INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
INSIGHT
BETTER HEARING
The
Hearing
Musically
Trained
Aid & Learning
Ears
to Buyer’s
Hear with
Hearing
Guide Loss
B
P
eing in the consumer’s shoes can be a scary place to be when looking
rofessional and highly skilled musicians have taught researchers
for better hearing. It is difficult to know what to expect from hearing
in audiology
that the
ear the
can consumer
be trained
with
care
providers. and
This hearing
is made science
more difficult
when
doesn’t
practice.
The
studies
have
uncovered
that
musical
training
creates
know what questions to ask. Here are some questions to ask at your next
more activity in the brain of the listener to help sort wanted sounds from
appointment.
unwanted sounds. Research further demonstrated that musicians have
a listening
skill
is helpful not
only in musical
but
in other
1.
WHAT ARE
THE that
AUDIOLOGIST’S
CREDENTIALS?
Know applications
who is going to be
working
with
and find
out if he/she
is an audiologist.
requirements
real you
world
listening
situations
such as Educational
hearing in
noise. for audiologists
include environments
6-8 years of college are
and challenging
thousands of clinical
hours. listener.
Audiologist Normal
credentials include
Noisy
for every
“MA, MS,
Au.D., or Ph. will
D.” for
master’s or doctoral
level education.
obtain
hearing
individuals
understand
between
60-70% Audiologists
of speech may
in the
board certification
with the levels.
American Good
Board of
Audiology. will
They employ
specialize a in number
many
presence
of high noise
listeners
areas including
hearing disorders,
pediatrics,
education,
industrial filling
testing, in surgical
of skills
in order adult
to understand
speech
in noise,
including
the
monitoring, cochlear implants and more.
blank when a word is not heard, watching for visual input (lipreading and
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CONTENT
2. WHAT BRANDS OF HEARING AIDS ARE AVAILABLE? Know if you’ll have a selection to
gestures), standing closer and leaning in towards the speaker. With these
choose from. Locations that carry only one brand will be limited in their options. Know if
skills you
a good
listener,
even in noise,
able to follow
are going
to a corporate-owned
chain will
or an be
independently
owned conversations
practice. Generally
fairly independent
well.
practices have more flexibility and work with multiple manufacturers.
is naturally disruptive to understanding speech and more so
3. Noise
HOW MUCH TIME IS ALLOWED ON THE FIRST VISIT? You should feel comfortable with
in individuals
hearing
hearing
disorders
are options
a result
of
your choice of with
provider.
When loss.
you first Most
visit for
a consultation
about your
in hearing
permanent
damage
to
the
delicate
structures
of
the
inner
ear
including
aids, you need to have time to discuss your evaluation results, talk about your lifestyle and
the cochlear
hair from
cells.
The aids,
more
severe
the loss,
the and
more
damage
what you expect
hearing
discuss
the options
available
different
features, go
there over
is pricing
to these
hair
leading
increasingly
distorted
muted
and all
that cells,
is included
in the to price,
and talk about
the services and
provided
with
the signals
products. to
You the
should
expect
enough
time
answer all of for
your speech.
questions. Therefore,
sound
brain
and
a loss
of to specificity
individuals
hearing
loss who
wish
to communicate
verbally
4. CAN I TRY with
ON AN
INSTRUMENT
IN THE
OFFICE?
Most locations will
have the must
ability to
products
the office skills
to show to you offset
some of
the specificity
features and benefits
learn demonstrate
additional hearing
coping
and in listening
this
loss. of
hearing aids.
Hearing
aids and assistive listening devices are very important for
5. HOW hearing
LONG IS THE
PERIOD
AND
IF I RETURN
THE HEARING
treating
loss TRIAL
but they
are
not WHAT
the HAPPENS
only treatment
necessary
for
can expect
of 30 days
in the delay
trial period
as mandated
by aids
AIDS? to You
learning
hear
again. a minimum
Since most
people
getting
hearing
Pennsylvania
state law. Find out is if an
you under-stimulated
can exchange hearing instruments
if you don’t like
for years,
the consequence
auditory system.
the
first
ones
you
try.
