Hearing aids are an evolving technology. Your options are plentiful, features are plentiful, and there’s a hearing aid for every budget small and large. If you’ve recently entered the market for a hearing aid, check out these facts to take your knowledge and awareness to the next level. 

Let’s talk about elephants!

Did you know that elephants have one of the strongest memories of any species on earth? Like these fantastic creatures, some hearing aids are capable of memorizing settings for different locations. For example, say you have a favorite restaurant. There’s a good chance this restaurant is going to be one of the noisier places you visit in your daily or weekly routine. Having a hearing aid with a strong memory is definitely a plus!

Hearing aids can treat loneliness!

Studies find that loneliness is linked to hearing loss in many cases. Studies have also found that when these individuals take action towards treating their hearing loss, loneliness retreats. 

Hearing aids are durable!

Modern-day hearing aids are more reliable and durable than ever before. In fact, some hearing aids are water-resistant. You no longer have to fear going on those hikes and other outdoor adventures!

Improved quality of life!

8 out of 10 users report that their hearing aid has improved their quality of life while 3 out of 4 have said that their hearing aid has made them more confident in social situations.

Gotta love technology! 

Some hearing aids allow you to stream audio from your tv, phone, or stereo directly to your device. It’s like getting your own secret pair of headphones! ;)

Track your health from your ears!

Many hearing devices will track your overall health like a smartwatch! Artificial intelligence has made its way into the hearing aid industry and you can reap the benefits!

Shoe me the money!

Studies have found that treatment of hearing loss with a hearing aid has an association with earning power!

It’s important to make informed decisions when treating your hearing loss. Make a list of the features that are most important to you and make sure you have a realistic budget set for a device with your favorite features. Always consult your doctor if you believe you’re experiencing hearing loss. If you’re in the market for a new hearing aid, check out our other blogs and schedule an at-home appointment with our team today.

So you’re in the market for a new hearing aid. Selecting one can be an intimidating task. Let’s take a look at how to choose the right hearing aid for you!

Step 1. Understand How Hearing Aids Work

All hearing aids use the same basic components to do one job: carry sound from your outer environment to your brain. They use tiny microphones with a small computer chip that amplifies the sound, making it easier for you to hear.

Step 2. Understand Different Styles

While all hearing aids have the same basic function, fitment will vary across different styles. It’s important to know the differences to ensure you’re able to choose the right hearing aid for you. Let’s take a look at some different styles.

(A) Completely in the canal (CIC) 

• Smallest 
• Unlikely to pick up wind noise
• Smaller batteries and therefore shorter battery life
• Usually has fewer features

(B) In the canal (ITC)

• Still less visible than larger hearing aids 
• Has featured you won’t find on CIC hearing aids
• May be difficult to adjust

(C) In The Ear (ITE)

• Plentiful features that won’t be found on smaller hearing aids like sound adjustment and directional microphones.
• Easier to handle 
• Larger battery mens longer battery life
• Could pick up more wind noise due to size
• More visible

(D) Behind the ear

• Traditionally larger in size
• Directional microphones
• More amplification capabilities 
• The rechargeable battery is common 

Step 3. Consider The Features

Now that you understand the different styles of healing aids, consider the features that are most important to you. Features like noise reduction, directional microphones, rechargeable batteries, and direct audio input won’t be available in every style of hearing aid. Make sure you have a happy balance of comfort and featured when selecting the hearing aid that’s right for you. 

If you found this blog helpful, check out our other blogs here!

It is our intention that  Ecoutez will remain open to serve our patients’ hearing needs because we know that hearing is essential healthcare.  However, like many offices, we are instituting regulations to ensure patients, as well as audiologists and staff, safety, and wellbeing.

In addition to an increase in regular, disinfectant cleaning, we require the following.

