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HEARING LOSS FAQ
Hearing loss is a common problem and those who suffer from it often have questions, and we’ve listened. Browse the questions below to learn more about hearing aids and hearing loss.
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Q. What are some tips on how to care for hearing aid batteries?
A.- Keep batteries in their protective pack.
- Store batteries at room temperature—never in the refrigerator.
- Don't remove the color-coded tabs until you're ready to use the battery.
- Don't carry batteries loose in your pocket or let them come into contact with metal objects.
- Don't dispose of batteries in fire.
- Don't try to recharge batteries.
- When your hearing aid is not in use, open the door to the battery compartment. This minimizes battery drain and helps prevent moisture buildup.
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Q. Does turning off your hearing aid when you're not using it prolong its battery life? What is the average usage time in hours?
A. Turning off your hearing aid when you're not wearing it will certainly prolong the life of your battery. It is not possible to accurately predict how long a battery will last because there are so many variables. For example, the size of the hearing aid battery and the level of hearing loss one has—mild, moderate, or profound—will affect battery life. Your hearing specialist should be able to give you an indication of the life of the battery using this information. -
Q. Aren't all hearing aid batteries the same?
A.No. Different hearing aid batteries offer many different features, such as size of tab and method of dispensing the battery itself.
However, battery size and dimensions are the same across battery brands. Hearing aid batteries are color-coded by size to help you find the right battery for your device. There are four hearing aid battery sizes:
10—Yellow
312—Brown
13—Orange
675—Blue<> -
Q. Why does my voice sound so strange to me when I’m wearing my hearing aid?
A. That is called the occlusion effect. Essentially, when your ear is occluded, or blocked by your hearing aid, it restricts the airflow through your ear, which changes how you hear yourself. Talk with your hearing specialist, as he or she may be able to make changes to the hearing instrument.
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Q. What can I do about the whistling (feedback) produced by my hearing aids?
A. Feedback can be annoying. Fortunately, there are a few different things you can do to correct it. If these don't work, contact your hearing specialist.- Properly reinsert the hearing aid.
- Verify that wax is not blocking the receiver.
- If this does not solve the problem, make an appointment with your hearing specialist.
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Q. Are there any hearing aids available to help my hearing in noisy situations?
A. Today's digital-hearing instruments have the options of multiple programs that can adapt to certain surroundings just by pressing a button, or the aid can automatically adapt to your surroundings. For example, one would add a program to your hearing aid selection if you played the violin; you would not want to compress the sound but hear the full body of the violin. If you have a digital hearing aid that allows multiple programs, contact your hearing specialist to discuss adding a program that meets all your needs.
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Q. Is there an advantage to replacing an old hearing aid, even if it is working well?
A. The advantage to replacing 11-year old hearing instruments is that the technology has changed dramatically. We are now in the age of digital hearing instruments, which can process sound at a very rapid speed. The digital signal can recognize speech from noise and compress the noise so that speech can be heard over the noise. Try testing one of the newer products out on the market, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
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Q. What is the best cell phone to get when you wear hearing aids?
A. Cell phone models vary among carriers. When you select a cell phone, ask if it is hearing aid compatible and if you can try it out in the store.
Your selection will also vary regarding the style of hearing instrument you use. If you wear behind-the-ear hearing instruments, you will be able to adapt the aids with a boot and cord that will go directly into the cell phone for better clarity. In-the-ear hearing instruments do not have the ability to have accessories attached. Again, it varies on the model of the telephone and the style of hearing instrument you use. The only challenge will be feedback, and different styles of phones will give you different results. Also, be sure to review the return policy, in case the phone does not meet your needs. -
Q. Can and should I wear hearing aids while using headphones?
A. There are accessories available for individuals wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids. These accessories attach to the aid and allow the user to connect a cord directly to the audio device, allowing for greater understanding of what you are listening to with less interference. Contact your hearing professional for more information.
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Q. How can I prevent and treat soreness caused by my hearing aid?
