Uncorrected Hearing Loss Subjects Your Brain To Auditory Deprivation
Most people with hearing loss dont hear sounds of certain frequencies, usually high ones. If you dont hear those soundsbecause your hearing loss isnt correctedyour brain adapts.
Imagine a baby who doesnât have the ability to hear. If hearing and speech and language are the parents goal, we need to get stimulation to the auditory nerve quickly because neural synapses are developing, explains Catherine Palmer, president of the American Academy of Audiology, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and director of audiology for its health system. This is an issue for adults as well. We dont want the auditory system deprived of sound because over time that can change auditory processing abilities, she said. Your brain may forget how to hear certain words and sounds, in other words. This is known as auditory deprivation.
by Hearing HealthCare Centers | Dec 25, 2019 | Hearing Aids News
Sleep is precious. If you dont get a complete, restful seven to eight hours of sleep, you wake up groggy and cranky, an undesirable feeling that takes several cups of coffee to stave off. So you were aghast when your hearing loss started making you lose sleep.
Justifiably so. But theres a little something that can help, thankfully: a hearing aid. Its possible that these little devices can help you get a better night sleep, according to the latest surveys.
My Hearing Aids Sound Funny Or Distorted
Hearing Aid Batteries Drain Quickly No More
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if youre in the market for a new set. You dock these on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years. Check out other secrets to make hearing aid batteries last.
For more tips and research related to hearing and hearing technology, follow our blog.
Page medically reviewed by Kevin St. Clergy, Audiologist, on April 29, 2020.
You May Like: Asl Im Sorry
Moisture Can Drain A Battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? You do it to cool off. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you may live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Open the battery door before storing the aids
- Dont leave the batteries in if youre storing them for several days
- Get a dehumidifier
- Dont keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Fail To Get A Proper Fitting Upfront
There is a lot involved in getting the right hearing aids, and it starts before you even start looking. When you are at the audiologist, if you are not honest about what you can and cant hear during the test, thats a problem. You may end up with hearing aids that arent right for your level of hearing loss or type. For example, some hearing aids by design pick up a high-frequency sound. If your hearing loss interferes with your ability to hear mid-range or low tones, the aids wont work right for you.
In some cases, hearing aids may not seem to fit your lifestyle. Maybe you spend two-thirds of your day on the phone, but your hearing aids dont have Bluetooth. Thats inconvenient, but can be addressed by replacing them with hearing aids that do.
While you are still in the trial period for your new hearing aids, write down the times where you wished the hearing aids did something different or when it felt like they didnt work right. You can go back to the hearing care technician and talk about those problems. It might just take an adjustment, or maybe you need a different type of device.
Make sure to buy your hearing aids from a retailer that does fittings, too. They wont work if they are too big for your ear.
Also Check: Ears Ringing Alcohol
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Run Down Batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain faster if youre not paying attention.
Dont stop using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, youll need to replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief all of these extra features can drain your battery.
Automatic Hearing Aid Volume Control
Your hearing aids probably have built-in automatic volume control. This means that the hearing aid volume is adjusted automatically in accordance with your sound environment. Loud sounds picked up by the hearing aid are amplified less than soft sounds, and the level of amplification will always depend on your hearing loss.
Read Also: Which Composer Experienced Hearing Loss During His Lifetime
How To Fix The Problems
Anyway, enough cursing at Bluetooth, you people came here to find out how to fix the problem when it arises. We will look at some of the general issues we have heard and discuss quick fix jobs and the possible nuclear options. Before we look at the issues, we need to say that you need to always make sure that you are running the most up-to-date app, the most up-to-date software on your phone and your hearing aids have the most up-to-date firmware onboard.
Audio streaming to one ear only: This happens some times because your body gets in the way of streaming. Moving your phone from where it is, often fixes it. If however, that doesnât do the job, turn your Bluetooth off, then on again, more often than not fixes the issue. If not, you can then try to turn your hearing aids off and on. If that fails, you need to begin considering the nuclear option, forget the devices on your phone and in your hearing aids app. Then restart your phone and re-pair them. In general, that solves all problems.
The app refuses to connect: Try turning your hearing aids on and off, then try to connect. You can then turn the Bluetooth on the phone off and on. If it stubbornly refuses, you need to forget the devices on your phone in the Bluetooth devices list and in your hearing aids app. Restart your phone and then re-pair them.
Also Check: What Is Live Listen On Resound Hearing Aids
How Can The Phonak Audo Marvel Improve Your Life
The Phonak Marvel is packed with convenient features, but above all, it delivers clear, rich sound. Users can expect to understand speech in noisy settings better and with much less effort. The Marvel delivers ease of listening that you have to hear to believe.
Phonak was the first hearing aid to offer lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which are the longest-lasting batteries currently available. A full charge will give users 32 hours of use, which even includes six to eight hours of Bluetooth streaming.
Unlike many other types of hearing aids, the Phonak Marvel can connect to any Bluetooth device. Whether you have a Jitterbug, Amazon Alexa, an Android or iPhone, or even a smart TV, you can connect your hearing aid for easier listening.
Old hearing aids were notorious for being bulky, but Phonak has completely redesigned the Marvel with comfort in mind. The receiver is sturdier than previous generations, and the domes are more comfortable than ever.
A significant upgrade with the Marvel model hearing device is that it is completely encased. Moisture is an issue in Alabama if its not hot and humid, then its raining! Excessive moisture is hard on electronics, but the latest generation of Phonak hearing aids are more water repellant than ever. Patients no longer need to worry about battery corrosion.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Water Out Of Iphone Ear Speaker
Don’t Miss: Hungry Sign Language Baby
Can I Sleep With My Hearing Aids On
Can I sleep with my hearing aids on?
