Hearing Aid Technology | Laguna Woods CA

Hearing Aid Technology

Hearing aid technology has advanced over the past several years in part due to increased comprehensive research and development by large manufacturers. Many large companies have teamed with renowned researchers to ensure quality sound in practical devices that fit various lifestyles.

Probably the most significant improvement is digital signal processing (DSP). DSP has become standard since its introduction in the 1990s. DSP allows for smaller devices, automatic adjustments, and increased features.

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Hearing Aids: You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby

hearing aids

Hearing Aids

Hearing aid technology has advanced over the past several years in part due to increased comprehensive research and development by large manufacturers. Many large companies have teamed with renowned researchers to ensure quality sound in practical devices that fit various lifestyles.

Probably the most significant improvement is digital signal processing (DSP). DSP has become standard since its introduction in the 1990s. DSP allows for smaller devices, automatic adjustments, and increased features. The following is a description of some of the most common options available in DSP devices:

Noise reduction/speech enhancement: Most people with hearing loss could get along fine without hearing aids if they lived in a quiet environment. However, most of us live in constant background noise including television, kitchen noise, fans, appliances, and others when others are talking. The means by which sound is reduced or speech is enhanced varies among companies, but all include a process of analyzing incoming sounds to recognize speech versus noise. The result is clearer speech in the presence of background noise.

Directional microphones: Another way of eliminating unwanted background noise. This is done with two microphones working together to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). There are numerous types of microphones and arrays that enhance SNR. Some devices require the directional microphone to be activated by the listener while other devices are automatic. This option is available only in select styles.

Feedback management: Gone are the squealing hearing aids of the past. By making a stable gain measurement in your ears, devices are programmed to automatically detect when feedback (squealing) is going to occur. Special algorithms then cancel out the feedback or decrease gain to eliminate this unwanted sound.

Multiple Programs: The use of multiple programs allows the listener to hear better in a variety of settings such as quiet, noise, telephone, and music. Advanced models have automatic multiple programs while others require the wearer to press a button or toggle to change programs.

Remote control: A remote can be used for individuals who have trouble adjusting the small button or for those who desire greater flexibility. Some companies offer remote controls that program the hearing device to “learn” your preferred volume and comfort settings.

These options are available on most new devices; however, not all of these options are available on every model. Talk to an audiologist to see which of these hearing aid options are best for you.

Hearing Aid Warranty | Laguna Woods CA

Is there any value in renewing your hearing aid warranty? For some people, renewing a warranty feels like it's hardly any different than playing the lotto, or the slot machines or tables in Las Vegas. After all, what are the odds that your hearing aid(s) will get lost or "damaged-beyond- repair" during the next year and will need to be replaced?

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(949) 777-6521

For More Information on Hearing Aid, Visit Our Website at http://AdvancedEarCare.com Or to Watch Our Videos Visit YouTube

Buying Hearing Aids | Laguna Woods CA

Many of our customers come in with questions about hearing aids they have seen and/or read about on the internet. I admit; the "net" is a great resource for information about hearing loss and hearing aids.

But, while "surfing the net" can be extremely enlightening and helpful, there are some very real drawbacks that become quite apparent when I listen to how people digest what they read. When using the "information highway", you can either be led down the right road, or get caught in a real net of  deception or confusion and unwittingly "crash and burn".

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(949) 777-6521

For More Information on Hearing Aids, Visit Our Website at http://AdvancedEarCare.com Or to Watch Our Videos Visit YouTube

Sudden Hearing Loss | Laguna Woods CA

Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss may signal vulnerability to stroke, according to a recent study. Scientists at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan found that people who went deaf with no warning had a 1.64 times greater likelihood of suffering a stroke within five years.

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(949) 777-6521

For More Information on Hearing Loss Visit Our Website at http://AdvancedEarCare.com Or to Watch Our Videos Visit YouTube

WHAT ABOUT THE “LYRIC” HEARING AID?

hearing aids

Lyric Hearing Aid

This is a question we hear regularly at Advanced Ear Care. Here Stuart will give some background on what the “Lyric” hearing aid is all about: “At this time there are a number of “gimmicky” hearing products that companies are spending a fortune on to entice you to try them. The first that comes to mind is a product called the “Lyric”. This is a small hearing device that is inserted deep into your ear canal. The company claims it will last 3-4 months without
ever having to change the battery or extract it from your ear.

