Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Hearing Loss
Why should I be concerned about hearing loss?
Your sense of hearing keeps you tuned in to life. Your brain consciously, and
subconsciously, processes all audible sound. Your hearing alerts you to danger
in your environment, even when you cannot see it. Your ability to respond appropriately
to directions or to be involved in conversation with others is dependent upon
good hearing. If you have a hearing loss, however mild, you are at a disadvantage.
Your hearing may deteriorate as a result of noise exposure, head injury, heredity,
some serious illnesses, some medications, or the normal aging process. Usually
hearing loss occurs gradually over time so that you may be unaware of what you
are missing. Those people closest to you may be the first to notice that you
are missing conversation, asking for repeats, straining to hear, answering inappropriately,
withdrawing from social situations, or becoming reclusive or depressed. Hearing
loss can separate you from the people and activities that you love. In addition,
denial of a hearing loss can cause stress and alienation among family members
and friends. In such cases, the quality of life can be severely compromised.
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Is there a quick way to find out if I have a hearing loss?
Click Do I have a Hearing Loss, and it may give you some
indication as to whether you have a hearing loss. But to accurately assess your
hearing, you should have a complete audiological evaluation.
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What is an Audiologist?
An Audiologist is the healthcare professional specially trained to evaluate
hearing. Audiologists must complete a rigorous university program in order to
obtain a Master's or doctoral degree in Audiology. Certification by the American
Speech, Hearing, and Language Association (ASHA) is obtained after completing
a one-year clinical internship, and passing a demanding national competency
examination. Audiologists are the healthcare experts who conduct tests to assess
the nature, severity and possible cause of the hearing loss. They provide hearing
and amplification counseling, and referral to other healthcare providers when
medical follow-up is indicated.
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How often should I get a hearing test?
If you suspect you have a hearing loss, have your hearing tested immediately.
Our
doctors can determine if you have a "treatable" hearing loss.
There may be an infection or another medical condition that is causing or contributing
to hearing loss. In some cases, medical treatment may result in hearing improvement.
For those who have been diagnosed with hearing loss, hearing should be retested
every year or if you notice a change in your hearing, experience episodes of
dizziness or tinnitus.
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What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the term used to describe ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, or
any other unusual head noise. Tinnitus may occur occasionally or may be constant,
and may vary in intensity. It is normal to experience rare episodes of mild
or brief tinnitus as a result of many normal conditions or exposure to loud
noise. If, however, the tinnitus endures or becomes a regular occurrence, increases
in intensity, or disturbs your ability to function, you should see your primary
care doctor and one of our
doctors. Occasionally tinnitus may signal a more serious medical problem.
For most people tinnitus can occur as a result of hearing loss. For the majority
of those people, a hearing aid will "mask" the sound of the tinnitus
leaving it less noticeable. If you experience tinnitus after exposure to loud
sound, it is a signal that the noise may have damaged your hearing.
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How can I protect my hearing?
The most obvious answer to this question is to avoid exposure to loud noise.
Of course this may be impractical or impossible. A good rule of thumb is that
any sounds that prevents you from understanding conversation in a normal voice,
or any noise that leaves you with tinnitus can cause permanent damage to your
hearing. The damage caused by noise exposure is cumulative over the course of
time. It is the loudness (not the pitch) and the amount of exposure that can
damage hearing. Audiologists report a high incidence of hearing loss among those
people who have worked around loud noise, even for only a few years when they
were very young. If you cannot avoid loud noise, use some type of hearing protection.
You can purchase inexpensive foam earplugs, or earmuffs. You can also obtain
a variety of custom-made noise plugs. We can take an impression for your custom
plugs and send them to an earmold manufacturer. Once made, we will assure a
proper fit, and counsel you on insertion and use.
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How do I know if I need hearing aids?
Following a thorough hearing evaluation, the Doctor
will discuss the findings, answer questions and make recommendations. It may
surprise you to know that due to advances in hearing technology, most people
with a hearing loss can now benefit from hearing aids.
Even if a hearing aid is not needed, the Doctor may suggest an assistive listening
device or recommend strategies to help improve communication.
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Hearing Aids
Aren't hearing aids primarily worn by those who are retirement
age or older?
NO!! Unfortunately, in the past hearing loss was associated with aging. We now
know that there are many causes and we successfully fit hearing aids to people
of all ages. The most motivated and satisfied hearing aid users are those people
who have accepted that they have a hearing loss and want to continue to be involved
with the world around them. They are not willing to let hearing loss inconvenience
them or be an excuse for not socializing or not functioning well at school or
at work.
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Okay, so maybe I have a hearing loss. I'm still not convinced
I need (or want!) hearing aids. Should I wear hearing aids just because my family
wants me to?
NO!!! The single biggest cause of hearing aid failure is lack of motivation.
No one can become a satisfied hearing aid user until they become aware and acknowledge
that they are missing things, and take responsibility for making a change. Surveys
indicate that on average there is a one to five year range from the time a hearing
loss is identified until the individual decides to wear hearing aids. Denial
is a strong factor in rejection of hearing aids. We often expect the world to
adjust sound for changes in our hearing so that we do not have to make a change
ourselves. "If people wouldn't mumble, I could hear just fine," is
a comment we hear repeatedly when we talk with those who have not yet acknowledged
their responsibility. Once truly motivated, most people adjust well to amplification
and don't want to live without their hearing aids.
