[We hope that this Newsletter will prove to be informative and useful
to you. If you do not wish to receive our monthly Newsletter, please email
Beth at beth@advancedhearingplus.com or return this email with UNSUBCRIBE
in the subject line, and you will be removed from our Newsletter list. Thank
you.]
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Hello Everyone,
The July special event we had with Jim's dad, Sandy, was a great success!
Many of our long-time friends stopped by to visit and reminisce and enjoy
some cake and coffee. I was away on a short vacation, so missed out on the
fun....but Jim said it was crazy around here! [It always is when I'm gone.
;-)] I missed out on the excitement, but they did save me a piece of cake!
Yum!
The Unitron Moda is proving to be a very popular choice for digital amplification.
[We can't keep them in the office---once we get a supply in, they're out
the door!] It is so versatile and user-friendly. It provides very good
high frequency amplification without the plugged-up, "barrel effect" feeling
because of it's open-air features. Speaking of "barrel effect", we have
a new commercial on KVAL-TV! It features one of our very own long-time customers
and illustrates what we mean by the "barrel effect". Why people describe
the occlusion effect as hearing in a barrel, we don't know---since we don't
know anyone who has actually experienced hearing in a barrel, or know why
someone would be in a position to hear in a barrel.....but there it is---one
of those mysterious phrases we banter around.....
We will also be introducing another new product this month: Vivatone! This
is another open-air product that, like the SeboTek hearing aid, takes the
receiver down into the ear. However, what we really like about Vivatone
is that it does not require a special tip to be put over the receiver, therefore,
that kind of accessory doesn't need to be purchased every so often. It is
a very tiny, over-the-ear aid with fine, filament tubing---making it virtually
undetectable. The Vivatone has 4 programmable memories and a directional
microphone. Because the receiver goes down into the ear canal, allowing
an open fitting, it provides a mix of natural as well as amplified sounds,
which results in more natural hearing. This product comes with a 2 year
warranty for repairs and loss and damage; a third year can be purchased at
the time of sale, if desired. If you or a loved one is looking for a product
that will allow more natural hearing without the annoying "echo chamber"
sensation and without a plugged-up feeling, we will be happy to let you try
this product.
The area representative for Vivatone will be with us the afternoon of Wednesday,
August 3, 2005. If you or someone you know is interested in trying the Vivatone
product, please call our office to schedule a time to come in that afternoon
for a demonstration. If you can't make it August 3rd, of course we will
be happy to schedule an appointment to try this product at a later date.
This month, Derek McKinney will be with us for a special 3-day sales event
from Tuesday, August 16 through Thursday, August 18. We will be featuring
the Moda and other great digital products at special sale prices.
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Getting the Most out of Your Hearing Aids
As we've said before, hearing aids are just that---aids to hearing. They
do not restore 100% of your original hearing. Unlike eyeglasses that provide
instant results in correcting your vision once you put them on, usually one
must acclimate oneself to hearing with hearing instruments over a period
of time. There is usually an instantaneous noticeable difference, of course,
but then adjustments usually need to be made in order to make the needed
corrections at various frequencies in order to hear optimally.
One must have realistic expectations when it comes to aural rehabilitation.
Those whose expectations are too high, often tend to give up because they
don't find that their hearing is returned to "normal". Some folks want their
basic level hearing aids to perform like premium digitals, and get frustrated
that their hearing aids don't do more for them. This kind of expectation
can be compared to hoping a Chevy Cavalier will perform like a Cadillac Eldorado.
Some hearing aids have more features than others, which allow for more options
and flexibility in various situations, but all have their limitations.
If one has a very basic hearing instrument, it will not have noise reduction/feedback
reduction/directional capabilities, meaning that you will have problems in
crowds, restaurants, noisy situations. It requires a directional microphone
or noise reduction option in order to hear conversation clearly without the
background noise being a problem.
In order to obtain an optimal hearing experience from one's hearing instruments,
periodic adjustments may be necessary. [Certainly regular cleanings are
a must---usually every three to four months one should take their instruments
in for a professional clean and check.] As the brain adjusts to the hearing
amplification, adjustments are often needed. And, over time, one's hearing
may change some, so periodic hearing tests are recommended, and adjustments
can be made if necessary. After the initial hearing aid fitting, a follow-up
appointment should be made within 30 days. At that time, the dispenser should
check to make sure that the hearing aid fits well and is not causing any
discomfort. During that appointment any adjustments to the programming should
also be made. After the instruments are worn for several days, and the brain
is adjusting to hearing sounds it hasn't heard in awhile, one usually starts
to notice what one likes and doesn't like as far as the amplification and
fit. It's a good idea to take notes and bring them with you to your follow-up
appointment. After the follow-up appointment, it may be necessary to return
for subsequent adjustments. Some people take longer than others to adjust
to their hearing instruments.....that's ok. Don't give up-----we don't.
Don't be afraid that you're being a pest or a nuisance----you are why we
are here. If your dispenser's mission is not to help people hear better,
then you may want to find one that has that kind of heart for people.
Hearing aids will provide you with better hearing, but will not cure your
hearing loss. The better hearing may not be evident in all situations.
If one lives a quiet, sedentary life, then the basic hearing aids usually
satisfy those hearing needs. If one is very active socially, then a basic
hearing aid may not be a realistic choice. Of course, it does depend upon
one's hearing loss. If a person has a "flat" hearing loss, meaning the same
decibel loss across all the frequencies, then a basic hearing aid may work
very well in nearly every situation for that person. If one has a mostly
high frequency loss, meaning the hearing loss is worse in the high frequencies
than in the lows, a hearing aid with directional or noise reduction features
is going to be necessary for that person to be able to hear more clearly
in crowds.
