Hearing aids and cochlear implants are both electronic devices that help improve hearing. How they do that is what makes them very different.
A cochlear implant is a small, surgically implanted electronic device that can help to provide access to sound to people with severe to profound hearing loss and those who cannot hear or understand speech with hearing aids. While hearing aids make sound louder, cochlear implants directly stimulate the nerve fibers in the inner ear (cochlea). An implant does not create normal hearing; instead, under the appropriate conditions, it can give a deaf individual useful auditory understanding of speech and environmental sounds.
Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing
One of the top complaints of those who wear hearing aids centers around batteries. Batteries typically last for three days to two weeks depending on the size of the battery, the type of hearing loss, and the size and type of the hearing aid. Batteries can be expensive to purchase. In addition, for those with limited mobility in the hands, arthritis or tingling or numbness in the fingertips, or low vision, changing the batteries can be difficult or impossible. There is now an alternative to changing hearing aid batteries so often: rechargeable hearing aids!
Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Hearing, Hearing Loss
For people with hearing loss, hearing on the telephone is often a struggle; whether conversing with friends or family, arranging a job interview, contacting a company’s customer service department, or scheduling a medical appointment.
Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Hearing Loss Prevention, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss
World Hearing Day, formally known as International Ear Care Day, is celebrated every year on March 3rd. The World Health Organization started this day in 2007 to promote better hearing health care through themes. The 2018 theme is “Hear the future” - drawing attention to the anticipated increase in the number of people with hearing loss around the world in the coming decades. It will focus on three strategies (Prevention, Identification, Treatment) to stem the rise and outline steps to ensure access to the necessary rehabilitation services and communication tools and products for people with hearing loss.
Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Hearing Loss Prevention, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss
My beautiful baby is born and the feelings of joy are immense. Everything is brand new and a little overwhelming. The routine hearing screening at the hospital is performed. Wait. What? My baby needs more testing? But that doesn’t make sense! We have no history of hearing loss in the family and my baby is "healthy.” I do as suggested and schedule a full diagnostic test. The results show a permanent hearing loss. The audiologist is recommending hearing aids.
Tags: Hearing Aid, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss
Many of our social interactions revolve around going out to eat; sharing a meal and time with friends and family. But, enjoying a quiet restaurant dining experience may seem nearly impossible. Trying to hold a conversation, hear others talking at your table or, hear and understand the wait-staff and hostess in noisy restaurants can prove challenging - even for normal hearing individuals. If you are hearing impaired it becomes exponentially worse.
Tags: Hearing Aid, Audiology, Hearing Aids, Communication, Hearing