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I'm confused! I see so many different types of hearing
aids advertised. What kind of hearing aids will work best for me?
Today there are many hearing aid options available. There are several hearing
aid styles:
- A behind-the-ear hearing aid rests on and above the ear and couples to
an earmold, which fits inside the ear and transmits the amplified sound from
the hearing aid into the ear canal.
- The in-the-ear hearing aids come in several sizes, ranging from the full
shell to the smallest CIC (completely-in-the-canal) model.
Many factors determine which style and size will work best for you. Not all
sizes and styles are appropriate for every hearing loss and/or ear shape. Keep
in mind ... smaller is not always better! The hearing aid circuit is perhaps
the most important feature of your hearing aids. The type of circuitry encased
within your hearing aid will determine the amount of benefit you will receive.
Not all circuits are available in every style.
The Hearing Center at TJUP carries a full range of the most advanced hearing
instrument technology available from the most reliable hearing aid manufacturers
in the world. We will help you sort out the options and choose what is best
for you based on the degree and configuration of your hearing loss, the size
and shape of your ears, your manual dexterity, your lifestyle, your hearing
needs, your preferences and your budget.
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My grandfather used to put his hearing aids in a drawer,
and rarely used them? How do I know I'm not wasting my time and money on hearing
aids? Are hearing aids any better now then they used to be?
Yes, indeed! The early hearing aids were "broad band" amplifiers that
made all sounds louder, even sound at some frequencies where you may have normal
hearing. In addition, the older aids did not limit how much the sound was amplified.
All sounds in the environment, whether they were initially loud or soft, were
amplified the same amount. No wonder people often complained that it seemed
people were yelling at them when they wore their hearing aids! These devices
often spent more time in the dresser drawer than in anyone's ears. Fortunately,
hearing aid technology has continued to improve over the years. The computer
is now an vital piece of equipment in the office of every hearing aid dispenser.
Computer programmable hearing aids give us the ability to control the frequency
(pitch) and the intensity (loudness) of all amplified sounds. The goal is to
make all sounds audible, but comfortable, while maintaining a distinct range
of volume. We can modify the response of the hearing aid based on the hearing
loss and the needs of the user. Because there is a computer chip built into
the circuitry, these aids can be reprogrammed to accommodate any changes in
hearing loss.
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Do the new hearing aids mask out background noise?
It is important to understand that even those people with normal hearing experience
difficulty understanding conversation in the presence of background noise. A
hearing aid cannot eliminate background noise. However, there are hearing aid
features that will reduce the undesirable impact of background noise. It is
now possible to obtain a "directional" microphone, which focus on
the sound in front of you, while reducing or eliminating amplification of side
and back noise. Studies have proven (and users have happily reported) the effectiveness
of the directional microphone in improving the ability to hear the desired sounds
at movies, parties, in church, and in noisy restaurants. In addition, many new
instruments offer several different listening programs, customized by the Audiologist
for the needs of the user, which can easily be changed by the user by means
of a remote control device or a simple button on the hearing aid. These features
optimize the signal you want to hear, while minimizing the interference of background
sounds.
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How often should I wear my hearing aids?
Initially, it may take several days to several weeks to get accustomed to the
"new" sounds you will be hearing. Chances are your hearing loss has
occurred very gradually and you may have forgotten many environmental sounds
that you, at one time, learned to ignore. Your brain must learn to reprocess
these sounds and determine which to "tune in" and which to "tune
out." Some people adapt quickly to amplification. For those who have more
severe loss, or those who have never worn hearing instruments, it may take longer.
But with consistent use, you will adjust to the sounds around you. Initially,
wear the aids as long as you are comfortable. Avoid wearing them in noisy environments.
Each day, try to extend the period of time that you are wearing the aids, and
wear them in more varied listening situations, gradually wearing your new aids
all the time, even in background noise. Amplified sound will become more natural
and comfortable. There is a direct connection between the amount of time you
wear your hearing aids and the benefit you receive.
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How much benefit should I expect to notice from my hearing
aids?
This is difficult to quantify. The benefits you will receive depend on the severity
of your hearing loss, your expectations, your motivation, and the circuitry
and fit of the hearing aids. Following evaluation and consultation, we can provide
a more accurate guideline based on your individual hearing loss.
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Do I need to wear two hearing aids?
In most cases, if you have hearing loss in both ears, two hearing aids are recommended.
The human brain is dependent on input from both ears in order to properly process
sound. Balanced hearing provided by two ears affords the ability to tell where
sound is coming from, whether the sound is that made by an approaching car or
a friend who is calling to you. Two equally hearing ears allow us to better
hear conversation in the presence of background noise. Research suggests that,
when only one ear is aided, the ability of the unaided ear to utilize and meaningfully
process sound will deteriorate.
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FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
925 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-955-6760, Fax: 215-923-9532
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