Hearing Aids
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hearing aids have five parts: microphones, an amplifier, a loudspeaker, a battery, and a computer chip. A hearing care professional adjusts the chip to fit your unique needs.
Even though most hearing aids are made the same way, they can vary in how well they capture sound and recognize speech. Higher quality hearing aids provide a more natural listening experience by offering features like bandwidth, automatic volume control, noise management, and feedback suppression.
Advanced hearing aids offer personalization options and can connect wirelessly to devices like mobile phones. However, these features come at a higher cost. It’s essential to consult with a hearing care professional for a thorough assessment and personalized recommendations based on individual needs and preferences.
Benefits of Using Hearing Aids
Improved Communication: Hearing aids help individuals hear and understand speech more clearly, improving communication with family, friends, and colleagues.
Enhanced Quality of Life: By addressing hearing loss, hearing aids contribute to an improved overall quality of life, reducing feelings of isolation and frustration.
Maintained Cognitive Function: Addressing hearing loss through hearing aids may help maintain cognitive function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Increased Safety: Hearing aids enable individuals to be more aware of their surroundings, including important sounds like alarms, sirens, and approaching vehicles, enhancing overall safety.
Improved Emotional Well-being: Addressing hearing loss can positively impact emotional well-being, reducing stress, anxiety, and feelings of social withdrawal.
Professional Success: Improved hearing can contribute to better performance in professional settings, as individuals can more effectively engage in conversations, meetings, and presentations.
Prevention of Social Isolation: Hearing aids can help individuals stay connected with their social networks, preventing isolation and maintaining a more active and engaged lifestyle.
Boosted Confidence: Addressing hearing loss with hearing aids can boost self-esteem and confidence, allowing individuals to participate more actively in social and professional situations.
Customized Solutions: Modern hearing aids offer a range of features and customization options, allowing users to tailor their devices to specific listening environments and personal preferences.
Access to Other Technology: Many hearing aids can connect wirelessly to various devices, such as smartphones and televisions, providing enhanced accessibility and convenience. Ask your hearing health professional about t-coil enabled hearing aids to ensure you can connect to hearing loops in your area.
Caring for Your Hearing Aids
Very little care is required. You must keep the hearing aids clean and dry. Every 4 to 15 days, depending on the kind of hearing aids you have, fresh batteries must be inserted. Your audiologist will show you how to do these things when you get the hearing aids for the first time and you will be given a booklet of instructions to take home with you.
How often you change your batteries varies with the degree of hearing loss, the number of hours you wear your hearing aid(s), and the type/size of the battery.
- Keep batteries out of reach of children and pets.
- Store batteries in a cool/dry place.
- Do NOT store zinc-air batteries in a refrigerator.
- When replacing the battery, do not force the battery door closed.
- Check to make sure the battery is the correct size and in the right way.
- When your hearing aid is not in use, open the battery compartment; this will save battery power and allow the hearing aid to dry overnight.
- Keep the ’tab’ on zinc-air batteries until you are ready to use them.
- Extra batteries should be carried in a cloth or leather pouch.
- Do NOT carry batteries loosely with other metal objects (coins, keys, etc.). If metal objects rub together, it could kill the battery.
- Never dispose of batteries in a fire – they may explode.
Know Your Rights
You are entitled to a 30 to 60 day money-back guarantee for your trial of hearing aids. This does not include the ear molds.
