Welcome to our question and answer page!
| Q: |
How Long Should I Wait Before I Do Something About My Hearing Loss? |
| A: | You should not wait. Do something about it now. The longer it takes someone to get help for the loss, the harder it will be to retrain the brain to process sounds. The brain can only process the signals it receives from the ear; the weaker the signal the less it processes. The sooner you get help the less time it will take to retrain the brain to reprocess these sounds. |
| Q: | What causes hearing loss? |
| A: | There are a number of factors that contribute to hearing loss, such as noise exposure, viral infections, and the aging process. Noise exposure has been found to be the most common cause, and usually results in a high frequency loss. The impaired person may complain that people mumble, and words sound muffled or unclear. It is often accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears). |
| Q: | Does earwax cause hearing loss? |
| A: | Earwax, also called “cerumen”, is an oily, fatty substance that your body creates to protect your ear canal. Each individual creates different amounts of wax. Many people are concerned that they produce too much earwax, but there is generally no cause for concern. It is possible for earwax to build up and partially or completely obstruct the ear canal. This can potentially result in a mild to moderate conductive hearing loss, but once the wax is removed, the hearing is restored. Your Hear Again hearing care professional can examine your ear to let you know if you have a wax buildup and how it can be removed. |
| Q: | What if I have difficulty understanding but not a problem hearing? |
| A: | Hearing and understanding are two different things. It is possible to hear something, yet not understand it. This may be due to a high frequency loss. Most consonant sounds are high in pitch and bring clarity to speech. They help you discriminate between different words (i.e. pick, tick, brick, lick, stick). If you have a high frequency hearing loss, you miss the consonant clarity sounds and only hear volume from the low pitches, which causes you to misunderstand words. |
| Q: | Will I automatically lose my hearing as I age? |
| A: | Although hearing loss affects approximately one in ten people – in all age groups – the likelihood of developing hearing loss does increase significantly with age. By 55 years of age, 25% of people have developed hearing loss. By the time a person reaches the age of 75, 50% will have some degree of hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss actually begins to develop as early as 18 years old, when humans begin losing certain sensory cells. However, because this type of hearing loss is so gradual, most people do not notice until after the age of 50. Age-related hearing loss generally affects both ears equally, and tends to make it difficult to hear the higher frequencies, which can affect one’s ability to understand speech clearly or to hear common sounds such as doorbells, the telephone and emergency sirens. |
| Q: | Can a person really lose their hearing from taking certain medications? |
| A: | Yes, there are certain types of medications called “ototoxic” drugs that have the potential of damaging the inner ear, causing temporary or permanent hearing loss. Approximately 200 different medications are considered ototoxic and include some chemotherapy agents, cardiac medications and antibiotics. Sometimes the hearing loss is reversible if the medication is discontinued, but it can also be permanent. |
| Q: | Can hearing loss affect your mental well-being? |
| A: | Yes. A patient with hearing loss is four times as likely to manifest psychological disturbances as a person with normal hearing. It has been reported by the National Council on the Aging from a survey of people over age 50, that those who were treated for hearing loss reported significant improvements in their quality of life and had better relationships with their families since they started wearing hearing aids. According to the survey, about 40 percent said their lives had improved in general, and that they felt better mentally and they had a higher degree of self-confidence. |
| Q: | What is a hearing test like? |
| A: | A hearing test is painless and easy. The simple test, which should be done annually, is important to help detect a loss as soon as it develops. This way, your hearing healthcare professional can suggest an appropriate intervention program, which may minimize further loss. |
| Q: | What is Speech-in-Noise Testing? |
| A: | Speech-in-noise testing is a test that we perform to determine how well you are hearing in a “real world” environment. There is background noise present during the test, which allows simulation of real-life noisy situations. This test is especially helpful when programming and adjusting hearing aids.. |
| Q: | Are hearing aids difficult to use? |
| A: | Hearing aids should not be difficult to use if you select a circuit that’s appropriate for your hearing needs and you select a style that is easy to for you to operate. At Hear Again Company, LLC it is our mission to make sure you receive a hearing aid that bests fits your needs and that you are completely satisfied and comfortable with your choice. |
| Q: | Are all hearing aids pretty much the same? |
| A: | In short, no. The new generation of digital hearing instruments are able to cancel out whistling and feedback, they’re much harder to notice, and perform much better in noise. Recent surveys have shown that patients who have tried digital hearing aids strongly prefer them over the old fashioned analog circuits. |
