Value Hearing Care - Hearing Aids For Today's Educated Consumer

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Hearing Facts ...
The incidence of hearing impairment in the United States and around the world is a significant percentage of the population, yet the current level of market growth for hearing aids is relatively low. A number of factors influence this. Foremost among the reasons for low growth, in our opinion, is the extremely high price through the traditional distribution channel of hearing centers, audiology practices, and ENT offices. Compounding the difficulty is the perception that the hearing aid industry over-promises and under-delievers on hearing aid performance at these high prices.

32 million Americans, more than I in 10, have a hearing impairment. In most cases, both ears are involved.
The average age of a hearing aid purchaser is 70, unfortunately, the entire hearing aid industry through newspaper ads and mailings tries to convince the hearing aid wearer to keep getting new/improved hearing aids because the average life expectancy is in the early 80's therefore everyone wants to make as many sales as they can in this narrow time frame.
10% of the population needs hearing aids. Between 1% - 2% of the population actually gets hearing aids.
Hearing loss is a disability, not a sign of aging. Current research shows that progressive hearing loss begins in middle age for about half the population.
Among the elderly, hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition exceeded only by arthritis and hypertension.
The most common type of hearing loss is sensori-neural hearing loss. Sensori-neural hearing loss occurs most often as part of the aging process, developing gradually over a period of many years.
There are limited medical treatments for nerve related hearing loss. However, 95% of people with these hearing problems can be helped dramatically with hearing aids.
Hearing impairment increases with age. 25% of those aged 65-74 and 40% of those 75 years and older have significant hearing loss.
The average person waits 7 years from the time they have the need for a hearing aid until they actually get one.
Hearing aids are not like eyeglasses in the sense that when you wear them you recieve an immediate and 100% correction.
The sooner you treat the hearing loss the more you will benefit from heaing aids.
The Veterans Administration who dispenses approx. 200,000 hearing aids annulally, feels that a hearing aid should last 7 years.
Hearing aids do not stop the progression of hearing loss . Studies have proven that when both ears have hearing loss and only one hearing aid is worn that the unaided ear's ability to distinguish speech degenerates more rapidly than the ear with that the hearing aid is worn in.

Commonly Used Hearing Aid Terms
Analog Circuit	In an analog circuit the sound is amplified, frequency shaped, can be compressed if needed before being delivered to the ear-this type circuit does quite well for mild to moderate hearing losses where the residual dynamic range of the hearing impaired is relatively large and where a large amount of signal processing is not required.
Digital Circuit	In a digital circuit the signal is converted in an A/D converter [analog to digital] after which the sound is frequency shaped, expanded, compressed if needed and divided into bands and/or channels then the signal is sent to a D/A converter [digital to analog] before being delivered to the ear .The digital circuit is best suited for difficult hearing losses, steep slopping losses and very reduced dynamic range of hearing where a large amount of signal processing is required. In addition the digital circuits allows a large amount of signal processing in a small chip, allows anti–feedback to be employed and allows for noise reduction to be added.
Compression	A type of automatic gain control that produces output levels for given changes in input levels
Screw Set	Adjusted by a screw driver - limited adjustment possibilities.
Programmable	Acoustic parameters of hearing aid are adjusted by computer virtually - a limitless number of programming possibilities.
Single Channel	Amplifies patient specific ranges of sound.
Multi Channel	Enables the programmer to separate the audiogram into several distinct frequency groups to more exactly mirror the hearing loss for clearer understanding.
Noise Supperssion Circuit	Makes hearing aid sound less noisy than conventional circuit but does not enhance speech understanding in noise.
Bands	Frequency range in which you can control gain, noise reduction & feedback cancellation.
Multi Memory	Provides different programs for various listening situations. Basically on electronic tone control.
Directional Microphone	Designed to enhance signal to noise ratio by de-emphasing sound inputs from the sides and behind the listener-decreases sound coming from rear by 30-50%. A single decibel increase in signal to noise ratio results in close to a 10% increase in speech intelligibility. 51% of hearing aids fit today are with directional microphones.
Tel Coil	An internal antenna in a hearing aid which picks up the magnetic field of a telephone. 46% of hearing aids are fit with a telephone coil.
Custom Made	A hearing aid which is custom fabricated from an ear mold impression to your exact anatomical and acoustic requirements.
Open Fit	Provides a more natural sound reproduction due to the ear not being plugged up.
Feedback	Is a high pitch whistle or howl which is caused by the recirculation of acoustic output of any amplifying system.
Low battery indicator	Sounds to alert you that it’s time to change the battery
Power on delay	Helps prevent whistling/feedback as you insert the hearing aid
Wax guard	Helps keep the hearing aid free of wax
Vents	Tiny tunnels in hearing aids and/or earmolds that help minimize the stuffed up sensation
Direct audio input	Allows the hearing aid to be connected by cable to mp3 players and other audio devices
Bluetooth capability	Allows hands free use of cell and regular phones
RIC	Receiver in the canal, used on some open fit behind the ear hearing aids
Zinc Air	The only type battery used for hearing aids- the average digital hearing aid uses approx 30-35 batteries per year at a user cost of approx.
BTE	Behind the ear
ITE	In the ear
ITC	In the canal
CIC	Completely in the canal
Conductive hearing loss	This type hearing loss is a condition of the outer and/or middle ear. Most conductive hearing losses can be treated medically or surgically.
Sensorineural hearing loss	Is the most common type of hearing loss. This is a condition of the inner ear and can be successfully treated with hearing aids.