Hearing Aids and Hearing Loss Tips and Stories

Affordable Hearing Aids designed by an ENT surgeon. Hearing aids from just $179. Visit http://www.mdhearingaid.com

Types of Hearing Aids: Styles And How They Fit

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/types-of-hearing-aids-styles-and-how-they-fit/

A hearing aid has three, basic parts; a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. When someone speaks to a hearing aid wearer, their voice is amplified from the mic to the speaker in or near the ear. This amplified sound is useful for those individuals with hearing loss caused by damage or aging. Once a patient has been diagnosed with hearing loss, their audiologist can help them decide which of the three types of hearing aids are best for the patients needs.

The Three Types Of Hearing Aids

Behind-the ear (BTE) are made of a plastic case worn behind the ear which is connected to a plastic earmold that fits inside the outer ear. BTE hearing aids are utilized by patients of all ages and levels of hearing loss. In-the-ear (ITE) aids fit completely inside the outer ear, and include a magnetic telecoil feature which makes it easier to hear phone conversations. ITEs are applicable for all levels of hearing loss. Canal aids include both an in-the-canal (ITC) style made to fit the size and shape of a patients ear canal. A completely-in-canal (CIC) style is hidden within the ear canal. These types of aids are used mostly by those with mild to moderate hearing loss, due to the fact that this style has a reduced size and limited power and volume. Each of these hearing aids work differently based on their style of electronic programming. Analog aids are programmable, and after being set by the manufacturer initially, can be adjusted later by both the audiologist and the user. Adjustments can be made using a program on a computer for changes in the listening environment (from small, quiet rooms to large open areas). Digital aids convert sounds using numerical codes, which allow the hearing aid to adjust automatically based on different pitches and/or loudness. Digital conversion also allows the hearing aid wearer to focus on sounds coming from a specific direction.

Choosing The Type Of Hearing Aid Right For You

After a careful diagnosis by and discussion with your doctor and/or audiologist, you might need a custom designed hearing aid for you specific hearing problem, but if you simply have mild to moderate hearing loss like most people with hearing problems, the surgeon designed, MDHearingAid can be an effective and affordable choice. A follow up appointment may be necessary for custom hearing aids in order to receive proper fitting, setting, and counseling on wear and care for this important purchase. With over the counter hearing aids, they really are plug and play, with a small a mount of time on getting comfortable wearing the aid and used to the simple settings. Remember, no matter what type of hearing aid you may get, it takes some time and patience to learn about and adjust to wearing a hearing assisting device. Once this period of adjustment has occurred, the short time and effort involved will prove to be worth a lifetime of enjoyable, good hearing! [S]H[e]ar[e] This

Free Online Eyesight Test

1-888-670-HEAR (4327) Open 24 Hours

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/free-online-eyesight-test/

Doctor Designed Audiologist Tested FDA Registered Take this free online eyesight test and see how good (or how bad) your eyesight really is [S]H[e]ar[e] This Filed Under: Hearing Free Report "Why are hearing aids so expensive? A Doctor's perspective." Email:

Headphones And Earbuds Can Damage Your Hearing

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/warning-headphones-and-earbuds-can-break-your-hearing/