| Q: | Two of my friends wear hearing aids that look the same, but each friend paid a different amount. They came from the same dispenser. Why are the prices different? |
| A: | Hearing aid shells look alike, but it’s the circuits inside that you are paying for. The least expensive circuits are Class A, Class B, Class D, and Class H. The moderately priced hearing aids are Entry Level Digital and Basic Digital; the most expense circuits are Advanced Digital and Premium Digital. To use an automobile as an example: within each body style the consumer has a choice of 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder engines, a choice of radios, interiors and wheel covers. So although the out-side of two same-model cars may look alike, they can be priced completely differently. |
| Q: | Will wearing a hearing aid restore my hearing to normal? |
| A: | No. Unfortunately, hearing aids cannot restore your hearing to normal. What they can do is make most sounds available to you at your hearing level. This helps you hear and understand more of what is going on around you. Research has shown that people with an aidable hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids. |
| Q: | What is the best hearing aid? |
| A: | There is no such thing as a “Best” hearing aid. They have different features and some features may be more important than others to you. The best way to get honest advice is to visit a local hearing aid specialist, who sells many different brands. After an extensive hearing evaluation, they will be able to match the hearing aid features with your hearing needs. At Hear Again Company, we strive to help people make the best choice for their lifestyle |
| Q: | How are directional and multiple microphones used? |
| A: | Most of the time, listeners are facing the person they are speaking to. Noise, however, is often located in front of, behind, and/or to the sides of the listener. Some hearing aids now contain directional or multiple microphones, which “communicate” with each other in a manner such that sounds originating from the front of the hearing aid receive maximum amplification and sounds originating to the sides or behind the hearing aid receive considerably less amplification. This effectively suppresses some of the annoying background noise that creates so much difficulty for hearing impaired listeners. At Hear Again Company, we can put directional microphones on every style of hearing aid, except for the completely-in-canal style, because of size restrictions. |
| Q: | Is there a hearing aid that can eliminate background noise? |
| A: | No hearing aid can completely eliminate background noise. Most of the time, background noise is speech, which is the exact type of signal that the aid is trying to amplify. Some hearing aids can lessen the effect on non-speech noise, while some aids can boost sounds in front of you and decrease those behind you. Basically, some hearing aids reduce background noise better than others. |
| Q: | Can I wear a hearing aid without anyone noticing it? |
| A: | Today’s hearing aids come in an array of different styles and sizes including the popular deep-fitting, cosmetically-appealing Completely in the Canal, or CIC. The other models include the well known over the ear or BTE (behind-the-ear), ITE (in-the-ear) and ITC (in-the-canal). Degree of hearing loss, the size and shape of one’s ear canal, lifestyle and daily activities all play a role in determining which style would be most appropriate and most beneficial for a particular person. Also, due to these variable factors, hearing aids are not “one size fits all” and what works for a friend may not necessarily work for you. An individual consultation would determine which of the various styles and technologies available would be your best solution. |
| Q: | How do over the ear models work with a person that wears glasses? |
| A: | In almost all cases, BTE (behind-the-ear) aids work extremely well with people wearing glasses. There are millions of people in the world who use BTE aids, and an educated guess is that 90% of those people wear glasses at the same time. Most modern BTE aids are slim enough, together with more modern, slender frames for glasses, to allow for both to be comfortably used together. But ultimately, like anything having to do with hearing aids, trying the hearing instrument out is really the only way to know for sure. |
| Q: | Do I really need to use two hearing aids? |
| A: | There are several advantages to wearing two hearing aids. Binaural, or two-ear listening, improves the ability to understand soft speech, follow conversations in a group, and to hear speech in background noise. Two-ear fittings also allow you to localize sound better, which provides a more balanced listening experience. |
| Q: | I am totally deaf in my right ear with a little hearing loss in my left ear. Do you have any products whereby sound can be transferred from my right side to my left side? |
| A: | The system you are referring to is called a BiCros hearing system. Most manufacturers have the capacity to produce such a system utilizing one of their regular products in the ear that can hear and a pick-up transmitter unit for the bad ear. The transmitter on the bad side then sends sound signals over to the good ear so you can hear things (in your good ear) happening on the opposite (bad ear) side. |
| Q: | Can hearing aids help with a buzzing or ringing in the ears? |
