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One topic that is rarely discussed when it comes to hearing loss is how to keep people who have it safe inside their homes. Picture this situation: you’re at home and a fire begins, and like most people today you have smoke detectors installed to warn you so that you and your family can evacuate before the fire becomes serious. But this time imagine further, and contemplate what would happen if your smoke alarm goes off at night after you’ve gone to sleep, removing your hearing aid first as you usually do.Virtually all smoke alarms (or similar carbon monoxide detectors), including nearly all devices accredited and mandated by city and state governments, emit a loud warning sound between the frequencies of 3,000 to 4,000 Hertz. And while the majority of people can hear these sounds easily, these frequencies are among those most affected by age-related hearing loss and other forms of auditory problems. So even if you were awake, if you are among the more than eleven million people in America with hearing loss, there is a possibility that you would not hear the alarm.Luckily, there are home safety products which are specifically created for the requirements of the hearing impaired. For those with slight to moderate hearing loss, there are smoke detectors that emit a 520 Hz square-wave warning tone that they can generally hear. For people who are completely deaf, or who cannot hear whatsoever when they remove their hearing aids or turn off their cochlear implants (CIs) at night when they go to bed, there are alert systems that blend extremely loud alarms, flashing lights, and vibrators that shake your mattress to warn you. For comprehensive home safety, many of these newer devices have been designed to be easily integrated into more extensive home protection systems to warn you in case of intruders, or if emergency services are pounding on your doors.Many who have hearing aids or who have cochlear implants have chosen to boost the efficiency of these devices by setting up induction loops in their homes. An induction loop is simply a lengthy strand of wire that encircles your living room, bedroom, or children’s rooms, which activates the telecoils embedded in your devices to raise the volume of sounds, and therefore may help you not to miss any important or emergency signals.And of course there is the lowly telephone, which many of us tend to ignore until we need one, but which can become crucial in any sort of emergency. Most present day telephones now can be found in models that are hearing aid and CI-compatible, which allow their use during emergencies. Other models incorporate speakerphone systems with very high volumes that can be easily used by the hearing impaired, and more importantly, can be voice-activated. So if you fell and hurt yourself away from the phone, you could still voice-dial for assistance. There are additional accessories for mobile phones, such as vibrating wristbands that can inform you of an incoming phone call even if you are asleep.Other safety tips are less technical and more practical, like always keeping the telephone numbers of fire departments, ambulance companies, doctors, and emergency services handy. We are as concerned about your basic safety as we are about your hearing, so if we can be of service with any further tips or suggestions, feel free to give us a call.

The question of precisely how long hearing aid batteries should be expected to last is not as simple to answer as it seems, because battery life hinges on numerous factors. Battery life will depend on the model of your hearing aid, and can vary widely across unique models created by the same manufacturer. The way you use your hearing aid will also affect battery life; the more hours a day it is turned on, the more rapidly you will use up batteries.There are even different battery lives in the exact same size of hearing aid battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you are purchasing that manufacturer’s “premium” line or their “normal” line of batteries. Battery type is another key factor in longevity. For example, zinc-air batteries will start to lose power the instant you remove the adhesive tab on the bottom and will continue to lose power even if the hearing aid is turned off while other types will only drain when they’re in a hearing aid that is powered on.Because the expense of hearing aid batteries adds up, if you are looking for a new hearing aid, you should do some research to find out which types and models of hearing aids have the best battery life, because that may influence your choice. The same research suggestion is true if you have an existing hearing aid and are trying to find the batteries with the longest life for it; you can learn a great deal from consumer ratings and comparative reports.To make things somewhat easier for you, hearing aid batteries are produced in 4 common sizes, each of which is marked with a distinct color code, which is always the same no matter who the manufacturer is. The following list of battery life is estimated, of course, but it should give you a general idea of how long batteries of each size should last:

• Size 10 – Yellow tag – 80 hours
• Size 13 – Orange tag – 240 hours
• Size 312 – Brown tag – 175 hours
• Size 675 – Blue tag – 300 hours

For the longest battery life, remember to turn your hearing aid off when you’re not using it. Store your unused hearing aid batteries at room temperature, indoors, and in their original, unopened packaging to ensure their longest possible life.

