Benefits of open ear hearing aids
There are more and more types and styles of hearing aids available today, as technology becomes more advanced and hearing aid components become ever smaller.
This is a considerable advantage to those with hearing loss and means that however severe the loss, the hearing aid need be nowhere near as large as the hearing aids of past.
There are four main types of hearing aid: Open ear hearing aids, which can also incorporate RITE (receiver in the ear) technology, BTE (behind the ear), ITE (in the ear), and CIC (completely in the canal) digital hearing aids. There are benefits and disadvantages of each type, but the one with the fewest disadvantages is the open ear RITE.
Advantages of open ear hearing aids
There are many advantages of open ear fittings or open ear hearing aids, both from a cosmetic and an audiological point of view, and also a benefit when looking at cost.
Open ear hearing aids, such as those made by Oticon, Phonak, & GN Resound are small, inconspicuous and very light and comfortable. People don’t even know they are wearing them!
The only part of an open ear hearing aid is the part that sits in the ear, which is a small rubbery dome which feeds the sound directly into the ear. It doesn’t need a bulky earmould, so it doesn’t block the ear completely. Conventional hearing aid earmoulds can cause sweating and can also be very uncomfortable.
Most people with hearing loss can benefit from an open ear hearing aid, but severe and profound losses may find a BTE hearing aid more suitable. If you are concerned about your hearing go for a free hearing test from a local hearing aid dispenser first. He or she will tell you how bad your hearing loss is, and should also offer you a free hearing aid demonstration, and obviously will tell you about hearing aid prices. There are some amazing new digital hearing aids being produced by Phonak, Oticon and GN Resound. Phonak Yes is an amazing new open ear hearing aid, Oticon Dual takes over from Oticon Delta as one of the world’s leading open ear hearing aids.
Open ear hearing aids are beneficial since there are fewer problems with blockages from ear wax. Also, as the ear is left open, it has the chance to ‘breathe’ naturally, thus preventing excessive perspiration.
If you are thinking about getting a hearing aid, you probably want one that is small, that no one can see. Equally important, is that the hearing aid is comfortable and light. Obviously the way your digital hearing aids perform is of paramount importance and that’s why the open ear hearing aids are often the best choice.
Open Ear hearing aid technology has dramatically improved hearing capabilities as well as given vastly improved comfort and discretion and are increasingly becoming the digital hearing aid of choice for many users with all types of hearing losses.
Posts Tagged ‘Hearing Aids’
Benefits Of Open Ear Hearing Aids
Sunday, May 22nd, 2011Hearing Aids or Hearing Amplifiers, what is better for you?
Sunday, July 18th, 2010Get ready for some sticker shock. If your hearing is starting to deteriorate and think you need a little help, what choices do you have? Digital Hearing Aids are generally the first things that come to mind but they can set you back $ 3,000 or more … and that is just for one ear. The process is pretty simple. You find a doctor or audiologist located near you, you pull out a coupon from one of their frequent ads in the local newspaper offering the promise of great discounts, you make an appointment, have your hearing testing, and are told, “we can outfit you with a state of the art hearing aid complete with fabulous features – noise reductions, 100% digital hearing aid processing, comfortable fit, feedback cancellation (whatever that is) – and it will only cost you about $ 2.945 per ear … plus tax. You ask yourself, quite rightly, if I can buy a full flat screen High Definition TV with internal DVD player for less than $ 700 or an iPad for under $ 500, why does a hearing aid cost almost $ 3,000 ? How can such a little electronic device cost so much? Ahhh, you think, there really is no problem. My health insurance or Medicare will take care of that for me. Wrong. There is no insurance coverage for hearing aid. The money has to come out of your pocket. “Do you have any cheap hearing aids”, you ask. The good news is that for anyone looking for a little hearing help, there is an inexpensive hearing aid alternative – the hearing amplifier. A prominent audiologist in Connecticut who does not want to have his name used for fear of angering his fellow audiologist calls Hearing Amplifiers “starter hearing aids – an inexpensive hearing aid alternative. These hearing amplifiers fit nicely in the ear. Have tone control. And magnify the sounds to make routine conversations easier, phone calls more pleasant, and watching TV at home not a battle over the sound control. Best of all, they cost a fraction of digital hearing aids. Often less than $ 30.00 Hearing aids or hearing amplifiers? The choice is yours. But hearing amplifiers, the so called starter hearing aids, deserve a look.
Hearing Aids For Dogs?! – But Why?
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
We all need to hear so we are aware of what is going on around us and expect to be able to use it especially when to alert us of any dangers. Dogs also need to be able to hear, but it is expected that they can adapt to life without it. While some dogs manage, is there any reason why dogs shouldn’t use a hearing aid?
Dogs can live up to a good age and easily reach their teens before long. With good veterinary care and modern medicine they can live to a ripe old age. Just like humans, as they get older, they will suffer from conditions that come with age like their hearing.
You will notice when your dog loses its hearing as suddenly he is less responsive when you call his name or may not look up at all. If he is facing you he is more likely to respond. Or when he is called you find that he is looking in the wrong direction. Other signs are that he is sleeping most of the time, and will only wake when you touch him. You may also notice that he is shaking his head around like a child would with hearing problems, and they start to make a fuss of their ears. This is when a hearing aid could come in handy to help your dog overcome these problems.
This is a clinic in Texas which can give a hearing test to any dogs that are brought in with suspected hearing loss. Once the test has been carried out, the dog’s owner will have more of an idea of what hearing loss their dog is diagnosed with and if there are any suitable solutions to help them. The centre offers a plans to help dogs get used to wearing a hearing aid. Over a month the volume of the aid is gradually adjusted to the right level for the dog. The price is about $250 for each aid. The programs are designed to ease a dog gently into wearing a hearing aid and get used to the idea with the least discomfort.
There is a contraption available for dogs as a hearing aid which easily fits onto their collar. The aid comes in a container which is collar mounted, with a tube leading from it to a foam plug which is placed in the dog’s ear. This is very much structured like the BTE, that is Behind the Ear, hearing aids. These devices tend to be tolerated by smaller dogs, as the larger dogs don’t take to them as well.
There are companies that can offer ITE, In the Ear, hearing aids to suit dogs. A doctor will take a mould of the dog’s ear canal, which is then sent on for the laboratory to use and build the human ITE into it. Once that is made the dog has to go through the normal testing before the hearing aid is fitted in his ears, although that could be a difficult step. This is the risk and expense that owners take as some dogs will tolerate a hearing aid and others won’t stand for it. Some pet veterinary insurance companies do actually cover the cost of these devices.
A dog is more confident if he can hear his owner’s voice. He is also alert to danger around him and can respond when he needs to. Hearing loss can make it confusing for him as he suddenly notices changes in his hearing world. Having a hearing aid will make all the difference and make him happier at coping with life. Any loving dog owner will understand these reasons.