| A: | Millions of people are afflicted with this annoying condition called tinnitus. Its severity can differ from person to person. There is no known cure for tinnitus. Hearing aids don’t truly stop the ringing. However, many people find relief from the constant presence of tinnitus sounds through the use of hearing aids. It basically masks over the sounds you have in your hearing system, making them less noticeable. Hearing aids should also help quite a bit in clarifying conversation, making a person better able to socialize and communicate with others. There is no guarantee as to individual results for tinnitus relief through hearing aids, but chances are very good there would be favorable results. |
| Q: | I know people that have had bad experience with hearing instruments. How do I know it will be any better for me? |
| A: | Everyone’s experiences are different. Do not base your hearing on the experiences of others. The best thing you could do is find out what your own loss is and how it can be helped. Hearing professionals’ ability to fit hearing aids differs. Also there may be new technologies that can help you. |
| Q: | If I buy hearing aids how do I know they will work for me? |
| A: | Most places have a trial period. The only way to really know if hearing aids will work for you is to try them. This is why we offer our 30 day trial. This enables you to take them into your day to day life and see the benefits for yourself. |
| Q: | Is there an adjustment period with Hearing aids? |
| A: | Yes, many people need time to adjust to wearing hearing aids. Often people think that adjusting to new hearing aids is as easy as putting on new glasses and having it be instantly clear. Hearing aids take more time, some things to remember are as follows: Some sounds (like your own voice) may seem loud, hearing aids cannot fix fuzzy or distorted hearing, and hearing aids will not give back your normal hearing. |
| Q: | How long does it take to adjust to new hearing aids? |
| A: | It can take several months to completely adjust to your new hearing instruments. Hearing tends to deteriorate gradually over time, so when sounds are suddenly reintroduced to the brain in a 30 minute fitting session, it can be very overwhelming. The brain may have to relearn the classification of certain sounds. Even though it may take several months to completely adjust to wearing aids, it should only take a week or two for you to notice the benefits of a hearing aid. |
| Q: | How do hearing aids stay in your ear? |
| A: | There are many types of hearing aids. Open fit hearing aids tuck behind the ear and just a small tube with a tip fits in your ear. Others like the half shell and completely in canal hearing aids require an impression of the ear to be made. The hearing aids are then custom-made to fit in your ear. |
| Q: | Will someone teach me how to use my new hearing aids? |
| A: | Yes. Your hearing care professional will teach you how to use and care for your hearing aids. They will show you how to determine the correct aid for each ear, how to put them in, how to adjust the volume, changing the batteries, and how to care for them. It is always best for you to practice these things while the hearing care professional is present to answer any questions. |
| Q: | What are ear impressions? |
| A: | All custom made hearing aids and ear molds are made from a “cast” of the ear. The cast is referred to as an ear impression. Our hearing professionals make the ear impressions right in the office. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The specialist places a special cotton or foam dam in the ear canal to protect the eardrum, and then a waxy material is placed in the ear canal. When the material hardens (about 5 to 10 minutes later) the wax cast, along with the dam are removed from the ear canal. Often, the ear canal will be “oily” after the impression is removed. This is normal. The oil comes from the ear mold material and prevents the material from sticking to the skin. |
| Q: | Are hearing aids hypoallergenic? I have an allergy to plastic. |
| A: | No, not all aids are truly hypoallergenic. If you have a special need for that, please do let us know. The manufacturers all have a special material they can use for casting of the shell portion of the aid that is truly hypoallergenic and is used in these special instances. It’s a very small percentage of people who have any sort of negative reaction to the traditional shell material, but for those who do, this is a big deal. There is a slight up charge for hypoallergenic shell fabrication, depending upon which manufacturer is used. |
| Q: | Can I trade in my old hearing aids? |
| A: | Every company is different within their trade-in policy. Some, don’t allow it all, some will allow a trade only if you purchased the original aid from them, and others allow trades on most makes and models. At Hear Again, we offer a trade-in credit regardless of where you purchased the aid(s). The amount of the credit varies depending on the age and style of your instruments. Once a determination has been made, the amount gets credited towards your purchase. |
| Q: | My hearing aid slips out of my ear; how can I stop that? |
| A: | If your hearing aid falls keeps slipping out of your ears, take some time to wipe the hearing aid off with a soft dry cloth. Also wipe out your ear. There may be dirt or moisture causing it to slip. If you continue to have this problem, go see your hearing care professional. There may be a problem with the fit. |
| Q: | Why does my hearing aid whistle in my ear? |