To understand the difference between analog and digital hearing aids, you need to first appreciate the history of analog versus digital, and the different ways that they amplify and process sounds. Analog technology emerged first, and as a result most hearing aids were analog until digital signal processing (DSP) was invented, after which digital hearing aids appeared. At this point, most (90%) of the hearing aids purchased in the United States are digital, although analog hearing aids are still offered because they’re often less expensive, and because some people prefer them.Analog hearing aids handle incoming sounds by taking the electrical sound waves as they emerge from a microphone and amplifying them “as is” before sending them to the speakers in your ears. Digital hearing aids take the sound waves from the microphone and transform them to digital binary code. This digital data can then be manipulated in many sophisticated ways by the microchip within the hearing aid, before being transformed back into regular analog signals and sent to the speakers.Analog and digital hearing aids carry out the same work – they take sounds and boost them to enable you to hear better. Both analog and digital hearing aids can be programmable, which means that they contain microchips that can be customized to alter sound quality to match the user, and to create various settings for different listening environments. As an example, there can be distinct settings for low-noise locations like libraries, for busy restaurants, and for large areas such as stadiums.But beyond programmability, the digital hearing aids often offer more controls to the wearer, and have additional features because of their ability to manipulate the sounds in digital form. For example, digital hearing aids may offer numerous channels and memories, permitting them to store more environment-specific profiles. Other features of digital hearing aids include the ability to automatically reduce background noise and eliminate feedback or whistling, or the ability to prefer the sound of voices over other sounds.In terms of price, analog hearing aids are in most cases less expensive, although some digital hearing aids are nearing the cost of analog devices by eliminating the more advanced features. There is commonly a noticeable difference in sound quality, but the question of whether analog or digital is “better” is entirely up to the individual, and the ways that they are used.

Excerpt: “The audiologists at Arizona Balance & Hearing Associates agree that getting the word out about the National Hearing Test is very important. Just as important is having local audiologists available in Phoenix to perform comprehensive hearing tests and offer individualized counseling for people who score outside the normal range on their screening.”Read full press release at:https://www.prweb.com/releases/hearing-test/Phoenix/prweb10392522.htmDownload PDF: Click Here

Around 6 million U.S. teenagers have some form of hearing loss, which signifies an increase of approximately 33 % over the last twenty years. While authorities claim that this hearing loss is in part caused by sustained exposure to high volumes of music from phones and MP3 players, participation in marching band is yet another contributing cause. As nearly every city high school and college has a marching band, participation is a very common activity among teenagers.Unsafe decibel levels for teens.Volume, or noise level, is measured in decibels (dB). Adults and children can suffer hearing loss from exposure to noises over 85 dB. Marching band includes a variety of instruments, some of which easily cross over that threshold during rehearsals and performances. For example, Duke University students were exposed to decibel levels of 99 over a half hour during drumline practice. However, playing those instruments indoors for rehearsals can be even more harmful to teens’ hearing. Unfortunately, many youths don’t reduce the volume of their instruments when playing inside.Prevention and protection strategies. Musicians earplugs are effective at reducing the sound levels that reach the inner ear. These professional earplugs are designed to fit perfectly in the teen’s ears. Musicians earplugs can be expensive, which may be a problem for parents. Another effective strategy for protecting young people’s hearing is to reduce the length of time they are exposed to potentially harmful sound levels by breaking up the rehearsals into shorter sessions. Increased awareness among teens and band leaders of the importance of reducing instrument sound levels when playing indoors is also key. Parents, teens, and band leaders should work together to increase awareness and to implement strategies for protecting the hearing of marching band members.

Navigating through the world with hearing loss can be difficult at times, particularly when you need to depend on your hearing for health and safety. Many individuals with hearing problems find that driving a car can become a challenge. Fortunately, just because you have difficulty hearing doesn’t mean that safe driving is out of the question. Keep these safe driving tips in mind the next time you get behind the wheel.Keep up with car maintenance: You know that if your motor is making a strange sound there is probably a problem with it. However, if you can’t pick up on audio clues that something is wrong with your vehicle you may end up driving an unsafe car. Stay up to date with routine maintenance to make sure your car is in proper condition.Don’t drive if you are not comfortable: If your hearing loss makes you feel uncomfortable while driving a car it’s best to avoid it. Take advantage of public transportation or other driving alternatives. Driving while stressed or uncomfortable may make you more likely to make dangerous errors, so don’t get behind the wheel unless you are feeling safe and confident.Reduce distractions: If your hearing isn’t ideal you will have to be more reliant on your other senses, such as vision. Therefore, you can put yourself (and your passengers) in danger if distractions such as electronic devices or food draw your eyes away from the road. Similarly, listening to the radio can make it even more difficult to hear sirens, horns, and other important traffic cues. Get rid of any influences that get between you and the road to make sure you aren’t missing crucial information.Drive with your hearing aid in mind: If you wear a hearing aid be sure you don’t get behind the wheel without it. It’s also important to make sure your car’s environment is conducive to proper hearing aid functioning. Rely on your car’s climate control system to maintain a comfortable temperature rather than opening the windows. The draft caused by rushing wind can reduce your hearing aid’s effectiveness, potentially putting you at risk.Hearing loss doesn’t have to keep you from driving if your doctor approves. Stay safe out there!

