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8/2/2019 Introduction to Hearing Aid Features
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 1
Introduction to Hearing Aid Features
A consumer view of some things youneed to know before you buy your first
(or next) hearing aid.
This presentation is available for SHHH Chapters to use at www.nchearingloss.org/programs.Please send corrections or suggestions for improvements to [email protected] .Opinions expressed are those of the author.
http://www.nchearingloss.org/programshttp://www.nchearingloss.org/programs8/2/2019 Introduction to Hearing Aid Features
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 2
Why Should I Care?
Hearing aids are Expensive.
Hearing aids arent like glasses.
You need to be an informed consumer.
You need to know how to use the aid.
There are a lot of misconceptions
about hearing aids.Hearing better is UP TO YOU!
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 3
What Should I Care About?
Highest Priority: Hearing Better
High Priority: Learning to Use Your Aid
Lowest Priority: Vanity
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 4
All Hearing Aids Are Alike
1. Sound goes in the Microphone.
2. Sound gets amplified.
3. Sound comes out the Speaker into your Ear
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 5
All Hearing Aids Are Different
Style (Small is best?)
Technology (Digital is only way to go?)
Features (More is better?)
Settings (your prescription)
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 6
Style
Body
Behind The Ear (BTE)
In The Ear (ITE)
In The Canal (ITC)
Completely In the Canal (CIC)
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 7
Technology
Analog: Settings and Sound are both processed viaanalog technology.
Digital Programmable: Settings are processed
digitally, Sound is processed via analog technology.Full Digital: Both Settings and Sound are processeddigitally.
Opinion: Digital is now probably best in most cases,but not the miracle that some imply. For some peopleanalog or digital programmables are fine, but mosthearing aids in the future will be full digital.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 8
FeaturesVolume Control
Telecoil
Multiple Microphone Directionality
Compression
Clipping
Direct Audio Input
FM
Programmability
Speech Enhancement/Noise Reduction
Frequency Shifting
Earmold/Vent
Remote Control
Opinion: Learnwhat these
features can do tohelp you hearbetter so that youwill be a betterconsumer.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 9
Volume Control
Some aids are preset and you cant control thevolume.
Some manufacturers and dispensers think you dont
need it.Not having a volume control is Ok for a few peoplewho really dont need it or cant manage it.
Very useful to be able to control the volume tomatch the situation.
Control may be a wheel on the aid, or a remotecontrol.
Opinion: Usually very important.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 10
TelecoilAlternate input source
Listens to magnetic signalinstead of (or in addition to)the sound.
Magnetic signal can be from
a telephone, CD, TV,personal ALD, headphone,loop
Major advantage isimproved signal to noise
Usually on BTEs; sometimeson smaller, seldom onsmallest
MagneticInputSignal
SoundInputSignal
Opinion: Very Valuable
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 11
Multiple Microphone DirectionalityFront Facing Directional Mic
Rear Omnidirectional Mic
Aid Can Focus on Sounds inFront and Diminish
Background Noise
Selectable Modes
Quiet situations: heareverything
Noisy situations: blockbackground noise
Manual or Auto Selection
Opinion: Very Valuable
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 12
Compression
0
20
40
60
80
100
quiet loud
Amount of Noise
Amplificat
ion
Reduces Amplificatonwhen its Noisy
Helps you hear morewhen its Quieter
Keeps it from beingPainful when its Noisy
Adjustable (manual andautomatic)
Different settings inmultiple frequencybands
Opinion: Very useful; availableon most aids; may requretweaking to set right.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 13
Clipping
0102030405060
708090
100
quiet loud
Amount of Noise
Amplificat
ion
Eliminates allamplificaton above acertain input volume
Prevents hearing
damage fromexcessiveamplification in loudsituations
A setting for mosthearing aids
NormalAmplification No Amp-lification
Opinion: Essential for safety;available on most aids
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 14
Direct Audio Input (DAI)Alternate input source
Listens to electrical signalinstead of (or in addition to)the sound.
Electrical signal can be from atelephone, CD, TV, orpersonal ALD
Major advantage is improvedsignal to noise
Boots available only for BTEs
Opinion: Very good signal;comparable to FM, but requiresthe wires.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 15
Booted or Integrated FMSome Aids have FM receiverseither booted on (as shown) orintegrated into the aid.
Some can be used with hand-held transmitters or with fixedtransmitters which canintegrate TV and Telephone.
Clean signal; bridges distance;
improves signal to noise ratio.
Opinion: Expensive but wonderfulif you can afford it.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 16
Programmability
The ability of an aid to have several different sets of settings
Hearing aid dealer/audiologist chooses and sets up the programs
User can switch among the programs
Examples of useful programs
for quiet situations
for noisy situations
for music
telecoil or DAI with or without microphones
FMMay be controlled with a switch or button on the aid or with aremote control
Opinion: Very valuable, but you must understand,choose and learn how to use the options.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 17
Speech Enhancement andNoise Reduction
Speech Enhancement
Enhance certain speech sounds (like consonants)
Noise Reduction Processing
Identify speech in the signal and separate it from noise
Opinion: May be useful in some situations but these arenot miracles and their benefit may not be obvious inmany situations.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 18
Frequency Shifting
010
20
30405060
7080
90100
2k 4k 6k 8k
dB
Only one aid, so far (AVRImpaCT)
Lowers the frequency ofsounds you cant hear into arange where you can hear
them.
Does some speechenhancement, too
With practice those newsounds start to soundrealistic.
Can Hear Cant
Hear
Opinion: Most likely usefulfor steep ski slopes
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 19
Ear Mold DesignThe shape andsmoothness of the bore
The size andsmoothness of the vent Too small: Drum Feeling Too Large: Feedback
Depth of the mold
Smoothness of the
adaptor
Vent
Bore
Depth
Adaptor
Opinion: Very important,and much ovelooked.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 20
Remote ControlsLet you control your aidsconveniently
Some simple; some powerful
Some people like them; some
dontControl:
Volume
Program
Mode
Opinion: Very convenient;especially if it allows directaccess to individual programs.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 21
Feature Availability By Type
Feature / Type BTE ITE ITC CICTelecoil Most Some No No
Directional Mics Some Rare No No
Compression/Clipping Yes Yes Yes Yes
DAI Some No No No
FM Some Few ?? No
Programmability Most Most Some ???
Power Plenty Less Less Less
Remote some some few ???
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 22
Summary
Put hearing better as the top priority.
Put vanity at the bottom of your priorities.
Be a savvy consumer; know what
features might help you.Watch out for people trying to sell youwhat they THINK you want.
Choose a provider that lets you try
multiple aids/settings.Small is not necessarily better (andusually isnt).
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 23
Summary (cont.)
Watch out for sales pitches; if it sounds toogood to be true; it probably is.
Get professional help from someone you
trust.New is not necessarily better (butsometimes is).
Use the trial period. Try the aids in different
situations and make notes. Work with yourprovider during the trial period byexplaining what things sound good or badto you.
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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 24
Final Opinion
Knowing about features is important.
Hearing loss isnt a spectator sport.
Hearing better is up to you.
Learn to be a better consumer.
Join SHHH at www.hearingloss.org