Hearing Aid Questions

(Click on each question for more details.)

Hearing Loss

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Hearing Loss

Why should I be concerned about hearing loss?
Your sense of hearing keeps you tuned in to life. Your brain consciously, and subconsciously, processes all audible sound. Your hearing alerts you to danger in your environment, even when you cannot see it. Your ability to respond appropriately to directions or to be involved in conversation with others is dependent upon good hearing. If you have a hearing loss, however mild, you are at a disadvantage. Your hearing may deteriorate as a result of noise exposure, head injury, heredity, some serious illnesses, some medications, or the normal aging process.

Usually hearing loss occurs gradually over time so that you may be unaware of what you are missing. Those people closest to you may be the first to notice that you are missing conversation, asking for repeats, straining to hear, answering inappropriately, withdrawing from social situations, or becoming reclusive or depressed. Hearing loss can separate you from the people and activities that you love. In addition, denial of a hearing loss can cause stress and alienation among family members and friends. In such cases, the quality of life can be severely compromised.

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Is there a quick way to find out if I have a hearing loss?
A free screening can be performed by one our licensed Hearing Aid Dispensers. If a hearing loss is detected, a full audiometric evaluation would then follow. The complete audiometric evaluation may be performed by either one of our licensed Hearing Aid Dispensers or by our Audiologist. This complete test is covered by most health insurance, including Medicare.

Understanding your hearing loss is a very important step towards better hearing. Once the hearing test is completed, a licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser will go over the results with you and explain what options may be available. This consultation is always free.

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What is an Audiologist?
An Audiologist is the healthcare professional specially trained to evaluate hearing. Audiologists must complete a rigorous university program in order to obtain a Master's or doctoral degree in Audiology. Certification by the American Speech, Hearing, and Language Association (ASHA) is obtained after completing a one year clinical internship, and passing a demanding national competency examination.

What is a Hearing Aid Dispenser?
Why should I consult with Haskill Hearing Aid Center?
Haskill Hearing Aid Center boasts 3 generations of one family ownership, we have been at the same location for nearly 50 years. We are not a national chain or turn-key franchise. Our service, dependability, and consistency is second to none. At Haskill Hearing Aid Center we openly work with ALL of the major hearing aid manufacturers, and we recommend products that will best serve our patients. When fitting a hearing loss, each patient must be treated as an individual; there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Based on our extensive clinical experience, continuing professional education, and ongoing technology training, Haskill Hearing Aid Center has the most qualified hearing healthcare professionals to evaluate your hearing and dispense hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

At Haskill Hearing Aid Center we will carefully answer your questions and address your concerns, discuss all amplification options that are currently available, and give you honest recommendations based on your hearing loss, your hearing needs, and your personal preferences. You will never be pressured into a decision that you are uncomfortable with, and we stand behind all the products and services we provide. You can trust the Haskill name.

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How often should I get a hearing test?
If you suspect you have a hearing loss, have your hearing tested immediately. Your Audiologist or Hearing Aid Dispenser can determine if you have a “treatable” hearing loss. There may be an infection or other medical condition that is causing or contributing to hearing loss. In some cases, medical treatment may result in hearing improvement. For those who have been diagnosed with hearing loss, hearing should be retested every 2 years or sooner if recommended by your doctor or Audiologist, or if you notice a change in your hearing, experience episodes of dizziness or tinnitus.

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What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the term used to describe ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, or any other unusual head noise. Tinnitus may occur occasionally or may be constant, and may vary in intensity. It is normal to experience rare episodes of mild, brief tinnitus as a result of many normal conditions or exposure to loud noise. If, however, the tinnitus endures or becomes a regular occurrence, increases in intensity, or disturbs your ability to function, you should see your primary care doctor. Occasionally tinnitus may signal a more serious medical problem. For most people tinnitus can occur as a result of hearing loss. For the majority of those people, a hearing aid will “mask” the sound of the tinnitus leaving it less noticeable. If you experience tinnitus after exposure to loud sound, it is a signal that the noise may damage your hearing.

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How can I protect my hearing?
The most obvious answer to this question is to avoid exposure to loud noise. Of course this may be impractical or impossible. A good rule of thumb is that any sounds that prevents you from understanding conversation in a normal voice, or any noise that leaves you with tinnitus can cause permanent damage to your hearing. The damage caused by noise exposure is cumulative over the course of time. It is the loudness (not the pitch) and the amount of exposure that can damage hearing. Audiologists report a high incidence of hearing loss among those people who have worked around loud noise, even for only a few years when they were very young. If you cannot avoid loud noise, use some type of hearing protection. You can purchase inexpensive foam earplugs, or earmuffs. You can also obtain a variety of custom-made noise plugs. At Haskill Hearing Aid Center we can recommend the best custom plugs for any specific type of noise exposure. We can take an impression for your custom plugs and send them to an earmold manufacturer. Once made, we will assure a proper fit, and counsel you on insertion and use.

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How do I know if I need hearing aids?
Following a thorough hearing evaluation, the Hearing Aid Dispenser will discuss the findings, answer questions and make recommendations. It may surprise you to know that due to advances in hearing technology, most people with a hearing loss can now benefit from amplification. Even if a hearing aid is not needed, the Hearing Aid Dispenser may suggest an assistive listening device or recommend strategies to help improve communication.

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Hearing Aids

Aren't hearing aids primarily worn by those who are retirement age or older?
NO!! Unfortunately, in the past hearing loss was associated with aging. We now know that there are many causes and we successfully fit hearing aids to people of all ages. The most motivated and satisfied hearing aid users are those people who have accepted that they have a hearing loss and want to continue to be involved with the world around them. They are not willing to let hearing loss inconvenience them or be an excuse for not socializing or not functioning well at school or at work.

