Audiology & Hearing Aids
Hearing Evaluation
A comprehensive hearing evaluation is done to determine if hearing loss is present, and if so, the type and degree of hearing loss. The evaluation includes a battery of tests that vary depending on the age of the patient. The evaluation may also include testing to evaluate the status of the middle ear.
There are three types of hearing loss.
- Sensori-neural hearing loss involves the inner ear (cochlea) and/or the auditory nerve.
- Conductive hearing loss involves the ear drum and/or middle ear.
- Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensori-neural and conductive hearing
loss.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids may be recommended if you have a hearing loss that is not medically treatable. The audiologist will discuss the different types of hearing aid options that are appropriate for your hearing loss and lifestyle.
There are several styles of hearing aids. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are worn behind the ear with either a custom ear mold or a thin tube that fits into the ear canal. In- the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are custom made and fit into the ear canal.
Most hearing aids are digital, which means they are programmed to your specific hearing loss using a computer. Some hearing aids are more advanced than others, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability for different types of listening environments.
In most cases if there is hearing loss in both ears, hearing aids for both ears are recommended. There are many benefits to hearing with both ears such as better ability to hear sound from all directions, better ability to locate the direction of sounds, and better ability to listen in noisy conditions.
It takes some time to adjust to using hearing aids. Most people have hearing loss for a number of years before they start using hearing aids. The ears and brain need time to adjust to listening to sounds that have not been heard for however long the hearing loss has been present. The audiologist will help to make your adjustment as smooth as possible by adjusting the hearing aid settings as needed and through counseling and education on hearing loss and hearing aids.
Custom Ear Protection
Custom ear molds are available for protection from damaging noise or for keeping water out of the ears. Custom ear molds can also be used for cell phones and personal listening systems such as iPods and MP3 players.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices may be used in conjunction with your hearing aids or as a stand-alone unit to help amplify specific sounds. Amplified telephones, infra-red TV amplifiers, and amplified alarm clocks, door bells, and smoke detectors are some examples of assistive listening devices.
Signs of hearing loss
- Feeling that other people always mumble when they speak
- Straining to hear normal conversation in quiet or noisy environments
- Difficulty hearing on the telephone
- Watching people’s faces carefully when they speak to help understand what is being said
- Frequent misunderstanding of what people are saying
- TV volume is too loud for other people’s preference
- Withdrawing from social situations because it is too difficult to follow conversation.
- Feeling fatigued and/or irritated from the effort of listening.
- Noises in the ears (tinnitus)
Communication tips for family and friends
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- Speak naturally and distinctly
- Do not speak too fast or too loudly
- Don’t chew or cover your mouth when speaking
- Talk face to face. It is difficult to hear when someone speaks from a different room or when the voice is being projected away from the listener.
- Eliminate distracting noise, such as the TV or radio whenever possible.
- If you are misunderstood, rephrasing your comment rather than repeating it may be helpful.
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Baha® Implants
The Baha® system utilizes your body’s natural ability to conduct sound.
Bone, like air, can conduct sound vibrations. For people with hearing loss, this provides another pathway to perceive sound. Typical hearing aids rely on air conduction and a functioning middle ear.
In cases where the middle ear function is blocked, damaged or occluded, the Baha system may be a better option as it bypasses the outer and middle ear altogether. Instead, sound is sent around the damaged or problematic area, naturally stimulating the cochlea through bone conduction.
Once the cochlea receives these sound vibrations, the organ ‘hears’ in the same manner as through air conduction; the sound is converted into neural signals and is transferred to the brain, allowing a Baha recipient to perceive sound.
BAHA Surgery is indicated for single sided deafness.
Links
Better Hearing Institute www.betterhearing.org
Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) www.shhh.org
Alexander Graham Bell Association www.agbell.org
American Tinnitus Association www.ata.org
National Hearing Conservation Association www.hearingconservation.org
American Academy of Audiology www.audiology.org
Illinois Academy of Audiology www.ilaudiology.org
American Speech-Language and Hearing Association www.asha.org
National Institute of Health www.nih.gov
Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation www.itactty.org
Audiology Conditions
Download Otosclerosis Informed Consent