• If you are sick (or think you are sick); have a fever; have traveled to any of the coronavirus “hot spots,” such as China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, New York City, San Francisco, etc; or been exposed to someone with coronavirus, please do not come into the office.  If these conditions apply to you and you have an appointment, please call to reschedule.
• We will refrain from shaking your hand.  Please accept our nod or hand raise as a welcome.  
• If you need to come inside, or have an appointment, you’re welcome to come in while wearing a mask only.
• Our staff will be wearing gloves when we are cleaning your hearing aids.  If you need us to help you with your cell phone, we will guide you through the process and refrain from touching your phone.
• We will gladly mail your supplies and take payment over the phone if you don’t or can’t come to our office
• Patient, audiologists and any others present will be required to wear a mask for the duration of the visit. We ask that you limit the number of individuals present and please call to reschedule if anyone in the home is feeling ill or had possible exposure to an individual with Covid-19.

If you have any concerns, please call us, and we can update you on any changes we may make in the future.  Please check your email, our website, or our Facebook page for continued updates.

Fact or Myth?

I am sure you have heard them all, the great myths in regard to hearing instruments today. As a society, we seem to have certain ideas embedded in our minds about what hearing aids are. The truth is, as children we may have had older family members who wore hearing aids and that image, from 25 years ago is still what we think of when someone mentions the word hearing loss or hearing aid. Well, I am here to tell you that a lot has changed! Let’s take a look at some of the myths regarding hearing loss and hearing instruments today.

1. My hearing is not that bad

On average, hearing aid users wait 10 years before seeking help for their hearing loss. 10 years is a long time to go without appropriate stimulation to the auditory system and the brain. Over this time, communication with friends and loved ones becomes more difficult, increasing chances for isolation and health risks. Just know that any hearing loss is important to address so if you feel that you may be having a difficult time hearing or understanding those around  you, its never too early to have a hearing test.

• I don’t like the way hearing aids look

This is a big one! And let’s face it, it is great to take pride in your appearance. But what is even better is caring about your health and well being while maintaining your standards of appearance. The days of big beige whistling hearing aids are over! Hearing instruments today are inconspicuous and unobtrusive. Most hearing aid wearers find them to be comfortable, and not very noticeable. Sometimes, I will ask a client what their spouse or children think of their hearing instruments, and they respond that they didn’t even see that they had them on.

• Hearing aids don’t really work

A hearing aid is just that, an aid to help improve hearing when it is impaired. Realistic expectations play a big role in the success of a hearing aid fitting. Depending on the shape and degree of hearing loss, and how long the hearing loss has been present, different individuals perceive different amounts of improvement when they are first fit with hearing instruments. It takes the brain some time to adjust to hearing the sounds that it was missing out on when the hearing loss was untreated. Most people adjust nicely and perceive a good amount of benefit from the hearing instruments. It is also important to remember that the hearing instruments should be worn at all times when awake (and not swimming or showering), not just when the wearer is in a difficult listening environment.

• Wearing a hearing aid means I’m old and I am not ready for that

It is a normal reaction to feel that wearing a hearing aid makes you seem old or helpless and I am here to tell you different. Clients of all ages experience hearing loss, and addressing it makes you empowered and capable, not helpless and old. The technology available today is so high tech that you will be wanting to show your family and friends all of the cool things your instruments can do rather than hide them for fear of being judged. Don’t miss out on life or sit silently and disconnected, take matters into your own hands, and give yourself the quality of life you deserve!

Its typical that someone may not realize they have a hearing loss when they aren’t sure what signs to look for. While it can be very obvious that a hearing loss is present, sometimes it is easy to overlook the signs of hearing loss. This is mostly due to the fact that hearing loss is generally a gradual occurrence, happening over a long span of time. 

Here are 5 common signs that you might need hearing aids:

1. You have trouble focusing on a conversation when multiple people are talking at the same time.

While some people may equate this to an inability to focus, ADHD, or other diagnosis, having difficulty following a conversation while multiple people are talking is a common sign that you may have trouble hearing.