Doctors and audiologists alike are reporting hearing loss in more people and at a younger age than ever before. You can blame a number of factors such as loud work environments, noisy streets and the deafening din of everyday life. But one overriding factor for the younger generation is the invention of wearable music players.
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Even the CDC is getting in on the warnings, pointing out that one in eight American kids, more than five million of them, has a type of hearing loss that usually associated with overexposure to loud noises. The JAMA estimates its could be one in six! Back in 1979 when the Sony Walkman was introduced, the player would only run for a short while on set of batteries and the volume of the music being played back was, shall we say, modest. Fast forward 30 years and now we have wearable devices like iPods, iPhones, Zunes that can play music for 8 hours or more on a single charge and at a level that can drown out almost all of todays external noise. Plus the trendy earbud can help drive those sound levels even higher especially when wedged deep into the ear canal! So if you dont want to end up wearing hearing aids ahead of time (since almost everyone experiences some hearing loss as they age) here are some tips to protect yourself from the negative effects of the modern world: Turn It Down! While it is fun to listen to loud music, remember that prolonged exposure can and will break your hearing. Wear Protection! If you are going to a concert, club or even a large football stadium, the sound levels are certainly high enough to leave your ears ringing, or worse. Earbud Are Not Hearing Protection! You will see this all over suburbia, teens mowing lawns during the summer with earbuds in. Think about how loud the average lawnmower is, then think of how loud that music must be to be heard, even somewhat clearly, over the noise of the mower just feet away. The bottom lines is as a responsible adult you take care of yourself and that care should extend to protecting your hearing. And as a parent it might be time to talk to your kids about managing their exposure to loud sounds especially things that are in their control, like the music they listen to all day, every day. Source: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. November 21, 2013 [S]H[e]ar[e] This

Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow. How to Avoid Needing Hearing Aids.

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/hear-today-gone-tomorrow-how-to-avoid-needing-hearing-aids/

HEAR TODAY. GONE TOMORROW. That is the new slogan seen in some of the New York subway ads from the NY Health Department. The ads include photos of two ears one with an earbud headphone, one with a hearing aid. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley cites concern over the risks of using headphones for causing hearing problems down the line. Irreversible injury to the delicate, hair-like cells to the inner ear can be caused by music played at loud volumes, coupled with the loud sounds of a large city can result in symptoms that range from tinnitus to complete hearing loss.
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Farley went on to say that is it believed that nearly half of new Yorkers use headphones, some for many hours a day at loud volumeswhich can be dangerous to their hearing. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 adults 18 to 44 years old who report heavy headphone use say they have experienced hearing problems!

What are some ways to avoid this injury and loss? 1. Protect your hearing when using headphones by reducing the volume. 2. Dont turn up the volume to drown out other noises. 3. Limiting listening time. 4. Learn to recognize the early signs of hearing loss; trouble hearing a conversation, constantly turning up the volumes on your TV or radio, ringing in your ears. 5. If you have any of these symptoms, its important you schedule a hearing test through your doctor or audiologist as soon as possible. Remember, Take care of your HEARing today so that it wont be GONE tomorrow! [S]H[e]ar[e] This

Hearing Loss Is No Longer For The Old

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/hearing-loss-is-no-longer-for-the-old/

There are a few key things to listen for to check if you have some hearing loss. Ask yourself if: You have trouble filtering voices of conversations among background noise. Your family complains that you watch tv or listen to the radio at too high a volume. You keep asking others to repeat themselves. You are having trouble understanding the speech of women and children (higher frequencies are the first to lose after hearing damage has occurred). According to a 2010 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hearing loss has increased in teens to 19.5 percent. That is a 30% increase over a study done just a few years earlier. What is to blame for this damage to hearing in our young, future professionals? Well, its not just the volume levels of PLDs
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or Personal Listening Devices such as iPods, but the amount of time kids spend listening. Brian Fligor, and audiologist at Childrens Hospital Boston, asserts that todays teens listen twice as long as previous generations. With unlimited amounts of music and video storage as well as the extensive battery life and portable chargers now available, young people can listen throughout their waking hours (as well as in their sleep, which some report doing often). After 17 year-old Matthew Brady of Mass., realized that he was often faking it at understanding conversations with his friends at school, he had his hearing checked and was diagnosed with mild hearing loss. The young man stated that he believed this stemmed from running on the treadmill with his earbuds in, iPod cranked up with his favorite tunes. One day, after running for about 30 minutes with the volume turned up, he got off the treadmill and discovered he could not hear anything out of his left ear. It was soon after he began faking his reactions to what others were saying when he couldnt actually hear their words clearly. Hearing loss is not just for the old, nor are hearing aids. Be sure to take your child to an audiologist on a regular basis to have their hearing checked, and by all means monitor the volume of and length of time they spend wearing those earphones. Many devices now come with built-in controls that allow the owner to set permanent volume levels and time limits. Our ears have to hear for us all our lives taking better care of them sooner rather than later is always the right move, otherwise you may end up wearing hearing aids instead of earbuds! [S]H[e]ar[e] This

