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FACTS ABOUT HEARING
TECHNOLOGY
Fact #1
Nine out of ten hearing
system users report improvements in their quality of life.
Fact #2
92% of Americans are satisfied or very satisfied with their
hearing care providers.
Fact #3
Americans report an 81% satisfaction rate with modern
directional hearing systems.
Have Appropriate Expectations
It is important that you have the right expectations regarding your
hearing system. Today's hearing technology can help reconnect
you to the world around you. However, it is not a cure for
hearing loss.
Hearing Technology Can
- Provide more personal
interaction and an engaged lifestyle.
- Help you hear & understand
better in most situations.
- Allow you to participate more
effectively in group situations & meetings.
- Increase confidence and reduce
fatigue.
- Improve your quality of life.
Hearing Technology May Not
- Block ALL background noises,
especially in noisy groups (even people without hearing loss
hear background noise).
- Let you hear very soft sounds in
certain situations
Every Individual Is Unique
It is important to recognize that not all sound loss can be
eliminated. If you have been experiencing hearing loss for
many years, the process of adjusting your new personal hearing
technology may take some time. We encourage you to work
patiently with your hearing healthcare professional to make the most
of your hearing system.
Remember ... talking with your
hearing care professional openly and honestly about your
expectations and experience is the only way to identify and
eliminate the perception of sound loss.
SOLUTIONS
The Effects of Hearing Loss and Sound Loss can be Minimized if:
1. Your problem is correctly diagnosed.
2. You receive the right type of treatment; and
3. You and your hearing care team are committed to solving the
problem.
STEP ONE:
THE INTERVIEW
Purpose: To help your hearing healthcare professional
determine the extent of your problem and uncover any specific areas
that may require further attention.
Some Typical Questions
- Has anyone else in your family
had hearing difficulty?
- Have you had any illnesses or
injuries that might have affected your hearing?
- Have you taken any medications
that might have affected your hearing?
- Have you been exposed to loud
noises in your job or leisure activities?
STEP TWO:
THE EXAMINATION
Purpose: To help your hearing healthcare professional
determine whether the Sound Voids™ you are experiencing could be
caused by an obstruction or damage to the ear canal or ear drum.
Your hearing healthcare professional will use a special instrument
called an otoscope or video otoscope to inspect the outer ear.
STEP
THREE: THE TESTING
Purpose: To help the hearing healthcare professional
determine the nature of your Sound Loss. Your hearing
healthcare professional may include tests like the following
depending on his or her assessment of your needs.
Audiometric pure tone test
to measure your hearing at different frequencies.
Speech test to measure how well you hear and understand
ordinary conversation at different volumes.
Immitance middle ear test to measure how your ear drum and
hearing react to varying degrees of air pressure.
STEP FOUR:
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Hearing Systems
Hearing Systems come in a variety of designs and with a wide range
of functions and features to address an individual's specific needs.
The most basic components include a microphone, an amplifier, a
receiver, and (in the case of digital hearing systems) a small
computer. The unprecedented effectiveness of modern digital
systems comes from a powerful combination of professional expertise,
software and hardware.
Surgery & Implants
Devices surgically inserted into the ear to improve hearing,
facilitate lip-reading, and make it easier to distinguish certain
sounds. These are typically most helpful to deaf or profoundly
hearing impaired people who cannot use hearing systems.
A few examples of surgical
implants:
- Cochlear Implants
- Middle Ear Implants
- Bone-Anchored Hearing Systems
- Auditory Brainstem Implants
Assistive Listening Devices
Specialized technologies that help people with all degrees of
hearing loss. These devices can facilitate improved
face-to-face communication, reception of electronic media, telephone
reception, and reception of important warning sounds and situations.
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