Hearing Health and Hearing Problems
Here are some of the most common signs that may indicate you have a hearing problem:
- Other people complain that they hear the radio or TV too loud.
- It seems to you that people are muttering or you cannot hear them clearly, especially when there is background noise, a lot of people or when the voices are very high pitched (eg children).
- He often asks other people to repeat what they said.
- You have difficulty hearing the house bell or the phone ringing.
- Difficulty listening in public, events, masjid, churches, etc.
- You have difficulty locating the source of the sounds – in front, behind you, to your right or left.
If you suspect you have one of these symptoms, you need a hearing check. We advise you to quickly make an appointment with a hearing aid specialist. At the hearing matters this consultation is free.
Hearing loss is classified as congenital (if it occurs before birth) or acquired (if it occurs after birth).
Congenital hearing loss can be caused by hereditary factors, as well as due to illnesses or medical conditions suffered by the fetus during pregnancy.
Genetic factors are thought to cause more than 50% of hearing loss problems in children. Hearing loss with genetic causes can be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or factor X-linked (related to the chromosome that defines sex).
Hearing loss in adults, also known as acquired hearing loss, can be the consequence of one of the following factors:
- Natural aging process is the most common cause of hearing loss.
- It seems to you that people are muttering or you cannot hear them clearly, especially when there is background noise, a lot of people or when the voices are very high pitched (eg children).
- He often asks other people to repeat what they said.
- Prolonged exposure to loud or constant noises. Prolonged exposure or even brief exposure to noise can cause permanent hearing loss.
Hearing aids
A hearing aid is a medical device that makes sounds audible for people with hearing loss. Hearing loss has been a known disease for ages and attempts to amplify sounds have been going on for centuries.
Hearing instruments both in the past and in the present have always had the same function, to increase the sound volume for those who have trouble hearing. Before there was electricity, the only way to achieve this goal was to use a trumpet or tube that carried sound directly to the ear, eliminating other noises.
The first transistor hearing aid appeared in 1953. With the development of the transistor, hearing aids could become smaller and more powerful. The use of microchips for programming hearing aids was introduced in 1985.
Today, modern hearing aids transform air pressure into electricity through a microphone. The amplified electrical impulses are then reconverted via a receiver to pressure waves at a much more intense level, thus being audible to the ear.
Digital hearing aids turn analog information into a digital signal and process sound to maximize the oral information you want to hear, while at the same time minimizing the amplification of sounds you don’t want to hear.
Thanks to ever smaller microprocessors, digital technology is at the forefront of hearing loss solutions. Digital hearing aids have better speech recognition in places with background noise, and using computers they can be programmed for each specific degree of hearing loss.
Your provider’s ability to program and customize your digital hearing aids to your specific needs goes far beyond the capabilities of an analog hearing aid and can give you sounds very close to CD quality.
The latest digital technology represents a great advance for most people, as its functions are automatic and have no complicated controls. If you want the best technology, ask for digital hearing aids!
The cost of hearing aids varies depending on a person’s specific hearing loss, technical characteristics and market conditions for programmable digital devices.
Price is undoubtedly important and should be taken into account when purchasing hearing aids. Its reliability will allow you to save fitting expenses as well as avoid the frustration of having hearing aids that do not work properly.
Battery cost and life should also be taken into account when purchasing hearing aids. Batteries can last for several days or several weeks depending on the consumption needs of each hearing instrument, the type of battery or the type of use given to the hearing instrument.
Acquisition and maintenance of the hearing aid
If an appliance is really needed, the specialist will give an opinion on the existing options and the ones that best suit your case.
The devices are made just for you to compensate for your hearing loss as closely as possible, and if it’s the type to be inserted into your ear, it will be customized for you.
The Hearing Matters is a specialist in hearing health and works with reputable brands of hearing aids at increasingly competitive prices.
You may also notice the improvement in the sound quality of more modern devices. There are different types of hearing aids and therefore many different prices. To find the best price, it is best to talk to a The Hearing Matters specialist about the various options available and which best suit your case.
In-Ear (ITE), In-Channel (ITC), and Completely In-Channel (CIC) hearing aids are inserted into the earmold and for this reason tend to need more maintenance than Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids .
However, if the appliances are well taken care of, they can usually last for 5 to 7 years.
Try not to get your hearing aids wet. If they get wet, open the battery and take it out, wipe the inside with a dry cloth and let the appliances air dry.
Always store your hearing aids in a safe place away from children and animals.
Store your batteries in a safe place away from moisture (swimming pools, shower, rain).
In the evening, remove your hearing aids before going to bed. Try to get used to opening the battery and leaving it open when you’re not using them. This way you can be sure that they are turned off and that they can dry overnight.
Most digital hearing aids have a battery change warning indicator. Before the battery runs out, the hearing aid will make a “beep” sound indicating that the battery needs to be changed.
In general, the smaller the battery, the shorter its battery life.
If you don’t want to worry about batteries, know that there are already hearing aids that don’t need batteries! Modern hearing aids are rechargeable and just plug them in, just like your mobile phone, at night while you sleep.