How To Discover The Best Feature Of Your New Hearing Aid

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/how-to-discover-the-best-feature-of-your-new-hearing-aid/

Clearly, Your Hearing Aids Must Be Worn Like wearing glasses or contacts, or even a new pair of shoes, a new hearing aid can take some getting used to. Not only in the way it sounds but in the way it sits behind your ear, the way the tube wraps around and the plug fills you ear canal. With all these little things to get used to its no wonder that the main point of failure for new hearing aid owners is not that the hearing aids dont work, but that they are not worn!

Use your Hearing Aids

The most important factor in being successful with your hearing aids is wearing them regularly. It doesnt matter that they feel weird or you are embarrassed by the fact you are wearing them. The benefits of hearing aids are many and you will not get any of them if you do not wear your aids.

Go Outside
Another common factor new wearers is they only wear them in the house, and for a short while. It is important to get out and about wearing your hearing aids so you can get used to them in a variety of situations. This variation is actually important to having success with your aids as you will start to discover all the differrent sounds you had been missing up until your hearing was augmented.
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Trial and Error

Surprisingly, many new wearers have their hearing aids set too quiet. Once you have started to get used to your hearing aids, experiment with the volume control to get the best balance of hearing clearly against background noise. And of course if your hearing aids come with a tone control or frequency program like the MDHearingAid AIR, then of course test those to find the one that works best for you in your daily life. And again the benefit of being outside is you get to find the right programs for other situations. [S]H[e]ar[e] This

I Said, CAN YOU PLEASE PASS THE GRAVY?

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/i-said-can-you-please-pass-the-gravy/

Holiday gatherings are a great time to check on your older family members and their hearing. When folks are in large family gatherings, hearing issues are more likely to be noticeable. While you are together, pay attention to your parents behavior: Do they join in conversations? What is the conversation like during dinner? Are you having to ask Dad to pass the potatoes several times? Do you have to raise your voice to talk to Mom even though she is seated near you? When you are watching the football game, does Dad keep asking, Whats the score? Does Mom fall asleep in her chair or is unable to understand your speech amongst all the noise? This is a good time to point out what you have observed in a caring way while the frustrating situations are fresh in your parents minds. Offer some helpful solutions to your family members such as having their hearing tested to see if hearing aids might help. ENT Surgeon Dr Sreek Cherukuri encourages his patients who are considering hearing aids to try them risk free over the holiday. Buy an MDHearingAid risk free using their 45 day return policy. And you can assure those age and fashion-conscious family members that the newest hearing aids are now not only stylish but mostly invisible. And after all, who wants to miss that all-important question, Could you please pass the pumpkin pie? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! [S]H[e]ar[e] This

Hearing Aids Solve Veterans Most Common Disability

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/hearing-aids-solve-veterans-most-common-disability/