While you may be able to “hear” what the person is saying, not being able to understand what they are saying while other noise is present is one of the earliest indicators of hearing loss. 

If you are unsure if you are experiencing this issue, pay attention next time you are at the dinner table. Be aware of how often you have to ask someone to repeat something they’ve said, or be more conscious of how often you are having trouble understanding. 

2. You can’t hear someone when you can’t see their face. You can’t hear someone when you can’t see their lips. 

This is a tricky one for most people! Some think that it is normal to not be able to understand someone when they look another direction during a conversation but this is not the case. There shouldn’t be a big change in your ability to understand someone just because they are not facing you, as long as they are in an optimal range for hearing.

There are a lot of reasons why you may not be able to see someone’s face or lips during a conversation. If you cannot understand others when they are not looking directly at you, then it is a good sign that your sense of sight may be compensating for a hearing issue. 

3. You feel exhausted, frustrated, irritable or completely withdrawn

Hearing loss can lead you to feel all of these emotions. The brain is working overtime to make up for a hearing loss and can lead to fatigue after a day or even just a few hours of having to actively listen and communicate. You may not even be aware that this additional strain on your brain is happening. 

For example, if you spend your day asking for repetition, straining to hear, not being able to have quality conversations, and losing focus, you may have hearing loss that needs to be addressed.  

Starting to feel withdrawn from friends and family or from your responsibilities is also a possible side effect, which is why we say good hearing connects you to others and is important for cognitive health. 

4. You aren’t able to enjoy music.  You don’t enjoy music like you used to or you have difficulty talking on the phone

This may be surprising to some but an early sign of hearing loss is not being able to enjoy music like you once did. This can cause irritation. Difficulty having phone conversations is also a big indicator that hearing loss may be present. This can also cause people to feel withdrawn.

Hearing loss doesn’t always look obvious. Make sure you are aware of the small signs of possible impaired hearing to prevent long term effects.

Schedule a hearing test with us to learn about the side effects of hearing loss.

One thing is for sure, Covid-19 is constantly changing and our information on the virus is constantly growing and evolving. As an audiologist, I am always looking at whether the hearing system is affected by other health conditions. This year, by self-report, I can say that I have seen more young people with the primary complaint of tinnitus come in for a hearing test than in previous years. In most cases, there have been other factors involved such as loud noise exposure but many of these clients did have Covid-19 at some point before they came to see me. I have also been asked more and more frequently if the tinnitus or hearing loss could have been caused by Covid-19 and whether receiving a vaccination would make it worse (more on that in another post). As a provider, I cannot confidently answer these questions. The only resources I have are scientific data that is currently available, and to tell you the truth, there is not much hard evidence out at this point. Tinnitus is a tricky thing to measure by nature, because it is a subjective measure, meaning that we have to rely on patient report rather than having an objective test to measure it. Hearing loss on the other hand can be measured objectively using pure-tones and speech.  

Tinnitus is the sensation of noise in one or both ears that is usually only heard by the individual who is affected. The sensation of noise can be many things such as a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound. Tinnitus can be mild or severe and affects different individuals in different ways. One person may just hear it in the background and not be bothered while another is so bothered by the sound in their ears that they seek emergency attention. Some known causes of tinnitus currently are hearing loss, history of loud noise exposure, blockage of the ear canal with wax, tumor on the auditory nerve, certain drugs, and injury to head or neck. At this point, there is no “cure” for tinnitus, rather we have techniques and tools to “manage” it. Research continues to be done on the subject but there is no straightforward understanding of all aspects of tinnitus.  