When many people think of post-combat injuries among veterans, they think of missing limbs, post-traumatic stress, and brain trauma. Hearing loss, though, may not often come to mind. Check out these 5 surprising facts about hearing loss among veterans to learn more.The most common post-service malady happens to be hearing damage or loss. – Hearing loss is even more common than PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Loud explosions from bombs aren’t the only threat to hearing – general combat and everyday military noise can cause harm as well. Improvised explosive devices, loud weapons, and other sounds such as the engines of ships, planes, and tanks can cause tinnitus and temporary to permanent loss of hearing. Hearing loss is especially common among post 9/11 veterans. Indeed, the numbers of soldiers who suffered hearing loss or tinnitus after the attacks on the World Trade Center swelled to 414,000.Soldiers are more likely to suffer hearing damage than civilians. – According to the Center for Disease Control, post-combat soldiers are 30 percent more likely to have severe hearing impairment than nonveterans. Even more concerning is that among those who served from September 2001 to March 2010, veterans were four times more like to suffer hearing loss than nonveterans.Hearing loss may be more prevalent now than it was for soldiers in the past. – Larger and louder weapons technology very likely contributes to higher numbers of veterans with hearing loss. Intensely loud field generators, bombs such as “bunker busters,” and even modern helicopters can cause hearing impairment if soldiers don’t take precautions.Many veterans suffering from hearing impairment don’t seek medical help right away. – According to experts, many soldiers with hearing loss or tinnitus choose to live with the problem, rather than getting help. Astoundingly, it takes an average of 7 years for a person to get help for hearing damage.Breakthroughs in neuroscience may help those who suffer severe tinnitus. – Some scientists assert that low serotonin levels may be linked to how severe a person’s tinnitus can be. Low serotonin can cause insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Tinnitus therapies combined with antidepressants have aided some veterans who are chronic sufferers of tinnitus.

Hearing loss can happen at any age. In fact, nearly 12 percent of kids age 6 through 19 have noise induced hearing loss according to the American Academy of Audiology. Of all birth defects, hearing loss presents itself more often than any other congenital defect in the United States. In fact, the American Speech and Language Association reports that approximately 12,000 babies are born each year with hearing loss.Kids with hearing impairment can benefit greatly from early diagnosis and treatment. – Early identification and assessment of hearing losses is vital. Studies have shown that infants whose hearing loss is detected after 6 months of age did comparably worse on language skill development compared to infants where the loss was detected and treated before 6 months.Childhood hearing losses aren’t necessarily lifelong.– Not all hearing loss is the result of a long term permanent defect. Minor conditions such as a build up of earwax or an infection could cause reversible hearing loss. Some conditions resulting in hearing loss are temporary and can be resolved with medical treatment or minor surgery. Ear infections left untreated could cause permanent hearing loss, so be sure to seek medical attention right away when there is a possibility of ear infections.Some hearing loss can be prevented. – You may not realize that noise related hearing loss is very common and it can be avoided all together. Using protective ear plugs or ear muffs is a must for protecting kids from noise induced hearing loss. Also, parents should lower the volume on stereos and other electronics.Hearing loss may delay your child’s ability to learn normal language skills. – Children learn more about language from birth to 3 years of age than they do at any other time in life because during that time the brain is more receptive to learning language. Young children need to have proper hearing function in order to develop normal speech patterns. In order for children to learn proper reading skills, they must first develop good language skills.Hearing loss signs and symptoms are often times initially observed by parents. – In many instances parents are the very first to notice something is not quite right in young kids with hearing loss. Signs to watch for include: response to music and making jabbering sounds. Around 9 months of age kids should be repeating back sounds and should also understand some simple phrases and commands. For a more in depth list of normal milestones for babies and young children to assess possible hearing loss, ask your hearing specialist or audiologist. Be sure to find out about recommended screenings as well.

