WHY SHOULD YOU BUY HEARING AIDS FROM AN AUDIOLOGIST?

Many consumers are still uncertain where to find professional help for their hearing problems. Recent reports showing low consumer satisfaction are further evidence that selling has often taken precedence over care and service in the dispensing and fitting of hearing aids. That's why you should purchase your hearing aids from an audiologist. Clinical audiologists are the hearing care professionals. They are required to hold at least a master's degree in audiology, and a few, like myself, hold a clinical doctorate degree in audiology. We are trained to understand your hearing health needs. Hearing instruments are only a part of the total hearing rehabilitation process.

I READ ABOUT A NEW TYPE OF HEARING DEVICE CALLED BAHA. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT?

BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) is manufactured by Entific Medical Systems. It is designed for people who cannot be helped with traditional hearing aids. Sound is conducted through the bone instead of through the eardrum. A small titanium fixture and connecting port (input) is implanted into the bone behind the ear. A sound processor (hearing aid) attaches to the input. BAHA is designed for those with no middle ear structures. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the BAHA for those with unilateral sensorineural hearing losses. Go to www.entific.com or call Dr. Cynthia Earle for more information.

WILL HEARING AIDS REALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE?

That's a relative question. From the comments I receive each day, I would say that my patients are satisfied with their hearing aids and the personalized care I provide them in managing their hearing loss. I believe that also has improved the quality of their life. The largest study of its kind ever conducted by the National Council on Aging found that ignoring a hearing loss can lead to depression in one’s life as compared to those who took action and purchased hearing aids. I believe hearing well does improve your quality of life.

WHY IS IT MY HEARING AIDS SEEM TO REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE THAN OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN MY HOME?

Hearing aids require more attention because they are miniaturized devices that contain at least a microphone, speaker, amplifier, battery and, in some cases, a microchip. They're often used for longer periods each day than other electronic devices, and also subjected to harsher environments, including exposure in the ear canal to earwax and perspiration. We go over proper cleaning and maintenance procedures to help sustain the life of your hearing aids.

WHICH STYLE HEARING AID IS BEST?

One of the first considerations when purchasing a hearing aid is the style. There are four basic styles to choose from, with some variations to each: the completely-in-the-canal (the smallest and least visible), the in-the-canal (fits down in the lower portion of the ear), the in-the-ear (fills the bowl of the ear), and the behind-the-ear (wraps around the top of the ear). Choosing the "right" hearing aid depends on your individual needs, which comes down to the most effective amplification in a style best suited to your lifestyle and your budget.

WHY DO SOME HEARING AIDS "WHISTLE" ALL THE TIME?

This is called feedback, or what some refer to as “annoying feedback." It is not normal. First, make certain that your hearing aids are inserted in your ear properly. If you've just started wearing hearing aids, this takes some practice. If that doesn't work, you need to be checked by an audiologist for proper fit. Losing and gaining weight sometimes changes the way your hearing aid fits into your ear. Feedback can also be caused by an accumulation of earwax in the canal. Your audiologist can help identify the cause of feedback. That's why I recommend regular hearing aid checkups to keep them functioning at their highest level.

HOW LONG SHOULD MY HEARING AIDS LAST?

That depends on several factors. Today's programmable and digital technologies are much more resilient. If your hearing loss is progressive, you may need to change to these more advanced hearing aids as your hearing declines. If your hearing level is stable, and the aids are kept dry and taken care of with regular service and cleaning by your audiologist, a reasonable expectation is five or more years. Hearing aids over seven years usually need to be replaced, not repaired. New parts are usually not available, so reconditioned components are used. And it's very likely your hearing loss has changed. A good example would be that I can't wear my seven-year-old eyeglasses because my prescription has changed.

WHY ARE TWO HEARING AIDS BETTER THAN ONE?