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Okay, so maybe I have a hearing loss. I'm still not convinced I need (or want!) hearing aids. Should I wear hearing aids just because my family wants me to?
NO!!! The single biggest cause of hearing aid failure is lack of motivation. No one can become a satisfied hearing aid user until they become aware and acknowledge that they are missing things, and take responsibility for making a change. Surveys indicate that on average there is a one to five year range from the time a hearing loss is identified until the individual decides to wear hearing aids. Denial is a strong factor in rejection of hearing aids. We often expect the world to adjust sound for changes in our hearing so that we do not have to make a change ourselves. “If people wouldn’t mumble, I could hear just fine,” is a comment we hear repeatedly when we talk with those who have not yet acknowledged their responsibility. Once truly motivated, most people adjust well to amplification and don't want to live without their hearing aids.

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I'm confused! I see so many different types of hearing aids advertised. What kind of hearing aids will work best for me?
Today there are many hearing aid options available. There are several hearing aid styles:

1. A behind-the-ear hearing aid rests on and above the ear and couples to an earmold, which fits inside the ear and transmits the amplified sound from the hearing aid into the ear canal.
   
2. The in-the-ear hearing aids come in several sizes, ranging from the full shell to the smallest CIC (completely-in-the-canal) model.

Many factors determine which style and size will work best for you. Not all sizes and styles are appropriate for every hearing loss and/or ear shape. Keep in mind ... smaller is not always better! The hearing aid circuit is perhaps the most important feature of your hearing aids. The type of circuitry encased within your hearing aid will determine the amount of benefit you will receive. Not all circuits are available in every style.

Haskill Hearing Aid Center carries a full range of the most advanced hearing instruments technology available from the most reliable hearing aid manufacturers in the world. We will help you sort out the options and choose what is best for you based on the degree and configuration of your hearing loss, the size and shape of your ears, your manual dexterity, your lifestyle, your hearing needs, your preferences and your budget.

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My grandfather used to put his hearing aids in a drawer, and rarely used them? How do I know I'm not wasting my time and money on hearing aids? Are hearing aids any better now then they used to be?
Yes, indeed! The early hearing aids were “broad band” amplifiers that made all sounds louder, even sound at some frequencies where you may have normal hearing. In addition, the older aids did not limit how much the sound was amplified. All sounds in the environment, whether they were initially loud or soft, were amplified the same amount. No wonder people often complained that it seemed people were yelling at them when they wore their hearing aids! These devices often spent more time in the dresser drawer than in anyone's ears.

Fortunately, hearing aid technology has continued to improve over the years. The computer is now an integral piece of equipment in the office of every dispensing Audiologist. Computer programmable hearing aids give us the ability to control the frequency (pitch) and the intensity (loudness) of all amplified sounds. The goal is to make all sounds audible, but comfortable, while maintaining a discernible range of volume. We can modify the response of the hearing aid based on the hearing loss and the needs of the user. Because there is a computer chip built into the circuitry, these aids can be reprogrammed to accommodate any changes in hearing loss.

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Do the new hearing aids mask out background noise?
It is important to understand that even those people with normal hearing experience difficulty understanding conversation in the presence of background noise. A hearing aid cannot eliminate background noise. However, there are hearing aid features that will reduce the undesirable impact of background noise. It is now possible to obtain a “directional” microphone, which focus on the sound in front of you, while reducing or eliminating amplification of side and back noise. Studies have proven (and users have happily reported) the effectiveness of the directional microphone in improving the ability to hear the desired sounds at movies, parties, in church, and in noisy restaurants.

In addition, many new instruments offer several different listening programs, customized by the Audiologist for the needs of the user, which can easily be changed by the user by means of a remote control device or a simple button on the hearing aid. These features optimize the signal you want to hear, while minimizing the interference of background sounds.

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How often should I wear my hearing aids?
Initially, it may take several days to several weeks to get accustomed to the “new” sounds you will be hearing. Chances are your hearing loss has occurred very gradually and you may have forgotten many environmental sounds which you, at one time, learned to ignore. Your brain must learn to reprocess these sounds and determine which to “tune in” and which to “tune out.” Some people adapt quickly to amplification. For those who have more severe loss, or those who have never worn hearing instruments, it may take longer. But with consistent use, you will adjust to the sounds around you. Initially, wear the aids as long as you are comfortable. Avoid wearing them in noisy environments. Each day, try to extend the period of time that you are wearing the aids, and wear them in more varied listening situations, gradually wearing your new aids all the time, even in background noise. Amplified sound will become more natural and comfortable. There is a direct correlation between the amount of time you wear your hearing aids and the benefit you receive.

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How much benefit should I expect to notice from my hearing aids?
This is difficult to quantify. The benefit you receive depends on the severity of your hearing loss, your expectations, your motivation, and the circuitry and fit of the hearing aids. Following evaluation and consultation, your Hearing Aid Dispenser can provide a more accurate guideline based on your individual hearing loss.

Do I need to wear two hearing aids?
In most cases, if you have hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids are recommended. The human brain is dependent on input from both ears in order to properly process sound. Balanced hearing provided by two ears affords the ability to tell where sound is coming from, whether the sound is that made by an approaching car or a friend who is calling to you. Two equally hearing ears allow us to better hear conversation in the presence of background noise. Research suggests that, when only one ear is aided, the ability of the unaided ear to utilize and meaningfully process sound will deteriorate.

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