Hearing Aids

What do hearing aids actually do?

A hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. A hearing aid can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations.

A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and then sends them to the ear through a speaker.

Are hearing aids really worth the price?

When purchasing hearing aids there are many factors you should consider besides price.

Research has shown treating hearing loss with hearing aids has a direct positive impact on quality of life. Hearing aids are a worthy investment and when purchasing hearing aids the price may correlate with quality, features and satisfaction. Generally speaking, the higher the level of technology, the more clever the hearing aid!

The cost of hearing aids has actually decreased relatively over time, when compared to the rate of inflation. Today, hearing aids range from approximately $1,000 to $4,000 each, depending on the brand, features and technology selected. Factors contributing to the cost of hearing aids include research and development costs, customization of each device to fit the needs of the wearer, manufacturing costs and time spent with the professional who fits and services the hearing aids.

The time spent with a hearing professional is often overlooked as being part of the cost of hearing aids; however, the service and care they provide are integral to a successful fitting. Services provided at Kirsty Gerlach Hearing include the initial hearing aid evaluation, hearing aid fitting, fine-tuning appointments for the first 6 months, and physical fit adjustments to the hearing aids.

When the cost of hearing aids is averaged over the lifetime of the instruments (5-7 years or more), the cost per day of a pair of highly featured, advanced digital hearing aids is remarkably low! So when considering the cost of hearing aids and searching for “cheap” hearing aids, consider that hearing aids are proven to not only help you hear better, but to actually improve the quality of life for the person with hearing loss and their families. That is one investment worth spending money on.

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What is the difference between behind-the-ear hearing aids and in-the-ear hearing aids?
Which provide the better results?

According to recent data over 70% of hearing aids sold in New Zealand are behind-the-ear (BTE) models.

Thanks to digital technology being utilized in hearing aids, BTE hearing aids have gradually become smaller in design and size throughout the years. Particularly in the last 5 years we have seen BTE hearing aids become small, discrete and stylish as they sit nestled behind the earlobe.

The popularity of BTE hearing aids is also most likely due to the use of “open ear” hearing aid technology.

Open ear hearing aids are mini BTE hearing aids that are designed to hide behind the outer ear with thin plastic tubing discreetly routing sound into the ear canal. The tubing connects to a soft tip or small earmould that sits deep in the ear canal. The result is a natural, open feeling as airflow and sound are still allowed to enter the ear naturally, while amplified sound enters through the tip. This is often referred to as an “open fitting”.

Open ear BTE hearing aids are designed for persons with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss, while BTE hearing aids with larger, traditional earmolds are able to accommodate more profound hearing loss.

In regards to acoustic performance and fitting results, both BTE and ITE hearing aid styles provide the amount of amplification needed for each individual hearing loss. They perform similarly in regards to features and acoustic parameters.

The increased popularity of BTE hearing aids may be an indication of increased customer satisfaction, especially with open ear BTE hearing aids. The physical comfort, natural sound quality, and cosmetically appealing designs of open ear BTE hearing aids are benefits for both first-time and existing hearing aid wearers.

Hearing Aid Accessories

Many hearing aids are compatible with a range of accessory devices such as remote controls, FM systems and Bluetooth wireless interface systems. These devices can greatly enhance your listening experience.

Your Audiologist will discuss with you your need for these added devices. Keeping technology simple and functional is always a good goal but the added benefits of accessory devices can be exciting in today’s brave new world of communication technology.

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Practical tips for communicating with hearing aid users

Addressing this question is particularly important, because hearing loss always comes with a social dimension. Some people avoid all contact. They feel insecure and don’t know how to communicate with a person who uses a hearing aid. However this can be overcome by following these small simple steps.

  • Speak clearly and naturally. You don’t have to shout. This does not help with understanding speech. Don’t speak more loudly, but more clearly and slowly.
  • Shorten the distance. In loud environments, you should shorten the distance between you and the listener.
  • Maintain eye contact. People with hearing loss gain important information from facial expressions and lip movements. The more clearly you speak, the better for your partner.
  • Get attention. Call the hearing aid user by his or her name. Make sure that the person can see you or lightly tap his or her shoulder.
  • Be aware of the surroundings. Avoid having conversations from one room to another or in a place with intense background noise. Vacuum cleaner, washing machine or loud music can make a conversation frustrating for both sides.
  • Respect the limitations. Please be aware that using a hearing aid can be very exhausting at first. When talking to a hearing aid user, look for signs of tiredness. Do not force or prolong the conversation unnecessarily.
  • Be patient. Especially during the learning phase, the concentration of the hearing aid user may lessen quickly. Hearing and understanding take a lot of energy. Never force a conversation.