Nearly all public places and businesses have modified their buildings for accessibility to wheelchairs, an extremely visible disability, but may be unaware of the less obvious challenges confronted by people who have hearing loss. Installing a hearing loop clarifies speech and other sound for patrons with telecoil compatible hearing aids, is less expensive than other modifications and may increase visitors or customers. If you or your loved ones notice that hearing the goings-on at venues you visit regularly is a difficult task, you can help instigate positive change.Churches, synagogues & mosques. Few places of worship have modern hearing loops installed. Many don’t have any assistance for the hearing impaired. Others are using outdated technology that is not convenient or hard to use. If this is the case, let the leadership team know of the advantages of this type of system, such as using a telecoil to hear the sermon clearly through your own hearing aid or implant. Outline the idea in a page of your weekly bulletin or community newsletter.Theatres, auditoriums & athletic arenas. In the United States, it is a legal requirement for pubic assembly spaces to have audio amplification. A hearing loop is an easy way for a venue to comply with this law. To promote this need, you can write to or meet with the people in charge of these public spaces and business to explain the need and benefits. For example, accommodating the hearing challenged will increase the number of visitors in these places.Information to share. When you approach the managers of these venues, you’ll want to be prepared with information so you can build understanding and awareness. You’ll probably need to start at the beginning by explaining what a hearing loop system is and how it works. You’ll want to have some ballpark figures on cost. Have a prepare list of benefits from the patron’s perspective and the venue’s perspective. Explain to them the benefits of their increased business. Even if they don’t engage in the concept the first time, make yourself available as a resource for additional information and inquire if you can touch base with them every few months to continue the conversation.

If you’re using or considering purchasing a hearing aid with a telecoil function, you might be curious about what it does. This tiny coil of wire may seem simple, but the advantages it can provide to individuals who use it are manifold. This short article explains the fundamentals of what a telecoil is and how it operates to improve your hearing ability.Telecoils inside hearing aids detect magnetism. Standard microphones and amplifiers in hearing aids amplify all the sounds that they encounter, but a telecoil only transfers magnetically created sounds. The telecoil was first introduced to enhance listening ability on the telephone. Older telephones used highly effective magnets in their speakers, generating magnetic signals that telecoil-equipped hearing aids could pick up on. Modern phones don’t naturally create these signals, but many are equipped with supplemental electronics that make them telecoil compatible.The telecoil feature isn’t just used in phones. Many public places, including auditoriums, stadiums and movie theaters, are equipped with Assistive Listening Systems that employ telecoil technology. You may find that a venue will offer you a headset to assist in transmitting these signals. Users often say that the clarity of the sound they pick up magnetically surpasses the sound quality transmitted through the air acoustically.The way you use your telecoil will vary depending on the age, type and size of your hearing aid. The telecoil function is more prevalent in larger hearing aids, including those with a case that fits behind the ear. Older hearing aids can be switched between telecoil and non-telecoil modes using a physical switch on the device. Newer models are often pre-loaded with program modes, allowing the user to switch on their telecoil by pressing a button on the device or on a remote control.You may have learned about interference when using a telecoil: it can happen, but it’s uncommon. You may notice a buzzing sound that grows louder the closer you get to a CRT computer monitor, old fluorescent light, or another cause of interference.The rare interference is the only downside to telecoils. They are really wonderful additions that offer many added benefits. Telecoils are generally inexpensive and well worth including in any hearing aid.

