Invisible hearing aid users are of all ages. They benefit from automatic volume controls that can adapt to any environment. They can distinguish speech and background noise. The result is that one will never have to miss out on conversations ever again.
They have wireless ability to link to TVs, MP3 devices, computers, and smartphones.
The invisible hearing aids sit securely in position in the bony portion of the ear canal. So, they tend to function exceptionally well and last a long time.
A deep fit helps to reduce that uncomfortable plugged up feeling.
Invisible hearing aids are available for almost all types of hearing loss, except for the most severe.
Is an IIC right for you?
When choosing an invisible hearing aid, one should make sure they spend some time considering their needs. One should speak about their options with an audiologist to help them decide whether an IIC is right for them or whether they would be better suited to a different style of hearing aid.
Hearing loss can occur to anyone and can happen due to several factors, such as a sudden loud noise, medicine, or ageing. Exposure to loud noises over the years can gradually cause your hearing to become damaged.
Contact Hearing Plus, the best hearing aid centre today, if you suffer from hearing loss.
It is an important question that people with hearing loss rarely consider, but perhaps they should. After all, hearing is one of the crucial senses that connect us to the world.
At Hearing Plus, we think hearing should be as natural as possible and free from hindrances, even for people who use ear aid machines.
The brain plays an integral part in hearing
The brain plays an important part in the hearing process. Our ears accumulate sound, but it’s the brain where the sound is analyzed and understood. Therefore, the brain functions best when it receives a large spectrum of surround sounds, just as nature intended.
Therefore, hearing aids should not only make sounds loud enough, but they should also give the brain access to all the surrounding sounds to help it create a more elaborate auditory image. Hearing Plus’s hearing aids simulate accurate stereophonic sound; therefore, the brain requires less effort to comprehend and understand the missing sounds, leaving more mental energy for other cognitive abilities like thinking and remembering.
The old ways of making hearing aids
Old hearing aids were made to focus on the primary source of the sound. In fact, many still are.
This is how they work – the old hearing aids try to compensate for the hearing loss by increasing the volume instead of optimizing the sound to make it easier for the brain to comprehend.
However, this increase in volume overloads the ears, especially in noisy and crowded situations like cafes and family dinners. So, they cut out the ambient noise and focus on the narrow beam of sound coming from the direction in which a person wearing the hearing aid looks. Cutting the ambient noises limit the stimuli coming to the brain and without all the details of the other sounds, the brain cannot function the way it is supposed to.
The brain attempts to fill in the gaps by guessing the missing sounds causing stress and fatigue. This constant guessing leaves the brain with less spare capacity for other things like thinking and remembering, making socializing harder.
Brain-friendly hearing aids are the way to go
Hearing Plus’s brain-friendly hearing aids absorb and optimize the primary sound along with the complete spectrum of ambient noises.
Our brain-friendly ear machines can lessen the strain on a person’s brain and provide them with more pleasant, natural, and balanced sounds instead of simply amplifying individual sound sources.
Due to Covid-19, everyone is recommended to wear masks to stop the spread of the virus. Wearing masks take some time to get accustomed to, especially if you wear both hearing aids and a mask.
The challenge
Did you lose your hearing aid? You are not alone. People wearing hearing aids and masks must have encountered that ear loops on face masks tend to tug on BTE hearing aids, which causes discomfort. Many also state that removing the mask causes hearing aids to fall out. It can happen so fast that it’s unnoticeable and like an earring, it can be easy to lose. Fortunately, we have options to help. Depending on your hearing aid’s model, you may be able to locate it through an app or perhaps replace it through your warranty.
When everyone nearby is wearing a face mask, it is hard for people with hearing problems to communicate. It is because masks muffle speech, which makes it harder to hear and because many people with hearing loss depend on lip-reading to understand, which is not possible when there is a physical barrier over the mouth. Below are some suggestions for communicating while wearing masks.
Communication Strategies
Reduce background sound or find a quiet area
Talk slowly and clearly, but do not shout
Rephrase words if not understood
Get the listener’s concentration and make eye contact before talking
Take turns while talking and do not interfere with one another
Talk while facing each other – don’t talk while walking
Consider buying a portable hearing aid amplifier
Advocate for yourself and express your listening needs
Tips for wearing masks and hearing aids together with ease
We have some hacks to make wearing both masks and hearingaids easier.
Instead of pulling a mask’s elastic or string forward when removing a mask, pull it up, so it has fewer chances to catch on the hearing aid
When you take off a mask, always ensure that your hearing aid is still on or in the ear
Some BTE hearing aid wearers have advised that instead of using your ears to secure a mask, you connect the mask to a headband, giving more space for your hearing aids
People with long hair may find it convenient to secure their hair in a ponytail, so it doesn’t get caught in a mask or on hearing aids
Wear masks with soft fabric ties instead of elastic to reduce pressure on the ears
For more details or to plan an appointment, contact Hearing Plus, the best hearing aid centre.