| A: | This whistling is called feedback. Check to see if your hearing aid is inserted incorrectly or if the volume is turned too high. If these solutions don’t work, ask your hearing healthcare professional to look for wax blocking the pathway of sound to the ear canal or if the earmold tubing or earhook need replacing or if the earmold shell is too small. At Hear Again Company, LLC we will clean and check your hearing instruments for free. |
| Q: | What are some of your common Hearing Aid Cleaning Tips? |
| A: | Below are some general tips for hearing aid care: |
| · Keep hearing aids away from heat and moisture. | |
| · Replace dead batteries immediately. | |
| · Clean hearing aids as instructed. | |
| · Do not use hairspray or other hair care products while wearing hearing aids. | |
| · Turn off hearing aids when they are not in use. | |
| · Keep replacement batteries and small aids away from children and pets. | |
| Q: | Are digital cell phones compatible with hearing aids yet? |
| A: | Many hearing aid wearers still experience interference when using digital cell phones, particularly if they use the telecoil for telephone communication. Although there are no hard and fast rules, people with in-the-ear (ITEs) or completely-in-the-canal (CICs) instruments generally experience less interference than people with behind-the-ear (BTEs) instruments, and newer, digital hearing aids are generally more immune to interference than older, conventional analog hearing aids. Before long it will be much easier to find phones that will not interfere with hearing aids. On July 10, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) modified the exemption for wireless phones under the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988. This means that the FCC will require cell phone makers to produce several models that are designed to be compatible with hearing aids. |
| Q: | Will a hearing aid help me hear on the telephone? |
| A: | All hearing aids will make speech over the telephone louder. Many hearing aids will also have special “T” (telecoil) switches that are specifically designed for use with the telephone. Telephone sounds are amplified more efficiently and background noises are better eliminated with a telecoil switch. People with hearing impairment may also need a telecoil to use some of the special sound systems that are now available in many auditoriums, theatres, and other public places. At Hear Again we can also order special amplification telephones to assist those with hearing impairment. |
| Q: | How will I know if my phone will work with my hearing aids? |
| A: | If your telephone is hearing aid compatible, the phone should be marked with “M” or “T” on the packaging. “M” refers to compatibility with aid in microphone mode; while the “T” indicates compatibility with telecoil aids. These ratings will only be found on phones that have been tested and meet the minimum rating for HAC of “M3” or “T3”. Look for the rating on the packaging, if it has a “M3”or “T3” listed it has been designated as HAC compliant. The higher the M or T rating is, the better the compatibility. |
| Q: | How long to hearing aid batteries last? |
| A: | Hearing aid batteries usually last 1-2 weeks when used full-time on a daily basis. If your batteries are lasting less than 6 days, consult with a hearing healthcare professional. It may be time to send your hearing instrument in for repair. |
| Q: | How much do hearing aid batteries cost? |
| A: | An average price for batteries is $1.10 to $1.25 per cell. At Hear Again Company, LLC, you will receive a 3-year supply of hearing aid batteries for free! |
| Q: | I recently saw an ad in the newspaper advertising cheap mail order hearing aids. What is the difference between these hearing aids and the instruments fit by professionals? |
| A: | Purchasing hearing aids through the mail or online often excludes important audiological evaluation, hearing aid orientation and adjustment, and rehabilitation services. These services help to ensure quality care and full benefit from the use of a hearing aid, as well as appropriate referral if medical treatment is warranted. It is important that you see a registered hearing aid dispenser, so that the hearing aid is custom fitted and programmed to suit your particular hearing requirements. If you buy and program a hearing aid yourself, it is possible that the fit for your ears will be incorrect or the programming may produce feedback and whistling. In addition, you will have nowhere to go if you experience any problems or need a service for your hearing aid. |
| Q: | Do you have a finance plan or does every transaction have to be in cash or check? |
| A: | We accept cash, check, money orders, and major credit cards. We also have the SoundChoice financing plan with 12 months no interest, same as cash. The financing plan can be extended past 12 months, with interest fees, and payments can be as low as $22.00 per month. Don’t let cost stand in the way between you and better hearing health. At Hear Again Company, LLC we have variety of payment options to suit every budget. |
| Q: | What is the best way to communicate with someone who has hearing loss? |
| A: | Although each person may have their own communication needs and preferences, there are some things you can do to improve communication no matter what the situation. The most important rules for good communication include: · Make sure you have the other person’s attention and are face-to-face. · Speak clearly and more slowly, but do not shout or exaggerate your mouth movements. · Rephrase rather than repeat if something is not understood.Verify understanding when in doubt by having the other person repeat back to you what they heard. |