Find
out
also
how
much
your
refund
will
be
if
you
return
your hearing
People with long-standing, untreated hearing loss become accustomed
aids during the trial period. Do not be surprised if the refund is not 100%. Often a small
to not hearing and consequently, not listening. This is not a surprise
charge is maintained for the services provided and expenses incurred by your order.
since it is hard work to listen when you can’t hear, and people with
6. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE HEARING AID? The price of hearing aids
untreated hearing loss often withdraw from communication–limiting their
is often a bundled price that includes the instruments, the shipping and handling, the
opportunities
for practice.
warranty package,
the earmold impressions, the service plan for cleanings and
Wearing
hearing
does
mean the spends
bra in with
will you
instantly
reprogramming,
and aids
the time
that not
the audiologist
at each of remember
your
how appointments.
to hear and listen. Hearing aids will return audibility for sound
but
takes
time OF to PAYMENT
adapt to OPTIONS
new sounds
and it takes
time
to
7. it WHAT
TYPES
ARE AVAILABLE?
Hearing
aids to can learn
be very
listen affordable.
again. Audiologists
are assistance
trained to
in both You
areas
Financing or financial
may help
apply people
to your situation.
may have
with insurance
counseling
and
being
aspects
the
benefits
that follow-up
will help reduce
your the
cost. most
Ask if important
the facility accepts
your of
insurance.
hearing
aid to selection
fitting
New hearing
aid to users
It is best
be prepared and
and call
your process.
insurance company
ahead of time
check need
on your
before
going to an on
appointment.
to be benefits
closely
monitored
their progress with hearing devices as well
as
on auditory
training
programs
needed. AIDS?
Hearing
8. counseled
HOW WILL YOU
ENSURE MY
SATISFACTION
WITH when
NEW HEARING
Learning aid
to hear varies
again can
be a challenge.
sure the audiologist
will schedule
success
widely
and not Make
all listeners
are created
equal. recheck
The most
appointments
while aid
you wearers
are in your trial
if the
audiologist
will take about
successful
hearing
are period.
those Ask
who
educate
themselves
measurements
of your performance
to be hearing
sure that the
hearing and
aid is take
a good on
fit and
the adaptive
process
behind using
devices
the is task
performing
well.
of improving their listening skills by doing auditory training exercises.
9. With
ARE all
THERE
CHARGES
WHILE in I AM
UNDER WARRANTY?
Many practices
will
that ANY
we’ve
learned
research
with musicians,
it is apparent
the can
cost of and
all your
visits during
your warranty.
Ask compensate
what is included and
not.
that include
the ear
should
be trained
to help
for what
loss is of
10.
ARE
THERE
CLASSES
OR
TRAINING
SESSIONS
THAT
I
CAN
TAKE
TO
LEARN
ABOUT
hearing sensitivity. Thanks to musicians and the researchers in the
AIDS? Auditory training and rehabilitation are part of a successful adaptation
field, HEARING
we have
the tools and resources to make this possible.
period for first-time hearing aid users. Though learning to hear can be challenging to
new users, there are many ways to reduce these difficulties. Ask about rehabilitation
This Industry
Insight
was
by Dr. Suzanne
Yoder,
programs, exercise
programs for
listening
,and written
other therapies
offered through
the Au.D.
office.
Suzanne Yoder, Au.D.
Doctor of Audiology, Owner
2400 Ardmore Blvd, Ste 401 • Forest Hills
HearWell Center 412.254.8934; [email protected],
www.hearwellcenter.com.
This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Suzanne Yoder, Au.D., of HearWell
Center 412.254.8934;
[email protected],
About
HearWell Center
— HearWell Center is www.hearwellcenter.com.
a full-service,
About HearWell Center
HearWell Center
is a full-service,
independently
independently
owned — audiology
practice
proud to be
bringing
proud since
to be 2007.
bringing
better hearing
the
better hearing owned
to the audiology
people of practice
Pittsburgh
HearWell
Center, to located
people
of Pittsburgh
since 2007.
Center,
located
in patients
Forest Hills, is a
in Forest Hills, is
a hearing
care practice
that HearWell
has helped
over
1,000
hearing care practice that has helped over 1,000 patients with their hearing,
with
their hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders — and offers state-of-the-art
tinnitus, and balance disorders — and offers state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and expert
diagnostic
testing
and expert fitting of hearing technology.
fitting of hearing technology.
WOODLAND HILLS ❘
SUMMER 2018
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