Audiology FAQs
General Questions
Hearing loss can impact your overall health, well-being, and quality of life. Researchers are always discovering connections between the ears and the health of other body systems. Some health conditions are caused by hearing loss, while others cause hearing loss. One thing is certain, hearing loss should no longer be ignored as just a normal side effect of aging.
The good news is that you can do something about your hearing loss. Today’s technology is producing a new generation of hearing aids with amazing functionality.
No. Extreme conditions may shorten their life expectancy.
You can expect your hearing aid to help you hear better, especially in noisy environments. Your Doctor of Audiology will help determine what you can expect from your hearing aid, and which one will best fulfill these expectations.
Hearing Aid Batteries
The size of your hearing aid battery depends on the size of the units you’re using — which is directly correlated with how long they’ll last. The smallest hearing aids, like an invisible-in-the-canal style, will use the smallest batteries and get the least amount of use time. Larger hearing aids will use larger batteries, so they’ll typically last longer. Batteries tend to last between three and nine days.
Some manufacturers do make rechargeable hearing aid batteries in specific sizes that come with a USB charger, but standard zinc air batteries are not rechargeable.
No. Extreme conditions may shorten their life expectancy.
Hearing Care
Hearing aids with digital signal processing help to differentiate between speech and noise, and they turn down the volume of what they identify as noise rather than speech. But no technology is perfect, and none will completely remove the problems associated with trying to listen in background noise. In these cases, strategic positioning in listening situations can help alleviate background noise. Most hearing aid microphones are geared toward listening to sounds that are in your field of view. Positioning yourself to communicate with people face-to-face is one method you can use to help block out background noise.
Hearing aids that aren’t fit to your unique hearing needs can do more harm than good. Most hearing aids focus on helping the user hear better by amplifying specific frequencies that are problem areas for that particular user. Amplifying a wider range of frequencies than necessary can cause more damage by overstimulating the healthy hair cells in the inner ear. By amplifying more sound than necessary, the risks are similar to listening to music too loudly. A proper hearing loss diagnosis and an accurate hearing aid fitting by a quality hearing care provider are important in maintaining your current hearing health and improving your hearing deficits.
Cotton swabs can cause damage if they’re pushed too far into the canal or pushed against the sensitive eardrum. Depending upon the consistency of your earwax, they can also clog the canal, making it difficult to hear with your devices. Other cleaning methods are recommended.
Itchy ears are common for first-time hearing aid users and users who have just purchased a new hearing system. If itching continues for more than a few days, and you have no skin allergies, asking your hearing care provider for a different size of speaker tip for your receiver-in-the-canal or behind-the-ear hearing aids will often stop the itching. For custom earmolds, itching may be caused by moisture and bacteria on the shell, in which case a hearing aid dryer with a UV light will help kill the bacteria and alleviate the problem. Store-bought itch relief creams may help. If all else fails, talk to your hearing care provider about other options.
Yearly hearing checks are recommended for anyone beyond the age of 45, and intermittently from childhood throughout adulthood. If you feel your hearing has changed for any reason, or if it has been more than three years since your last screening, schedule a hearing check with your local hearing care provider.
When you visit a hearing care specialist and get fit for hearing aids, your devices are molded specifically to the contours of your ear, meaning they should fit cleanly and comfortably. If irritation or discomfort becomes an issue, talk to your hearing care provider about using a new earmold material that does not irritate your skin, or having new molds of your ears taken so that your devices fit more comfortably.
Ask your hearing care provider to walk you through how to clean your devices, as each type of device will have components that are unique to that style of hearing aid. To clean the devices on your own, you’ll need a brush tool that can clean the small contours where dirt, dust, and earwax become trapped. The hearing aid should be cleaned daily with a moist cleansing wipe. If the microphone or earmold areas are blocked, use the brush to clear them.
Many practices offer clean and checks for your devices, in which the maintenance is done for you. Aside from promotional periods, or times that your provider offers to have your devices cleaned, it will likely be a service you’ll pay for. Maintenance is important to ensure your devices last and operate effectively. Inserting hearing aids and changing batteries should become part of your daily routine, and making time for doing those things is important for hearing your best. If you’d like to avoid inserting hearing aids and changing batteries, consider a surgically implanted device, which will operate without daily attention.
Hearing Aids
Sleeping with hearing aids in place is usually a matter of comfort. While it may help some individuals hear their morning alarms a little better, there’s also a possibility that the units may fall out during sleep. The other question is whether sleeping while your devices are activated is a good use of battery life.
Some manufacturers do make rechargeable hearing aid batteries in specific sizes that come with a USB charger, but standard zinc air batteries are not rechargeable.