It should come as no surprise that active US soldiers from all branches of the military experience various levels of trauma and incidents of injury, both in and out of combat. However, did you know that among our post 9-11 veterans, over 414,000 troops have returned home with hearing loss? In fact, the most widespread injury for veterans is hearing loss and hearing complications. A January 2011 Government Accountability Office report names hearing related injuries among soldiers as the most common documented trauma and disability. Scott C. Forbes, immediate past-president of the Association of Veterans Administration Audiologists, calls hearing injury the signature injury among post 9-11 veterans. Hearing maladies cost more than $1.4 billion in veteran disability payments annually, according to fiscal year 2010 data from the Hearing Center of Excellence, a part of the Department of Defense. At least $216 million was spent that same year for hearing aids and related devices, according to an advisory committee report to the VA which works out to $348.15 per unit, 75c less than our flagship MDHearingAid AIR digital hearing aid. Despite being such a prevalent condition, hearing problems dont get much attention, because in general, very few people die because of hearing loss, said Theresa Schulz, a retired Air Force audiologist who now works in a similar capacity for Honeywell Safety Products. Prolonged excessive noise damages hearing, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a division of the National Institutes of Health. Loud noises destroy the ears special cells, called hair cells. The ear cannot grow new hair cells.We know that it is usually seven years between the time someone notes a problem with their hearing and the time they actually seek medical attention for it, said Nancy Macklin, director of events and marketing for the Hearing Loss Association of America. Retired staff sergeant, Marine reservist Mauricio Mota served in five combat zones between 1987 and 2008. During his last tour in Iraq, he slept next to what he refers to as deafening field generators and rode in loud helicopters. Shortly after his discharge, Mota was with his family at a mall when he stopped at a hearing professionals office to get tested. Immediately, he was fitted with his first two hearing aids. I walked out of that office and the world just opened up, he said. The first sound I remember hearing was the click-click of a womans high heels! A 2010 government spending report states that one in five hearing aids sold annually in the U.S. are purchased by the VA. Now the VA can count on the folks at MD Hearing Aid to help these soldiers get back to living and working successfully in civilian life with better hearing and the sense of well-being and safety that follows. [S]H[e]ar[e] This
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Do Cheap Hearing Aids Work Well?

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/do-cheap-hearing-aids-work-well/

and doctors say our lifestyles are largely to blame. High volume is damaging the sensitive cells in our inner ears and doctors say if you dont address hearing loss early, it can cause permanent damage. Man: Thats right and joining us this morning with more on the issue of ear, nose, and throat is our specialist Dr. Sreek Cheruki. Did I get it right? Dr. Cheruki: Yes, you did. Thank you. Woman: Were off to a good start. Man: Thanks for being here and getting up early. Dr. Cheruki: Thanks for having me. Woman: One of the statistics that really struck me, you mentioned that people are walking around and they dont even know that they might need some help with a hearing aid. Its estimated that 36 million people in the US need hearing aids. Over 77% are walking around without them. Thats incredible. Dr. Cheruki: Thats correct. Theres a lot of denial. Usually we associate hearing loss with the elderly or senior population, but the fact is majority of people with hearing loss are under 65. They might be in the working world and our bodies have been able to compensate either by reading lips or by getting other cues that sometimes hearing loss can go years without it being obvious. Man: What do you believe, especially for the younger folks, has contributed to the hearing loss? Dr. Cheruki: Were living in a much nosier world. Years ago, 20 years ago, a walkman could last two hours on a couple of batteries and they had foam headphones over the ear. Now that the ear buds of an iPhone or iTunes goes in the ear canal and it can go all day and they listen to that every single day. A lot more noise is delivered to the middle ear. I think thats part of the cause. Woman: We have this younger generation listening to the iPods and whatever. You decided something needs to be done because a lot of these people who might need a hearing aid cannot get it covered with their insurance. Is that correct? Dr. Cheruki: Right and thats an unfortunate thing. Medicare and most insurance companies do not cover hearing aids as a disability device. Were not sure exactly why that is, but the average hearing aid costs one to three thousand dollars each and thats an out-of-pocket expense. Woman: And thats just for one ear. Man: You need two of them. Dr. Cheruki: Thats one ear and most people need two. So in my daily practice Id see patients all the time that would really benefit from it either at their job or with their wives or spouses or their grandkids, but if they couldnt afford the cost, then they went without a solution, which is really heartbreaking as a doctors. Something so simple we dont have a solution for. It got me thinking. Man: Thats what you designed here, right? Dr. Cheruki: Right. So after a little bit of research, we created what we call the MD hearing aid. Its a very good device. Its a low cost device that can amplify the sounds associated with the human voice without overly amplifying background noise. We consider it almost like the reading glasses for your ear type of scenario where its a nonprescription type hearing aid. Its been very well received and it does very well. Man: What does this one run as compared to, you said, the one to three thousand dollars? Dr. Cheruki: Right. This is in line with more other consumer electronics. This is under $200 each.
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Woman: Thats significantly less. Dr. Cheruki: Its an affordable option and sometimes we all, as doctors, recognize that the best hearing aid is a custom fit programmed hearing aid, but those are very, very expensive, sometimes out of reach and sometimes very good is the best youll get. Man: Doc, where can they find these? Dr. Cheruki: We have setup a website with a lot of great information. Its called MDhearingaid.com and they can learn all about hearing loss and the importance of why its really critical to treat it with a hearing device or whatever. Woman: If youd like more information, you can call 888-670-hear or you can go to MDhearingaid.com and well of course get that information for you on our website at Fox17online.com. [S]H[e]ar[e] This

