1. Protect from Moisture:
 Summer’s heat and humidity can wreak havoc on hearing aids, making them susceptible to moisture damage. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or engaging in water sports, safeguard your devices from moisture by utilizing protective covers or specialized sleeves. Additionally, consider investing in hearing aids with water-resistant features, providing an extra layer of defense against sweat and moisture.

2. Clean Regularly:
 Regular cleaning is paramount to maintain the longevity and functionality of your hearing aids, especially during the summer months when dirt, sand, and debris abound. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe away any accumulated residue, ensuring clear and unobstructed sound transmission. For more thorough cleaning, employ specialized tools recommended by your audiologist or hearing healthcare professional.

3. Minimize Sun Exposure:
 Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can compromise the integrity of your hearing aids, leading to potential overheating or damage. When not in use, store your devices in a cool, shaded place away from direct sunlight. Avoid leaving them in hot vehicles or exposed on surfaces prone to extreme temperatures. By minimizing sun exposure, you safeguard your hearing aids from unnecessary wear and tear, prolonging their lifespan.

4. Invest in Protective Gear:
 Summer adventures often involve various outdoor activities, from hiking and cycling to beach outings and barbecues. Equip yourself with protective gear designed to shield your hearing aids from potential hazards. Consider wearing a hat with a brim to provide shade and protection from sunlight, as well as specialized clips or straps to secure your devices during physical activities.

5. Stay Vigilant in Water Activities:
 For individuals who enjoy swimming or water-based sports, extra precautions are necessary to prevent water damage to hearing aids. Invest in waterproof cases or swimming caps specifically designed to accommodate hearing aids, providing a watertight seal. Additionally, consider using disposable earplugs or custom-fitted swim molds to minimize water exposure while maintaining optimal hearing ability.

6. Schedule Routine Maintenance:
 Regular maintenance appointments with your audiologist or hearing care provider are essential, especially before embarking on summer adventures. Schedule comprehensive check-ups to ensure your hearing aids are functioning correctly and address any issues promptly. Your audiologist can also offer personalized care advice and recommend adjustments tailored to your summer activities and environment.

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Providing in home services has always allowed us to get insight into the specific listening demands and the different environments the patient is experiencing.  The technology advancements allows us to see the best way to integrate the different accessories into the patient’s specific lifestyle.  

Over the last decade we have helped thousands of people hear better.  These people are our biggest supporters and show us their appreciation by referring friends and family.  This has allowed us to develop relationships with our clients that feels like an extension of our family.  We are excited to continue to grow and help the community hear better!

Your Audiologists,
James & Aisling Rubas

The post Celebrating 10 years! appeared first on The Visiting Audiologists.

Sound is first manipulated by the shape of the ear which helps to funnel sound into the ear canal. That is why sometimes you see people cup their ear in an attempt to hear better. Once the sound travels down the ear canal it arrives at the ear drum. The ear drum then vibrates which starts a mechanical process. The vibration of the ear drum moves the bones of the middle ear (malus, incus and stapes). These bones are connected as a chain with one side attached to the ear drum and on the other side to the oval window. The size difference between the ear drum and oval window allows for the sound to be amplified organically simply by going from a larger vibration surface to a smaller one! In summary, the vibration of sound triggers a mechanical process which then triggers an electrical process at the other side of the oval window.

A common misconception is that we hear with our ears, when in fact, we hear with our brains.

The oval window is the opening to the cochlea which is considered the inner ear. The inner ear consists of hair cells which help to fine tune speech quality. The vibration of the oval window creates a wave inside the cochlea which stimulates the auditory nerve. The hair cells expand and contract to help further this process to send electrical impulses up the nerve to the brain. This is all considered peripheral hearing. For the sake of brevity I will save the most complex process of auditory processing for another day.

Just glimpsing at the complexity of the peripheral hearing system you can start to understand why people sometimes struggle with hearing aids. The most common hearing loss as we age is considered sensorineural hearing loss. This is due to lack of inner hair cell function which takes away the sharpness of speech. The goal of hearing aids is to increase the signal to account for the lack of expansion and contraction of the hair cells. Although effective, it’s hardly a replacement for the function of damaged hair cells.

Contact the Visiting Audiologists today to schedule an appointment.

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As an audiologist we have received many questions about these devices. It is important to understand the limitations of these devices and the necessary care to use them. Experienced hearing aid users will be taking a step backwards with technology if they decide to move to the over the counter products. Hearing aids fit to your hearing loss by an audiologists are not the same as over the counter products. However, I am excited that this legislation shines a light on the importance of treating hearing loss and makes people aware of the value in early intervention.

People often ask; “how is this going to affect your business”. My answer is always the same. We are in a service industry, my day is filled with service calls. Increased access to hearing devices is going to make audiologists more in demand to provide proper care and rehabilitation to a huge population of people who have been neglecting their hearing needs.

If you are interested in pursuing over the counter products I would recommend scheduling a hearing test with an audiologists. Although it is not required for these products it is a good idea to know what degree of hearing loss you have. It is also a good idea to understand the nature of your loss. Are the difficulties you are having due to wax? Is there something else medically going on? An audiologist can help to answer these questions.

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Different hearing aids are appropriate for different types of hearing loss. For example, people who have a high frequency hearing loss benefit the most from a receiver in the ear (RITE) style hearing aid. This allows the low frequencies to come in naturally and just boosts the necessary high frequencies for a more natural listening experience. If you were to select a completely in the canal (cic) hearing aid the device would be blocking the ear and therefore the natural low frequency sounds would be impeded by the hearing aid.

As audiologists, we can account for that low frequency deficit by increasing the amplification for those frequency regions. However, it does not have a “natural” sound and the patient often finds it unacceptable.

Once you have selected the style of hearing aid you will have to decide on the level of technology. Selecting the level of technology depends on your lifestyle. Higher end technology does a better job of separating out the speech from the noise. If you are active socially, often out in groups, go to meetings and are in big open spaces you are going to want a level of technology that is going to help you in all those different environments. If you are someone who stays home and really just wants to improve one on one conversation then maybe high end technology isn’t necessary. It is important to be honest with your needs so the audiologist can help make the right selection.

The post Selecting a Hearing Aid appeared first on The Visiting Audiologists.

Now where do we begin? There are advertisements for clearer, better hearing for only $39.95 but your friend just got a new pair of hearing aids for $6000. What gives? How do you decide what option is best? Will a simple amplifier get the job done? Do I need to spend thousands of dollars to improve my hearing?! We will try to answer all of these questions in under 400 words.

There are several factors that influence the cost of hearing devices. Major hearing aid manufacturers spend millions of dollars in research and development. This research allows them to create the best computer chips for processing speech in complicated listening environments. On the other hand, amplifiers work to increase the signal with a speaker and a microphone with basic (sometimes) digital technology. These options tend to be less expensive and may be appropriate for someone who really just needs help in simple one to one conversation.

The next factor that influences the cost of hearing aids is the service that is associated with it. Major hearing aid manufacturers tend to work with hearing care professionals. As an audiologist, we are trained to not only evaluate your hearing but your specific listening demands to help select the best technology for your lifestyle. While choosing the professional care route may be more expensive, it also provides you with an advocate who will help to assure that you are getting the most out of your hearing.

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