The big attraction to this product is proclaimed ease of use. 85% of this product’s appeal is the battery issue. (However, I have yet to see a battery last three months). “One person I know had the battery go dead while on a trip and could not find anyone that handled the product to remove it for him. He had to continue wearing the device, causing an annoying earplug affect. This left him nearly unable to communicate with those around him for the remainder of his visit. Needless to say, he had it removed when he returned and has never worn it again.

“The circuit is an old-fashioned analog technology that we were fitting 10-15 years ago. I have done deep-in-the-canal fittings for patients and understand the strategy of getting the hearing device deep into the canal. This product idea is not anything new, the battery life claim being the exception. It cannot be worn while swimming, in a spa or steam room. Perspiration in hot weather causes difficulties and accelerated earwax causes itching which requires a visit to have the Lyric hearing aid removed for ear cleaning. There are reports that, for ear health, the Lyric has had to be removed for a time in order to let the ear “air out” as infection has occurred.

“The Lyric concept is designed with a “subscription” (think “contract” or “program”) attached to it. The idea is to sign up for an annual ubscription, giving you four device changes per year. At the end of the subscription period, you sign a new contract committing to the next twelve months at a hefty price tag of about $3300.00 EVERY YEAR. A traditional hearing aid can serve you well for a minimum of five years, and most people replace traditional aids every eight-to-ten years. If you do the math, you can see the striking cost comparison. For argument’s sake, using a six-year period, the Lyric will cost you just under $20,000 compared to $4-6,000. for traditional style of hearing aid.

For that kind of money, I can think of a lot of reasons to change my own battery. “I have seen ear canals torn up and bruised very badly on unsuccessful fittings. And even though the little “ear caps” you wear when you take a shower are very cute, they can fill with water during showering which can cause a “pooling” effect. Obviously, these conditions will rust and/or damage the battery and electronics. “I give kudos to the manufacturer for their advertising blitz. but great marketing doesn’t make this product help you hear better. Maybe enhancements will make it more appealing in the future and we can be more enthusiastic then Next month, I will talk about another highly promoted product: hearing aid that have rechargeable batteries.”

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WHAT ABOUT RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES?

batteriesARE RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS AS GOOD AS SOME MANUFACTURERS SAY THEY ARE?

“Well, first of all, let’s take a little trip backwards in time for some history of the rechargeable battery concept. In 1986, companies tried to produce a hearing aid that had a rechargeable cell. As I recall, Nu-Ear and Magnatone both tried to produce a product with the idea that people would be able to recharge their hearing aids and thereby eliminate the need to change batteries.

The rechargeable cells could only be used in the large, In-The-Earl (ITE) style aids. The concept was to put your hearing aid in a special receptacle overnight and, with conductivity, the cell would recharge. Problems began to develop immediately. The cell would only hold a charge for 6 hours, not nearly the 12-14 hours needed for the average daily wear for hearing aids. Then the cell would require another 8-10 hours to fully recharge, leaving the patient without any use of the hearing aid during that time period.

On top of that limitation, the cells themselves would not hold a charge for even an hour and eventually had to be replaced altogether. This meant the hearing aid wearer was without the hearing aids shortly after making their purchase. The entire idea was scrapped after both companies tried to upgrade the original cells with new ones and convincethe hearing aid community that the length of battery usage time would improve. It never did, and the idea faded away.

A company called Solar-Ear even attempted to produce a power aid that was rechargeable with a solar-powered cell. Needless to say, unless the patient was outside where the sun could hit the surface of the hearing aid, the cell could not recharge. The idea was short-lived and unsuccessful.