Switch off your hearing aid immediately, remove the battery from the device, and dry the battery and hearing aid meticulously with a cloth. If you own a dehumidifier, place your devices in the dehumidifier and turn it on for about 24 hours, or three to four drying cycles. If you don’t own a dehumidifier, shake your hearing aid to clear it of water, place it on a newspaper or paper towel, and store it on a warm object with the battery compartment open for several hours. A space heater, fireplace, or warm stovetop can act as a dryer as long as the heat source is not too hot. Feeling warm to the touch — but not so warm that your hand cannot remain on the heat source — is the proper medium.
There are two primary considerations to make when you’re thinking about buying a hearing aid: finding a quality hearing care provider and deciding what kind of lifestyle you want to lead. It is not uncommon for individuals to become more outgoing once they have been fit with hearing aids, and certain systems allow for greater levels of activity than others. You should have an idea of how you’d like to use your technology when you visit a hearing care provider.
As with any product, a hearing aid is guaranteed to work only as long as the manufacturer’s warranty lasts. Most hearing aid manufacturers offer warranties that cover defective components for one to three years. Few standard warranties cover normal wear and tear or lost/damaged hearing aids, although many companies offer extended warranties that guarantee repairs or replacements if something were to happen to the unit. Kept and cared for in optimal conditions, hearing aids should last most users four to six years, while seven or more years of reliable use is far less common.
Hearing aids should be cared for on a regular basis by keeping storage conditions optimal and cleaning them regularly. Aside from regular clean and checks by your hearing care provider, your hearing aids should be cleaned using a specific set of tools a few times each week. A dehumidifying storage unit is recommended for safe keeping when they’re not in use, and will help prevent moisture damage.
The ability to hear with both ears, also known as binaural hearing, is essential to humans’ ability to understand speech, maintain balance, and localize noises. Hearing helps with spatial awareness and understanding where your body is in relation to objects around you. Knowing where sounds are coming from helps us keep our balance and identify where sounds are coming from. Our auditory system was designed to process information from all directions, and hearing with only one ear makes that process less than half as effective as hearing with both ears.
Additional features (such as smaller sizes, Bluetooth® audio streaming capability, and multiple sound-clarity options and program modes) tend to increase cost.
Audiologists are primary health-care professionals who specialize in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and management of auditory and vestibular disorders in children and adults. They recognize the relationship between auditory pathologies and communication and are able to use advanced technology to treat many types of hearing impairment and help restore communication deficits. Prevention of auditory disorders is another goal of the audiologists and they work with patients to help ensure proper hearing health-care is practiced.
Hearing loss occurs to most people as they age. Hearing loss can be due to the aging process, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, infections, hear or ear trauma, congenital (birth or prenatal) or hereditary factors, diseases, as well as a number of other causes. Nulla metus mi, malesuada eu risus nec, placerat imperdiet ex. Nam sit amet arcu id risus varius mattis vel sit amet lectus. Sed sit amet tempus purus. Morbi molestie ex quis vehicula sodal.
There are many styles of hearing aids. The degree of the hearing loss, power and options required, manual dexterity abilities, cost factors, and cosmetic concerns are some of the factors that will determine the style the patient will use.
Hearing aids work well when fit and adjusted appropriately. They are designed to help make speech sounds and the conversations easier to understand in all listening situations, without making background noise or other sounds appear to be too loud. There is a processing time for each individual. Some patients may quickly adjust to the sound and use of their hearing aids, others may take longer to adjust. The hearing aids should be comfortable to wear, and sounds should be tolerable and comfortable for the patient to use and enjoy.
If you are experiencing hearing issues or concerns with your ears in general, it is highly recommended that you see one of our ENT physicians, as it will make a difference in your treatment. See an ENT physician if you have earwax buildup issues, if you believe your hearing loss may be connected to current medical issues, and/or if you have additional symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headaches, sinus pressure, balance or dizziness problems and so forth.
If you are experiencing hearing issues or concerns with your ears in general, it is highly recommended that you see one of our ENT physicians, as it will make a difference in your treatment. See an ENT physician if you have earwax buildup issues, if you believe your hearing loss may be connected to current medical issues, and/or if you have additional symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headaches, sinus pressure, balance or dizziness problems and so forth.
Hearing Health Care Services
How Hearing Loss Impacts Your Health?
Otoacoustic emission testing allows the audiologist to understand how the outer hair cells of your inner ear are working.
Tympanometry
Hearing aid accessories includes: hearing aid remote control which will allow a patient to conveniently adjust hearing aid(s) volume and memory settings in the palm of their hands. Bluetooth accessories, in which the hearing aids can be connected to Bluetooth devices such as an android phone or a tablet are available. Hearing aids can also be connected to the television using a T.V. Adapter.
Acoustic Reflexes
An acoustic reflex threshold test assess the response of middle ear muscle (stapedius muscle) when a tone that is high in volume is present. This procedure allows the audiologist to obtain more information about the inner ear system and the auditory nerves.