You should wear two hearing aids for maximum benefit, even if you have hearing loss in one ear more than the other. Our brains are "wired" by design to receive sound information from two ears working together. The many advantages of emulating this natural system include:

• Much improved ability to localize the sound source.
• Improved speech understanding in background noise.
• Less feedback ("whistling").
• Balanced (stereo) hearing. With two hearing aids, there is a sense of spaciousness, or acoustic depth, that is not possible with only one hearing aid. This is very similar to vision in that depth perception can only be achieved by seeing equally from both eyes.
• Less fatigue. It is much more tiring when one ear is attempting to do the work of two.

WHAT ARE THE DAILY AVERAGE COSTS OF HEARING AIDS?

One of my patients recently was in the office and wanted to know how much his new digital hearing aids would cost per day. So we averaged it out and compared it to a study I’ve had on file from a consumer survey. For everyday services such as:

When we had calculated the cost per day, he replied, “That’s about as much as I spend per day on telephone service, and my hearing is as important to me as that!” Isn’t your better hearing worth it? Call Dr. Cynthia Earle to get the most for your hearing, and money!

WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU INSTEAD OF A HEARING AID DEALER?

I believe that education and expertise lends a great deal of credibility to the care and service you receive. Before you consider having your hearing evaluated, you should ask, “What are the qualifications of that hearing professional?” The basic requirement for fitting and selling hearing aids in our state is that a person obtain a high school diploma and serve one year as an apprentice under someone with a current hearing aid license. This begs the question: When it comes to your hearing health, would you rather be treated by someone who has spent additional years achieving the highest level of education in the assessment and treatment of hearing loss, or by someone who knows how to sell you a hearing aid?

ARE THERE ANY SPECIALIZED TESTS THAT CAN CHECK THE PERFORMANCE OF MY HEARING AIDS?

Are there any specialized tests that can check the performance of my hearing aids? Advancements in diagnostic tests and equipment have made it possible not only to measure hearing loss more precisely but to test hearing aids for accuracy and performance. There are several tests audiologists perform that ensure a successful fit and proper function of your hearing aids. One of the advanced tests that I use is called “Visible Speech,” which provides an objective measurement of your hearing aid’s ability to hear soft and normal speech sounds, and make certain loud sounds are comfortable. Visible speech is also an effective test because it allows both you and your audiologist to visually analyze how well your

Both my friend and I wear behind-the-ear hearing aids. He recently demonstrated a new wireless technology he got through your office. Can you describe it further?

I Sure can. The ELI (Ear Level Instrument) connects to his digital hearing aid so he can hear clearly other technology such as mobile phones, computers, highdefinition televisions, and sound systems. ELI employs Bluetooth®, the smallest advanced wireless connection technology in the world. It is the first of its kind for the hearing aid industry. ELI is powered by a rechargeable battery – up to 2.5 hours. It connects directly to the hearing aid. Once connected you can communicate hands-free up to 33 feet away from your phone while you perform other tasks. It also allows you to answer or reject calls.

What do you recommend for occlusion; that stuffy feeling of having something in my ear?

I have fit a lot of patients with the new Elan by Widex. Elan is an open-fit open-ear, miniature behind-the-ear digital hearing aid. It is designed to help people who have trouble adapting to the stuffy, occluded feeling that sometimes occurs when first wearing new hearing aids. Elan’s unique soft-plastic mesh design fits openly in the ear and takes away that hollow sound of your voice when you talk. It is an ideal digital hearing aid for those individuals who can hear the low sounds just fine, but have trouble hearing the highs. Elan is an effective hearing aid for high frequency hearing loss.

My teenage grandson loves his iPod that we got him for his birthday. I’m concerned that he may be playing the volume too high. Can this cause hearing problems for him?

Yes. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common cause of hearing problems in young adults these days. And iPods do not help us decrease this phenomenon. Audiologists recommend custom-made earmolds to protect from potentially harmful levels of volume and subsequent noise-induced hearing loss. There are many applications for customized hearing protection. I regularly fit hunters, musicians, race car drivers and pit crew members, airline employees and other individuals whose work or recreation activities require protection. Teenagers as well as adults who cannot get enough of their iPod and MP3 players will benefit from customized ear protection.