A. If your earmold is new and it creates sores in your ear, it is recommended that you return to your specialist immediately. They will be able to smooth down the area of the earmold that is irritating the ear. In fact, they might even have to take a new impression to have it remade. If the earmold is old or if your ear changed shape through weight loss or gain, the earmold might be too loose, in which case you should have new earmolds made. In either case, the hearing aid should not be worn until the sore is healed and the earmold situation resolved.
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Q. My ear plugs up when I wear my hearing aid, even with a new battery. Is there anything I can do?
A. You might want to check the venting size in the aid or the ear canal itself if your ear feels plugged when you wear your aid. One possibility is that you are experiencing canal closing, which can result in hearing well in the morning and difficulty hearing in the afternoon. You should contact your professional to discuss options to resolve your problem.
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Q. I have hearing loss of high-pitched sounds. Is it true that I can’t wear an in-the-ear hearing aid?
A. No, that’s not necessarily true. For some individuals, the degree of hearing loss can dictate the style of the hearing instrument needed. Usually, behind-the-ear aids have a larger microphone. Because of the power needed, an individual with severe or severe-to-profound hearing loss will typically be fitted with a behind-the-ear aid. But, Siemens® has a hearing instrument for severe loss that goes completely into the canal (CIC). Other factors, such as speech discrimination, also determine the selection of a hearing instrument. -
Q. Is there a special telephone that I should purchase that is more compatible with hearing aids?
A. There are many telephone models on the market made to assist individuals with hearing difficulties. States like Massachusetts, Florida, and California have programs that will give individuals one of these telephones for free if they qualify. These telephones have louder amplifiers, making the person you are talking with easier to hear, and louder ringers to alert you when you are receiving a call. Contact your hearing professional to see if your state has such a program.
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Q. Is there a wireless device that makes it easier to hear my TV and the sound in movie theaters?
A. There are a few wireless devices on the market designed to assist in movie theaters, conference halls, and similar venues. One of the newer devices is manufactured by Sennheiser®. It communicates with hearing instruments that have Bluetooth® capabilities. With this device, you will be able to listen through your hearing instruments. The other option would be to remove your hearing instrument(s) and replace them with a headset. This all depends on the amount of hearing loss in question.
It is suggested that you speak with your hearing professional. Many professionals have the ability to test these devices in their practices. There is also information on the Web. Just visit your favorite search engine and type "TV listening devices." -
Q. Why do I sometimes experience hearing loss and gain when I remove my hearing aid?
A. Your question should be directed to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. You have what is typically called fluctuating hearing loss, and you are not alone. Sometimes ear canals collapse after a few hours of hearing aid use. This requires users to take off their hearing aids until the next day. This does not mean you have the same problem, so it is recommended that you call your doctor to get a proper diagnosis. -
Q. What are the different kinds of hearing loss?
A. There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss. They all have different causes and effects, but the end result is the same—you don't hear as well as you used to.
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Q. I have been experiencing a lot of ringing in my ears, what can I do to address this issue?
A. What you are experiencing is called tinnitus. It can be a ringing, buzzing, or shrill sound in the ear. Some individuals might experience it all the time and others might have it come and go. Review your current medications (prescriptions, over-the-counter items, vitamins, and other supplements) with your medical professional to find possible causes of your tinnitus. Sometimes stress levels can cause tinnitus. Certain experts believe that dietary habits might contribute to tinnitus as well. Consult an ear, nose, and throat doctor experienced in tinnitus treatment. -
Q. What are Assistive Listening Devices?
A. Assistive Listening Devices are used to improve an individual’s function in day-to-day life. Examples of Assistive Listening Devices include an alarm clock that shakes your bed to wake you up, a smoke alarm that flashes light to alert you of a fire, or a headset to help you hear the TV without disturbing others. -
Q. What other devices are available to treat hearing loss?
A. Another device to aid hearing is a cochlear implant, which is a small, electronic device that can help provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
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Q. How bad does your hearing have to be to get a cochlear implant?
A. First, for those who might not know, a cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted. Unlike a hearing aid, which amplifies sound, this implant works by stimulating the functioning nerves of the inner ear. To be a candidate for a cochlear implant, there are many variables that need to be considered. If you speak to your audiologist or ENT, they can give you information regarding the criteria and refer you to cochlear-implant recipients who you might want to talk with.