Audiological Evaluation (Hearing Test)
Hearing evaluations is an assessment to determine how well an individual is able to hear. It measures how well certain tones or frequencies at certain volume levels can be heard and whether the brain is able to pick up those sounds. The test also determines the type and severity of the individual’s hearing loss. Hearing tests are completed using a precision clinical audiometer and is performed by a licensed and certified audiologist. After the hearing test is completed, the audiologist will review the results and will recommend the appropriate measures for conservation or the need for hearing amplification. It is highly recommended to have a hearing test completed every year to determine whether your hearing is stable or if there are changes in hearing sensitivity. If left unchecked, the ability to understand words and sound awareness will generally deteriorate over a period of time. The sooner to obtain a baseline testing, the better it is to provide recommendations for conservation or treatment.
Videonystagmography (VNG) Test
Videonystamgomgraphy or (VNG) testing determines the status of the vestibular (balance) system and how well the brain processes information in terms of balance. This procedure is the primary method of documenting a patient’s dizziness or vertigo. Ten percent of complaints to an internal medicine doctor relates to a concern about dizziness or vertigo
Dix-Hallpike and Epley Maneuver
Many patients who have dizziness experience problems when the rotate their heads in different positions. Such dizziness may be caused by what is termed “positional vertigo” which can be assess during a Dix-Hallpike assessment. If the “positional vertigo” is present, it is treated utilizing the Epley Maneuver by the audiologist.
How long do hearing aid batteries last?
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What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are primary health-care professionals who specialize in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and management of auditory and vestibular disorders in children and adults. They recognize the relationship between auditory pathologies and communication and are able to use advanced technology to treat many types of hearing impairment and help restore communication deficits. Prevention of auditory disorders is another goal of the audiologists and they work with patients to help ensure proper hearing health-care is practiced.
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are primary health-care professionals who specialize in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and management of auditory and vestibular disorders in children and adults. They recognize the relationship between auditory pathologies and communication and are able to use advanced technology to treat many types of hearing impairment and help restore communication deficits. Prevention of auditory disorders is another goal of the audiologists and they work with patients to help ensure proper hearing health-care is practiced.
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists are primary health-care professionals who specialize in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and management of auditory and vestibular disorders in children and adults. They recognize the relationship between auditory pathologies and communication and are able to use advanced technology to treat many types of hearing impairment and help restore communication deficits. Prevention of auditory disorders is another goal of the audiologists and they work with patients to help ensure proper hearing health-care is practiced.
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Hearing and Vestibular Evaluations
Hearing Health Care Services
Hearing and Vestibular Evaluations are scheduled (as recommended) and performed by our licensed and nationally certified audiologists. Testing are subject to professional fees, however, health insurance often covered these services.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) Testing
Otoacoustic emission testing allows the audiologist to understand how the outer hair cells of your inner ear are working.
Tympanometry
Hearing aid accessories includes: hearing aid remote control which will allow a patient to conveniently adjust hearing aid(s) volume and memory settings in the palm of their hands. Bluetooth accessories, in which the hearing aids can be connected to Bluetooth devices such as an android phone or a tablet are available. Hearing aids can also be connected to the television using a T.V. Adapter.
Acoustic Reflexes
An acoustic reflex threshold test assess the response of middle ear muscle (stapedius muscle) when a tone that is high in volume is present. This procedure allows the audiologist to obtain more information about the inner ear system and the auditory nerves.
Audiological Evaluation (Hearing Test)
Hearing evaluations is an assessment to determine how well an individual is able to hear. It measures how well certain tones or frequencies at certain volume levels can be heard and whether the brain is able to pick up those sounds. The test also determines the type and severity of the individual’s hearing loss. Hearing tests are completed using a precision clinical audiometer and is performed by a licensed and certified audiologist. After the hearing test is completed, the audiologist will review the results and will recommend the appropriate measures for conservation or the need for hearing amplification. It is highly recommended to have a hearing test completed every year to determine whether your hearing is stable or if there are changes in hearing sensitivity. If left unchecked, the ability to understand words and sound awareness will generally deteriorate over a period of time. The sooner to obtain a baseline testing, the better it is to provide recommendations for conservation or treatment.
Videonystagmography (VNG) Test
Videonystamgomgraphy or (VNG) testing determines the status of the vestibular (balance) system and how well the brain processes information in terms of balance. This procedure is the primary method of documenting a patient’s dizziness or vertigo. Ten percent of complaints to an internal medicine doctor relates to a concern about dizziness or vertigo
Dix-Hallpike and Epley Maneuver
Many patients who have dizziness experience problems when the rotate their heads in different positions. Such dizziness may be caused by what is termed “positional vertigo” which can be assess during a Dix-Hallpike assessment. If the “positional vertigo” is present, it is treated utilizing the Epley Maneuver by the audiologist.
If you are experiencing hearing issues or concerns with your ears in general, it is highly recommended that you see one of our ENT physicians, as it will make a difference in your treatment. See an ENT physician if you have earwax buildup issues, if you believe your hearing loss may be connected to current medical issues, and/or if you have additional symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headaches, sinus pressure, balance or dizziness problems and so forth.
