| Behind-the-ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, | | | | to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power |
| completely in the canal hearing aids, binaural | | | | of the signals and then sends them to the ear |
| hearing aids...and the list goes on. With so many | | | | through a speaker. The hearing aid can be |
| types and hundreds of brands to choose from, | | | | programmed on a computer to customize the |
| what is a senior to do? First and foremost, don't | | | | amplification specifically for your hearing loss. |
| go it alone. Too often, seniors are wooed by a | | | | According to Dr. Wilson, here are some of the |
| catchy ad or a pushy salesman and wind up with | | | | newest advances in hearing aid technology that |
| an expensive hearing aid that they shove in a | | | | you can discuss with your audiologist: |
| drawer and never use. Work with a qualified | | | | Open fit aids. A common complaint among people |
| audiologist who can conduct a thorough hearing | | | | with hearing aids that fit into their ear is that they |
| evaluation, determine the type and degree of | | | | hear distractions, such as an echo when they |
| hearing loss and recommend the appropriate | | | | speak; or hearing themselves chew. A new class |
| hearing aid, says Dr. Phillip L. Wilson, Au.D., Head of | | | | of hearing aids addresses this issue. Called "open |
| Audiology at Callier Center for Communication | | | | fit"aids, these hearing aids sit behind the ear, with |
| Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas. | | | | only a wire and tiny loudspeaker going into the |
| The first thing the audiologist will do is to perform | | | | ear. |
| some basic hearing tests, including: | | | | Digital feedback reduction. New hearing aids have |
| Pure tone air conduction audiometry. Patients | | | | good feedback reduction, to reduce or eliminate |
| listen to a range of beeps and whistles (called | | | | another common hearing aid complaint: whistling |
| pure tones) and indicate when they can hear | | | | noises. |
| them, by pressing a button or raising their hand. | | | | Digital noise reduction. Using complex algorithms, |
| The softest sounds they can hear (hearing | | | | this feature is making hearing aids "smarter" and |
| thresholds) are then marked on a graph called an | | | | able to tell the difference between speech and |
| audiogram. | | | | background noise. |
| Pure tone bone conduction audiometry. This test | | | | Directional microphones. The directional |
| helps determine where in the ear the hearing | | | | microphone allows the user to focus on whoever |
| problem lies. If in the middle ear, the hearing loss | | | | is directly in front with reduced interference from |
| can usually be treated medically. But inner ear | | | | conversations behind and to the sides. |
| hearing loss means the sensory cells are not | | | | Automatically adaptive. With this technology, the |
| working properly, and that problem is permanent. | | | | hearing aid changes the way it works when the |
| Speech audiometry. Patients are asked to repeat | | | | user walks from one place to another. The |
| words and sentences in quiet and in noise to help | | | | hearing aid detects sounds exceeding a certain |
| the audiologist understand the practical affect of | | | | loudness level, and then self-adjusts to reduce the |
| the hearing loss. | | | | amplification. For example, in a quiet place, volume |
| Tympanogram. A test of how well the middle ear | | | | level will increase. In a noisy environment, |
| system is functioning and how well the eardrum | | | | directional mics will kick in as well as noise |
| can move. | | | | reduction features. |
| After conducting the tests and isolating the | | | | Bluetooth compatible. The user doesn't have to |
| hearing problem, if a hearing aid is the right | | | | hold the cell phone up to their ear, which alleviates |
| solution, Wilson says an audiologist should perform | | | | the feedback some people hear when they |
| a lifestyle needs analysis to determine the type of | | | | answer the phone. When a call comes in, it rings |
| hearing aid that will work best for your loved one. | | | | through the hearing aid itself, instead of ringing |
| Some questions the doctor should ask your loved | | | | from the phone. To answer, the wearer simply |
| one: | | | | presses a button. |
| - How active are you? | | | | Even after selecting the right hearing aid, don't |
| - Do you have trouble communicating in noisy | | | | expect your loved one to adapt immediately. |
| places? | | | | Wilson says it often takes a month or more for |
| - Do you live alone? In an apartment? In a large | | | | patients to get used to their new device. |
| home? | | | | "Often, people who are using a hearing aid for the |
| - Do you talk on the telephone a lot? Watch TV | | | | first time will be startled at how loud the world is," |
| often? | | | | he says. "Sounds may seem loud and disturbing. |
| - Do you regularly go out to eat at restaurants? | | | | Suddenly, the refrigerator makes a roar, the |
| - Do you have trouble hearing certain family | | | | newspaper rattles, even the turn signal in the car |
| members such as women or children? | | | | becomes disruptive. I recommend that people |
| - Do you have trouble hearing at religious | | | | wear the hearing aid all day, every day. If you |
| services, at lectures and at movies? | | | | wear it only sporadically, you will never get used |
| Features to look for | | | | to the volume of new sounds, and the brain will |
| Hearing aid technology is constantly improving, and | | | | be confused. It takes at least several weeks for |
| new products are being introduced all the time. To | | | | the brain to put those new sounds into |
| understand what your loved one needs, you first | | | | perspective." |
| must know how a hearing aid works. | | | | So be patient. It requires time to adjust to |
| A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, | | | | hearing aids. Your loved one's listening skills should |
| amplifier, and speaker. The hearing aid receives | | | | improve gradually as he or she becomes |
| sound through a microphone, which converts the | | | | accustomed to amplification. |
| sound waves to electrical signals and sends them | | | | |