To answer this question in the simplest form, no, you should not sleep with your hearing aids.
Creating Feedback
A hearing aid that fits behind the ear has microphones that are positioned in the hearing aid housing behind the ear. When you sleep wearing the hearing aid, while it is switched on, every-time the microphones get covered with a pillow or mattress there is the potential to create feedback or whistling from the hearing aids. This is not so great for sleep quality for you, or for the person you might share a bed with.
Comfort
Another issue is comfort. Custom hearing aids and ear pieces are made out of a range of material hard acrylic, silicon or even titanium so when you lay on your ear for more than a short amount of time this will not be very comfortable and the material may press into the skin of the ear causing pressure points.
We also see that on average hearing aids are worn for over eight hours per day and these materials are not breathable so removing them at night when you go to sleep allows the skin to breathe and rest and for ear wax to gradually migrate out of the ear.
RECENT POSTS
Music Lover Request A Custom Program
Its very common for people to request a program for listening to music or TV, Sherry says.
Music is an example of when we might need a manual program because hearing aids are really optimized to understand speech. Music is a different ballgame entirely, she says.
Music programs tend to remove a lot of features, so that what you hear with the help of hearing aids closely matches the input, Sherry explains. An audiologist can target the program for the exact circumstances where you listen to music, whether thats a choir singing in church or streaming music through at-home speakers.
Recommended Reading: Sign Language For Hungry Baby
Tips To Adjusting To Hearing Aids
If you would like to schedule an appointment or have questions about our services, you can or if you prefer, call us at .
Hearing aids are fantastic devices to help you deal with hearing loss. However, they can often be difficult to adjust to because they might feel uncomfortable, the sensation you get from hearing might be off-putting and you might even experience pains or aching.
Adjusting to hearing aids can be difficult, so weve prepared four fantastic tips on how you can make the switch and better adjust to them.
What Causes My Hearing Aids To Whistle And What Can I Do About It
Many hearing aids come with feedback cancellation, but this doesnt completely safeguard you from feedback. A number of things can cause your hearing aids to whistle. Here are the most common reasons for feedback and how to resolve them.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Sign Hungry
Hearing Aid Volume Isn’t Like Tv Volume
You probably also have a volume controlbut dont think of it as the same as a volume control on a television, notes Tim Cross, a hearing instrument specialist and industry veteran at Earzlink Hearing Care in Ohio. A TV control raises all sounds equally. A hearing aid volume control tends to raise soft and high-frequency sounds, which can be harder for people to process.
Tim Cross, hearinginstrument specialist
However, because a lot of speech is in low frequencies raising the volume may actually make it harder to hear a conversation. Your perception of sound is your reality, Cross says. Experiment and speak with your audiologist for guidance. I use Sound Link 2 on my smartphone, which allows me to raise the volume from 0 to 4 and lower it to negative 8 on my Sonic aids. Thats a lot of options!
Adjust The Volume On Your Hearing Aid By Using An Iwatch Or Iphone
If you are a techy person who loves all things Apple, I sure hope you bought hearing aids that were made for iPhone compatible. In 2019 those hearing aids are: Oticon Opn, Resound Linx, Starkey Halo or Livio AI, or Signia Pure BT. You connect them using your iphone by going into Settings> General> Accessibility> MFI Hearing Devices. Then open and shut both battery doors of the hearing aids. Both hearing aids should be found on the screen, it will likely say your first name and have which indicates that both the right and left hearing aids were found. Then click on your name and the phone will ask you to pair to your hearing aids.Now, the settings of the hearing aids can be adjusts using your phone as a remote. Simply click the home button 3 times quickly and up will pop a hearing aid remote screen.You could also download the hearing aid app made by the hearing aid company which will give you more options. They also have apps for the iWatch to adjust your hearing aids with as well.
You May Like: Asl Hungry
Adjust The Volume On Your Hearing Aid By Using App On Your Phone
Many but not all of hearing aids today have the ability to connect to cell phones using Bluetooth. Some have the ability to go directly to the phone from the hearing aid and others require a Bluetooth intermediary device. Either way, if it connects to your phone it has an app that can be used to control the hearing aids.The benefit of using the app to adjust your hearing aids is that it is indiscrete. Meaning that your co-workers or anyone else around you will probably think you are sending a text, checking an email or playing a game on your phone.If you would like to adjust the volume on your hearing aids by using an app, just search the brand name of your hearing aids in the app store on your phone.
Types And Styles Of Hearing Aids
Work with an audiologist to figure out which kind of hearing aid will work best for you, as well as any special features you need. The right device for you depends on:
- The type of hearing loss you have and how severe it is
- Your age
- Cost. The devices vary greatly in price, from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
There are two main types of hearing aids:
Analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electrical signals and then make them louder. Theyre usually less expensive and have simple volume controls.
Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into numerical codes similar to computer codes, then amplify them. The code includes information about the direction of a sound and its pitch or volume. That makes it easier to adjust the sound to what you need, whether youre in a restaurant, a quiet room, or a stadium. Most will adjust automatically. Although this type costs more than an analog hearing aid, the results are much better. Theyre also smaller and more powerful.
There are three main styles of hearing aids. They differ in size, placement in or on the ear, and how well they make sound louder:
In-the-ear hearing aids fit completely inside your outer ear. They have a hard plastic case that holds the electronics. Theyre best for people with mild to severe hearing loss, but they dont work as well for children whose ears are still growing.
Continued
Be sure to ask if the device you choose has any special features you want. Not all hearing aids have the same ones.
Continued
Read Also: How To Pair Widex Hearing Aids To Iphone