Today, Siemens has two rechargeable instruments called “Motion" and "Pure"; both are inserted into a box to recharge. The projected use time is 14-15 hours a day and takes five hours to reach a full recharge. A nice feature of this aid is the removable battery cell. If the rechargeable battery loses its charge, you can replace it with a Zinc-Air battery to keep the hearing aid going until you can recharge it. Very clever, but not especially practical. How many of us want to have to monitor and manage the battery cell, or keep track of when to replace the Zinc-Air battery with the rechargeable one? ReSound also has a model (Pulse) much like the Siemens, but it does not have the option to substitute with a Zinc-Air battery if the rechargeable cell
loses power.

Be aware: you still have to manage the recharging of the cell constantly. Every night when you remove it, you must have the recharging station with you and remember to insert the hearing instruments in the charger, making sure they are properly inserted to obtain maximum results. This causes concern for persons with vision, dexterity or neuropathy problems, or when in the hospital, traveling, visiting overnight, or falling asleep before the hearing aids are properly stored for recharging. There are still ongoing issues that are not “worry-free” just because you are using this new rechargeable system. And, keep in mind, the whole idea of having a rechargeable hearing aid is to eliminate the need to change the battery at all!

Another issue is maintaining a consistent current flow in the hearing aid while the battery is draining. With a rechargeable cell, the current output will taper off, meaning you will have to increase volume to keep the hearing aid working at the same level of performance, whereas the standard Zinc-Air cell maintains the same 1.4 milliamp drain from the moment you put it in until the battery life has expired. The obvious issues for the hearing aid manufacturers still remain the size of the cell, its reliability and the (in)convenience of recharging.

Over twenty years have passed since those early attempts at developing a rechargeable system. Technology has improved battery options and performance with the introduction of cadmium cells, lithium cells and other materials that can effectively hold a charge. But the story of rechargeable hearing aids is really just beginning. At a technology summit I just attended last month, one manufacturer claims to be using a combination of materials that will be able to recharge faster and last longer. We’ll see; time will tell. Just like with the early introduction of computers, getting the “bugs” out took time, patience, and deliberate perseverance by the manufacturers, and the pioneers who purchased the first computers.

At the current time, “rechargeable” is the buzzword circulating the hearing aid industry, but only more research, development and time will bring the desired results full circle. For the moment, of all the battery materials available to us (rechargeable cells, Silver, Mercury , and Zinc-Air), Zinc-Air hearing aid batteries are by far the most popular. For now, the Zinc-Air battery wins the race on all three areas that are the most important for hearing aid users: size, density and reliability! If you have any questions about rechargeable batteries, please feel free to call me, write me, or e-mail me at stuarts@advancedear.com.

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Hearing Aids At Their Best

hearing aidsTips To Keep Your Hearing Aids Running At Their Best

Remove your hearing aids at night and open the battery door

The biggest enemy of hearing aids is moisture. Sweat and daily grime can damage hearing aids. Today's instruments come with a moisture resistant casing and moisture resistant wiring but even they should get a little time to dry out any moisture accumulated throughout the day. By opening the battery door, air can ventilate the interior components and you don't waste battery power while it sits on the bedside table.

Gently wipe clean the outer part of your hearing aids with a soft cloth

Simply wipe clean the hearing aid's external surface and, if you wear a custom in-the-ear unit be sure to wipe clean the part that actually fits into the ear canal. Ear wax production is a natural, beneficial process. If you tend to build up a lot of wax, and it is visible in the receiver opening, remove it with the tool

you received when you got your hearing aids. These tools are designed to gently remove any wax that may have entered the tip of the hearing aid. Do this with caution, don't poke way down into the tip, and the follow directions given.

If you need another set of the cleaning instructions, or another set of the cleaning tools, please contact our office at 949-830-5330. Better yet, stop by to pick them up and have a cup of coffee with us!

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Sudden Hearing Loss May Presage Stroke

hearing lossStudy Finds Association Between Sudden Hearing Loss and Stroke

Bruce Ovbiagele, MD
Olive-View/UCLA Medical Center Stroke
Program
Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News

Sudden hearing loss may signal vulnerability to stroke, according to a recent study. Scientists at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan found that people who went deaf with no warning had a 1.64 times greater likelihood of suffering a stroke within five years.