Another factor that must be considered is one's speech discrimination. It
won't matter if one is wearing the most advanced, most expensive hearing
instruments on the market if one's speech discrimination is very low. Speech
discrimination is being able to discriminate various speech sounds. In a
high frequency hearing loss, the "s", "t", "f" sounds are not clearly discerned.
The high frequencies provide the vital information needed for speech clarity
and understanding. With the proper hearing aids, these sounds come across
more clearly---unless the brain's ability to recall how these letters sound
is impaired. If the brain---remember from past Newsletters we have explained
that you hear with your brain---has lost it's ability to discern various
speech sounds, then it isn't going to be realistic to expect a hearing aid
to help in this regard. A hearing aid will provide the proper amplification,
but will not correct the function of the brain to discriminate and translate
the various sounds into recognized speech. This is a particularly frustrating
and distressing problem. I cannot tell you how many times we have counseled
with people who experience this kind of loss, and how it breaks our hearts
for these folks. It is not easy to live with this dilemma. That's why
we stress the importance of getting hearing help early on so that the brain
stays active in discriminating various speech sounds!
One should expect to wear their hearing instruments without feedback being
an issue. When a hearing instrument does not fit properly, or is not vented
properly, or perhaps is not programmed properly, or if there is wax in the
ear canal itself, then one may experience a feedback "squeal" or "whistle".
This is usually very annoying to others around you, but may not be perceived
by the hearing aid wearer due to high frequency hearing loss. One should
expect a hearing instrument to perform without this problem. The only time
one should hear any kind of feedback is upon insertion into or removal of
the instrument from the ear. If feedback is a problem during the normal
wearing of the aid, one should consult with the dispenser in order to correct
this problem.
One should keep in mind that hearing aids may not allow you to hear very
soft sounds. And, they may not always be able to block ALL background noises,
especially in noisy social situations. Hey---even those of us with good
hearing have trouble with background noise! When it gets chattery here in
the office, it's a real challenge for me to hear over the phone---I usually
have to plug up my other ear to block out the conversations in the room so
I can hear ther person on the other end of the line. If the dishwasher is
running and my dogs are barking---there's no way I'm going to be able to
understand when my husband is asking me where his bar-b-que tongs are!
One other thing about background noise. It's true that those of us with
"normal" hearing have adjusted to background noises pretty much.....our brain
often "tunes them out". Road noise isn't usually much of a problem. The
refridgerator hum just isn't something we notice. But a person wearing hearing
instruments for the first time, or one who has upgraded to a more high-performance
set of instruments, may notice these sounds all of a sudden, and find them
annoying. Believe me----it just takes time for the brain to adjust to hearing
these sounds, and you, too, will be able to "tune them out".
So....what can one realistically expect from hearing aids (provided one's
speech discrimination is still good)? Hearing aids should be able to help
one hear and understand better in most situations and allow one to participate
more in social settings, but one must keep in mind that they have their limitations.
When you purchase hearing instruments from us at Advanced Hearing Plus, we
do all we can to make your hearing experience a positive one. We do not
charge for adjustments for the life of your hearing aids. We understand
that from time to time, as your brain makes adjustments in how it hears and
perceives sounds, we will need to make computer adjustments to your digital
hearing instruments. And we're happy to do so. We enjoy helping people
hear better, and helping people to live a better quality of life because
they can communicate better with their loved ones.
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Do you enjoy pithy quotations? We are going to start featuring a "Quote
of the Month". My very dear cousin, Penny, who lives in New Hampshire, is
a quotation collector of many years. She has provided me with some favorites
I hope you'll enjoy. Here's one below:
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
---Winston Churchill
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Reminders:
If you last had your hearing instruments cleaned in April, it is time to
get them cleaned this month!
For Assistive Listening Devices, please visit our online store at www.advancedhearingplus.com
. We offer many products, including TV Ears, at competive prices, and shipped
directly to your door. Satisfaction guaranteed.
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If you know someone who has been thinking about getting some new hearing
aids and benefiting from newer technology, please send them our way. If
they purchase a set of premium digital instruments, we will gladly supply
you with 3 free boxes of batteries (roughly a year's supply). If they purchase
a set of basic or advanced digital hearing instruments, we will supply you
with 1 free box of batteries.
We appreciate your referrals! As you know, we do not use telemarketing to
acquire new customers. We rely upon word-of-mouth and media advertizing.
Not only will they receive the best care, but we can save them money, too!
Do you have a question or comment, or testimonial that you would like us
to include in a future Newsletter? Please email me at beth@advancedhearingplus.com
.
If you have friends or loved ones who would like to receive our email Newsletter,
we will be happy to add them to our email list. All you need to do is have
them email me at beth@advancedhearingplus.com to provide me with their name
and email address. We also have copies of the Newlsetter in our office if
you would like to pick them up here.
Website address: www.advancedhearingplus.com
How to contact us:
You can always call us at 746-7671 or toll-free at 1-800-230-1953. Our hours
are from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Before or after hours, you are
welcome to call and leave a message on our machine.
Feel free to email us with any questions or concerns.
Jim's email: james@advancedhearingplus.com
Beth's email: beth@advancedhearingplus.com
Copyright ©2005 Advanced Hearing Plus, Inc.