Whenever a sound wave strikes your ear, miniature nerve endings in your inner ear translate them into electric signals that your brain understands as sounds. If these nerve endings are destroyed, or if damage occurs in other areas of the inner ear,sensorineural hearing loss can result.A person who is suffering from sensorineural hearing loss is not necessarily completely deaf. In fact, in many instances only particular sounds become hard to hear. An individual affected by sensorineural hearing loss make claim that some sounds are actually too loud while other sounds are muffled and indistinct. Noisy conditions can make it difficult for you to single out speech patterns. Men’s voices frequently sound clearer than higher-pitched women’s voices and following conversations with several speakers is particularly difficult. Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss may also find themselves feeling dizzy or experiencing ringing in the ears.Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors. In some cases the individual has this problem from birth. Congenital sensorineural deafness can be caused by genetic syndromes, as well as by infections that can pass from mother to infant..Sensorineural hearing loss that starts later life can have many different underlying causes. Acoustic trauma, contact with an exceedingly loud noise, can lead to this issue. Steady exposure to lower level noise, such as listening to loud music or working with noisy equipment, can also lead to inner ear damage.Sensorineural hearing loss can come on suddenly, such as in the case of viral infections. These infections include measles, meningitis and mumps. Meniere’s Disease, a syndrome that causes vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus, can also lead to fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss. Both conditions can potentially be treated with corticosteroids.Abrupt changes in air pressure and head trauma can cause sensorineural hearing loss, as can other physical issues such as tumors. Otosclerosis, a hereditary disorder in which a bony growth in the middle ear disrupts hearing, is another physical cause of sensorineural hearing loss.While sensorineural hearing loss can have a profoundly negative effect on your quality of life, there are treatment options available.

Excerpt: “Because tinnitus is such a widespread issue in the U.S. and in Phoenix in particular, the audiologists at Arizona Balance & Hearing Associates are regularly researching new treatments. Tinnitus research is a very active field with many studies and research trials conducted each year.”Read full press release at: https://www.prweb.com/releases/tinnitus-treatment/phoenix/prweb11666130.htmDownload PDF: Click Here

Shopping for hearing aids will expose you to a variety of styles, including receiver-in-canal (RIC). The receiver in canal hearing aid shares numerous benefits with behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid while possessing some distinct advantages unique to the receiver in canal. This short article explores some of the main pluses and minuses of the RIC hearing aid style.Many readers will be familiar with behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids where all the components are housed inside a single case. RIC hearing aids, on the other hand, separate the components into two major sections. A case behind the ear holds the aid’s amplifier and microphone, while a small bud that contains the receiver is used inside the ear canal. A small tube connects the receiver to the case.Separation of the receiver into its own compartment has several advantages. Feedback and occlusion tend to be much less of a problem with RIC devices than they are with other hearing aids. Listeners also enjoy a more natural sound, making the listening experience much more comfortable. This type of device a great choice for listeners with mild to moderate hearing issues because it amplifies high-pitched tones exceptionally well.The physical configuration of RIC devices also provides a number of advantages. Separating the two components allows the device to remain very small, making it unobtrusive and easy to hide. This small size also makes it very comfortable and easy to fit.RIC devices do have several disadvantages. Compared to other types of hearing aids, RIC aids are particularly vulnerable to moisture in the ear, necessitating frequent repairs. Because they are so comfortable they are actually easier to lose: if you are not used to feeling them in your ear, you may not notice when they are gone. Lastly, this style of hearing aid is often higher in price than its cousins, so some shoppers may have difficulty fitting them into their budgets.Receiver-in-ear hearing aids do have their flaws, but their numerous advantages make them a worthwhile choice for many listeners. Seeking the advice and assistance of a hearing specialist is the next step in selecting the best hearing aid for your hearing loss and lifestyle.

Hearing someone who is seated next to you in a silent room is not the same thing as following a lively conversation around a busy restaurant table. The majority of digital hearing aids can adjust to different conditions like these by using a variety of “listening programs”. Having access to multiple listening programs helps to ensure that you can hear at your best whatever situation you are in.When you first receive your hearing aid, your hearing professional will program your device with an external computer. This process allows a number of individual processing characteristics to be fine-tuned into a number of distinct listening programs. When you start wearing your device, these programs can be accessed manually or automatically to match whatever situation you find yourself in.Today’s hearing aids are quite powerful, and many are capable of running a wide variety of listening programs. Some programs work to reduce background noise, eliminate feedback or shift higher-frequency sounds into a more comfortable range, while others are designed to make speech patterns easier to identify. These are just a few of the programs you can take advantage of – talk to your hearing professional to find programs that are most relevant to your situation.The method you use to access these different programs varies from device to device. Some hearing aids are sold with a small external controller that allows you to switch from program to program as well as access other features. You may be able to switch from program to program via a small switch, or your device may determine the best program for the situation without requiring your input.Young children with hearing issues may be good candidates for hearing aids with multiple listening programs. Having a number of available programs allows parents to quickly find a setting that is most comfortable for their child. This can help audiologists determine what settings will lead to the best hearing experience for the child.The additional flexibility and convenience that come with multiple listening programs helps hearing aid wearers achieve a more comfortable listening experience.