In my quest to find solid scientific data about Covid-19 in relation to tinnitus I came across a systematic review, done by Kevin Munro, Ph.D., a professor of audiology at the UK’s Manchester Center for Audiology and Deafness. In this review, Professor Munro analyzed 28 case reports/series and 28 cross-sectional studies which met the inclusion criteria. Through these reports and studies, he found that there are multiple reports of hearing loss (e.g. sudden sensorineural), tinnitus and rotatory vertigo in adults having a wide range of Covid-19 symptom severity. The pooled estimate of prevalence based primarily on retrospective recall of symptoms, was 7.6% for hearing loss, 14.8% for tinnitus, and 7.2% for vertigo. This data was compiled in December of 2020 meaning it was based on initial variants of Covid-19 and before vaccines were widely available. It does give a nice estimate of whether Covid-19 was associated with hearing loss or tinnitus.  

Looking at more recent data, it appears that there has not been another published study to determine the frequency of tinnitus associated with Covid-19 but the 15% marker for tinnitus as a side effect of Covid-19 does continue hold true based on patient reported side effects.  

Even if there is a connection between Covid-19 and tinnitus, we still don’t necessarily know the precise cause. Tinnitus could be an indirect consequence of the virus, or it could be related to other things in life such as stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, or overall health. It is safe to say that many individuals have felt an increase in stress levels over the past two years since the pandemic started. Although not true for everyone, many individuals have also reduced exercise and changed their diet and neglected overall health due to fear of going to the doctor.  

I do believe it is safe to say that current data leads us to the conclusion that tinnitus is a possible side effect of Covid-19 and could be around the prevalence mark of 15% of people affected. It is important to note that different variants of Covid-19 continue to produce different side effects so what may have been true with one may be different with another. It will be interesting in the following months and years to continue to track the pattern and draw new conclusions.  

Have you ever thought of a hearing test as a stressful or daunting task? Do you put off your yearly hearing test because you feel like you can’t “pass it.” It’s not like the tests we took in school or work settings where you can study or prepare and go in feeling like you are ready to “ace the test.” For many, this causes a lot of anxiety ahead of time, but hear it from me first, there is no reason to be stressed about a hearing test. 

I recently read an article called “Stress of a hearing test from a hard of hearing perfectionist” written by Ashley Derrington, and it really nicely put into words how so many feel when they go into any audiology office. You are not alone in your feelings. 

A hearing test has no pass or fail. I tell this to every client who comes in. It is almost inevitable that everyone will make a comment about passing or failing the test and I really do want you to know that there is no such thing as pass/fail for a hearing test! It is a test of acuity or sensitivity, and it is unique to each individual. There are normative data values to determine what normal, mild, moderate, etc. sensitivity ranges are but there is no “right or wrong.” When you think about it in that regard, it should be less stressful than a standardized test that has “right or wrong” answers. Think of it as an opportunity to learn more about your health and well-being. 

As someone who does have constant tinnitus and slight hearing loss in one ear, I do understand that sitting in a completely quiet room trying to hear a tiny beep can be a daunting task. In that setting, with headphones in, we tend to notice that we hear every single little sound such as our heartbeat, breathing, or tinnitus to an extreme. It can feel like you are not hearing the beep that you are supposed to hear because you can hear yourself so well during the test! 

The positive thing about having a hearing test, whether your hearing is in the normal range or not, is that you have taken a step in the right direction just by taking a measurement of your hearing. It is important to have a hearing test to establish a baseline of hearing, at any age. I talk to many people, all ages, who say that they have not had a hearing test since they were a child. If you don’t have another hearing test until you are 70 years old, then you have no idea what is happening in between those years. Hearing loss can sneak up on you as it is usually a very gradual change. This means that for most people, you don’t just wake up one morning with significant hearing loss (if you do then you should get into a specialist immediately as this is a different type of hearing loss), so it is a less noticeable change. One thing to remember about hearing loss is the sooner you address it the better, so get that baseline and know where your hearing stands. Here at Ecoutez, know that we understand that this can give you feelings of stress or anxiety and we are here to ease those feelings. We want you to feel comfortable and pride ourselves on a calm and relaxing environment where you can feel relaxed facing a task that isn’t always fun. Please let us know if you are feeling nervous before your hearing test, the feeling is normal, and we are hear for you!