THE STUDY

Researchers examined the records of 1,423 patients hospitalized for sudden hearing loss and a control group of 5,692 patients hospitalized for appendectomies. In the following five years, 180 hearing loss patients (12.7%) and 441 appendectomy patients (7.8%) suffered strokes. After adjusting for other factors such as income, gender and other medical conditions, researchers concluded that the risk was 1.64 times higher in the hearing loss group. Investigators acknowledge that further research is required, as there were limitations in the study. For example, the data did not incorporate information about the severity of hearing loss, the extent of recovery or stroke risk factors such as tobacco use, weight or history of cardiovascular disease. The results were published in the October 2008 issue of the journal Stroke.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS

When I called Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, associate professor of neurology and director of the Stroke Program at Olive-View/UCLA Medical Center in California, to ask about this study, he told me that sudden onset of symptoms is what is most significant. A stroke can affect any part of the brain, he said, urging people to remember that any neurological symptom that comes on suddenly should be considered a potential warning sign — to be followed up with prompt medical attention.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most common cause of long-term disability in this country. Treatment can besafe and effective, but only if administered promptly. While the standard of care is that treatment should be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms, recent research suggests that it may be helpful even up to four and a half hours later. Do not ignore symptoms, even if they go away, for they may also be a harbinger of future risk — always follow up with your physician. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 and seek treatment ASAP.

Bruce Ovbiagele, MD,
associate professor of neurology, director,
Olive-View/UCLA Medical Center Stroke Program, Los Angeles, California. American Stroke Association, www.strokeassociation.org.Reprinted with the permission of: Daily Health News Boardroom, Inc. 281 Tresser Blvd., 8th Floor Stamford, CT 06901 www.BottomLineSecrets.com

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HEARING AID TAX CREDIT BILL REINTRODUCED

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Hearing Aid Tax Credit Bill

The Hearing Aid Tax Credit has been reintroduced into Congress both the House of Representatives and the Senate offering high bi-partisan support, there’s hope the bill will be considered as part of whatever health reform proposals emerge before the end of 2011. Representatives Vern Ehlers (RMcCarthy (D-NY) introduced the bill in an effort to provide assistance to some of the 32 million people in America who need hearing aids to treat their hearing loss.

Despite the fact that one in ten people suffer from hearing impairment, Medicare and most insexpressly exclude hearing aid coverage. For seniors, untreated hearing loss causes additional costs to Medicare and other health programs due to loss of independence, social isolation, depression, safety issues, and decreased quality of life.

Hearing aids enable seniors to extend their life of independence and avoid other long Studies show impressive improvements in the social, emotional, psychological, and physical well hearing impaired persons of all age groups, in all loss categories – for those who wear hearing aids. While hearing aids can help treat 95% of all hearing losses, less than one-fourth of hearing impaired persons wear hearing aids, largely due to cost.

If enacted, H.R. 1646 would provide a $500 tax credit aid ($1000 per pair), for children and persons 55 years of age or older. Although it is encouraging that this bill has been introduced again and is receiving support from both sides of the Congress floor, your support is essential to the passing of this bill into law. Let your Senators and district Representative know that a Hearing Aid Tax Credit would make a real difference for you or someone you know.

Contact your Congressmen and tell them how the Hearing Aid Tax Credit (H.R.1646) could help you and others who need hearing aids. To encourage the passage of this bill, write or e-mail a personal letter directly to your Senators and Congressional Representative (you can find their names and addresses in the front of your phone book or on the internet). Make sure you letter by telling how hearing loss affects your life, or the life of someone you know. Provide your contact information. This information is critical for your letter to be considered. Representatives only value the opinions of those in their district and legitimatize only those letters that bear an address.

The more people who contact their representatives about s/he will consider voting in favor of the bill. If this is important to you, now is the time to let your representatives know that you are aware of this bill and that you will be watching how they vote on it. You can make a difference! For more information or to submit your letter online, go to www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org

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