Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2020 | Page 33

TREATING HEARING LOSS: WHO YOU SHOULD
SEE AND WHAT STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE.
By Elizabeth Brassine, Au.D.
H
earing is one of the body’s
most remarkable senses. It
integrates with our brain
to help us connect with the
world around us. Made up
of a complex system of delicate and
synchronous parts, it’s easy to take this
vital sense for granted. If any of these
components aren’t working properly,
the result could be hearing loss. For
48 million Americans––or nearly one
in five, ages 12 and older––this is pre-
cisely the case. have improved significantly over the
past several years in terms of perfor-
mance and appearance. From “invisi-
ble” solutions that fit deep inside your
ear and are virtually undetectable but
still deliver exceptional sound quality,
to wireless options that stream audio
from your phone and TV, today’s hear-
ing aids sound better, fit more comfort-
ably and perform more reliably than
ever before.
If you think you or someone you know
has hearing loss, you’re probably
wondering what the next step should
be. That’s easy; see a hearing profes-
sional. It’s important to see someone
who specializes in hearing issues such
as a Doctor of Audiology. Schedule
a comprehensive evaluation to begin
treatment and rehabilitation as soon
as possible. A microphone picks up sound and
converts it into an electrical/digital
signal. An amplifier then increases
the strength of the signal, which in our
more sophisticated devices is manipu-
lated by advanced signal processing.
This allows the signal to be “shaped”
to someone’s hearing loss. The receiv-
er or speaker converts it back into
sound and sends it into the ear canal,
to eventually reach the inner ear. That
signal goes up the auditory pathway
to the brain which “hears” and under-
stands the sound as speech.
There is a difference between ba-
sic amplification products and hear-
ing aids. Hearing aids and personal
sound amplifier products (PSAPs) both
improve the ability to hear sound.
PSAPs are typically stripped of sound
enhancement features. In many ways,
these devices are a throwback to the
old analog hearing aids that basically
just made all sounds louder. However,
hearing aids are designed to improve
your hearing in more difficult listening
situations with advanced technology
features like feedback elimination,
noise reduction technology and often
better ability to hear on the phone.
Don’t do it alone
While hearing loss typically can’t be
reversed, most cases can be managed
with the help of an Audiologist and
hearing aids.
See a professional
Just as every person is unique, every
hearing loss and need is unique too.
To ensure you get a solution that’s cus-
tom-fit to your precise needs and life-
style, it’s always recommended that
you consult with an audiologist. These
trained experts have the experience,
education and technology needed to
diagnose and measure your degree
of hearing loss, then recommend and
administer a solution personalized for
you, including ongoing support and
care.
Get the right solution
Today the best solution for sensorineu-
ral hearing loss is hearing aids. Like
all high-tech devices, hearing aids
How a hearing aid works
(the basics)
Two are better than one
Nearly 95% of people with sensori-
neural hearing loss can be helped with
hearing aids. But wearing two hearing
aids delivers these additional benefits:
• Better understanding of speech
• Better understanding in
background noise
• Better and smoother sound quality
• Better sound identification
and localization
• Better tinnitus masking
Treatment makes a difference
Research by the National Council on
Aging (NCOA) concluded that hear-
ing loss treatment is shown to improve:
physical health, communication in re-
lationships, warmth in family relation-
ships, ease in communication, emo-
tional stability, sense of control over
life events, and earning power.
The right fit
Today’s best hearing aids are preci-
sion instruments, utilizing advanced
technology that can and should be
customized to fit your specific hearing
loss and unique lifestyle needs. Deter-
mining which hearing aids are right for
you depends on a variety of important
and unique factors including: the na-
ture and severity of your hearing loss,
your eyesight and dexterity, the size
and shape of your outer ear, the types
of activities you enjoy (listening needs
assessment) and cosmetic concerns.
That’s why getting fit with the advice
and consultation of an experienced
Audiologist can’t be overemphasized.
Get the most
out of your investment
The Better Hearing Institute reiterates
this in their report: “The hearing aid fit-
ting process requires complete in-person
hearing assessment in a sound booth; the
training and skills of a credentialed hear-
ing professional in order to prescriptively
fit the hearing aids using sophisticated
computer programs; and appropriate
in-person follow-up and counseling. This
is not possible when consumers purchase
one-size fits-all hearing aids over the in-
ternet or elsewhere.”
Elizabeth Brassine is a Doctor of Audiology and owner of Hearing Services of McKinney.
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
31