MDHearingAid: An Option for the Under and Uninsured With Hearing Loss

Source: http://www.mdhearingaid.com/blog/mdhearingaid-an-option-for-the-under-and-uninsured-with-hearing-loss/

Hearing loss is a growing problem with many people getting diagnosed at earlier ages, usually in their 40s and 50s. The Baby Boomer generation, one of the largest generations, will soon be reaching the age where many people will be getting diagnosed with hearing loss. In the US, an estimated 36 million people have problems hearing. Unfortunately, the majority of those people, around 28 million of them, will not seek treatment. As these Baby Boomers approach retirement, they usually lack the medical insurance they need to get help with their hearing loss. For those who do have insurance, they will frequently find that their insurance will only cover some, or a very small amount, of the cost of their care. Unfortunately for many, getting diagnosed in their 40s and 50s could mean that they dont have medical coverage for their problem. With diagnoses coming in earlier, the cost of long term care is becoming more prohibitive. Some blame technology for the increased cases of hearing loss. Many think that this technology is going to continue to make the problem worse. While technology certainly has its benefits, its had a major drawback. It probably plays a large factor in the increased occurrences of hearing loss. Products like iPods and amplified music at concerts can cause damage to the ears that later result in hearing loss. As more and more generations are exposed to louder technology, more will have hearing problems. These individuals will usually begin to notice their hearing loss around retirement age, when they might have limited options available for health insurance, or have none at all. In fact, a large amount of insurance plans will only cover the cost of an exam and not the cost of the devices themselves. This results in 77% of the people with hearing loss not getting treatment for their condition.
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Luckily, technology can mend the problem it helped cause. Dr. Sreekant Cherukuri, a Chicago based ear, nose and throat specialist, noticed as an attending physician in otolaryngology that many of the people who had been diagnosed left without getting the care they need. The custom made devices required to fix their problems could sometimes cost high hundreds to thousands of dollars. That is when Dr. Cherukuri decided to create a low cost option for people who did not have medical insurance or were underinsured. His goal was to develop the best quality hearing aid at the lowest possible price. He started by doing quality control tests of dozens of different low cost, one size fits all hearing aids. All the products were under $200 and they all had one thing in common. They simply amplified everything, making it difficult to hear in areas with a lot of background noise. Dr. Cherukuri decided to improve on these failings by creating the MDHearingAid line. The MDHearingAid line, which contains both analog and digital hearing aids, was developed with a focus on cost effectiveness and quality. The aid amplifies voice frequencies rather than all frequency, resulting in a clearer sound. In addition, they are much more affordable than the custom made sets, but many clients think they work just as well. The MDHearingAid line is designed around comfort, because the hearing aids were designed to be as discreet and functional as possible. It is estimated that 36 million people in the U.S. need hearing aids, while about 77%, more than two thirds, are going without. This is frequently the result of lack of funds for care or lack of insurance coverage. Dr. Cherukuri has created a line of hearing aids to combat the high cost of lost hearing. No one should go without the care they need, for any reason. The MDHearingAid line makes getting that care even easier. [S]H[e]ar[e] This

MDHearingAid Update

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MDHearingAid Update http://www.mdhearingaid.com/ The latest blog posts from MDHearingAid.com. en-us Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:43:37 +0000 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:43:37 +0000 joost@yoast.com

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