Knowing the Facts about Hearing Aids
It’s a simple fact that hearing loss affects a great number of Americans. Recent studies put the figure at about 30 million men and women, and it remains the third most common chronic health concern in the country. Unfortunately a great deal of these people put off seeking help for a number of reasons. Many of them think that hearing loss is just a normal part of growing older and there’s not much that can be done to mitigate its effects. Other people hold an outdated notion of what hearing aids are. They think of them as big, bulky, unsophisticated, feedback-ridden machines. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth concerning today’s hearing aids like those available at a Pocatello, ID, hearing center.
Hearing aids have undergone a technological revolution over the past decade or so. One of the biggest changes has been hearing aids’ switch to digital technology from analog. This switch has led to hearing consultants being able to program accurately the devices for each individual patient. No two patients have the exact kind of hearing loss. Each person’s condition needs to be addressed on its own terms. Digital hearing aids allow this kind of precision and customization. Many Miracle-Ear hearing centers use a new technology called live speech mapping. This process allows the hearing consultant to actually see how the hearing aids are working inside the patients’ ears. They can then make any number of adjustments via computer program and see the changes reflected in real time.
Some of the hearing aids available in Pocatello, ID, are so small that they fit entirely in the patients’ ears, which makes them virtually invisible to any casual observer. Other models are more of an over-the-ear type. All of them, however, are guaranteed for comfort and are custom programmed to meet each patient’s hearing needs. Once the patients are fitted for their hearing aids, they’ll often return fairly regularly to the hearing center in the first few months for further adjustments and tweaks. Then, every few months they’ll return for a complimentary hearing-aid cleaning and checkup. They can also come back once a year for a free, comprehensive hearing test. This annual test will ensure that the patient’s device is still providing the level of amplification needed. In many cases, the relationship between patient and Miracle-Ear hearing center will last for years.