introduction to hearing aid features

8/2/2019 Introduction to Hearing Aid Features

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Introduction to Hearing Aid Features by Steve Barber, SHHH Wake Chapter 1

Introduction to Hearing Aid Features

A consumer view of some things youneed to know before you buy your first

(or next) hearing aid.

This presentation is available for SHHH Chapters to use at www.nchearingloss.org/programs.Please send corrections or suggestions for improvements to [email protected] .Opinions expressed are those of the author.
http://www.nchearingloss.org/programshttp://www.nchearingloss.org/programs


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Why Should I Care?

Hearing aids are Expensive.

Hearing aids arent like glasses.

You need to be an informed consumer.

You need to know how to use the aid.

There are a lot of misconceptions

about hearing aids.Hearing better is UP TO YOU!


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What Should I Care About?

Highest Priority: Hearing Better

High Priority: Learning to Use Your Aid

Lowest Priority: Vanity


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All Hearing Aids Are Alike

1. Sound goes in the Microphone.

2. Sound gets amplified.

3. Sound comes out the Speaker into your Ear


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All Hearing Aids Are Different

Style (Small is best?)

Technology (Digital is only way to go?)

Features (More is better?)

Settings (your prescription)


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Style

Body

Behind The Ear (BTE)

In The Ear (ITE)

In The Canal (ITC)

Completely In the Canal (CIC)


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Technology

Analog: Settings and Sound are both processed viaanalog technology.

Digital Programmable: Settings are processed

digitally, Sound is processed via analog technology.Full Digital: Both Settings and Sound are processeddigitally.

Opinion: Digital is now probably best in most cases,but not the miracle that some imply. For some peopleanalog or digital programmables are fine, but mosthearing aids in the future will be full digital.


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FeaturesVolume Control

Telecoil

Multiple Microphone Directionality

Compression

Clipping

Direct Audio Input

FM

Programmability

Speech Enhancement/Noise Reduction

Frequency Shifting

Earmold/Vent

Remote Control

Opinion: Learnwhat these

features can do tohelp you hearbetter so that youwill be a betterconsumer.


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Volume Control

Some aids are preset and you cant control thevolume.

Some manufacturers and dispensers think you dont

need it.Not having a volume control is Ok for a few peoplewho really dont need it or cant manage it.

Very useful to be able to control the volume tomatch the situation.

Control may be a wheel on the aid, or a remotecontrol.

Opinion: Usually very important.


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TelecoilAlternate input source

Listens to magnetic signalinstead of (or in addition to)the sound.

Magnetic signal can be from

a telephone, CD, TV,personal ALD, headphone,loop

Major advantage isimproved signal to noise

Usually on BTEs; sometimeson smaller, seldom onsmallest

MagneticInputSignal

SoundInputSignal

Opinion: Very Valuable


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Multiple Microphone DirectionalityFront Facing Directional Mic

Rear Omnidirectional Mic

Aid Can Focus on Sounds inFront and Diminish

Background Noise

Selectable Modes

Quiet situations: heareverything

Noisy situations: blockbackground noise

Manual or Auto Selection

Opinion: Very Valuable


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Compression

0

20

40

60

80

100

quiet loud

Amount of Noise

Amplificat

ion

Reduces Amplificatonwhen its Noisy

Helps you hear morewhen its Quieter

Keeps it from beingPainful when its Noisy

Adjustable (manual andautomatic)

Different settings inmultiple frequencybands

Opinion: Very useful; availableon most aids; may requretweaking to set right.


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Clipping

0102030405060

708090

100

quiet loud

Amount of Noise

Amplificat

ion

Eliminates allamplificaton above acertain input volume

Prevents hearing

damage fromexcessiveamplification in loudsituations

A setting for mosthearing aids

NormalAmplification No Amp-lification

Opinion: Essential for safety;available on most aids


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Direct Audio Input (DAI)Alternate input source

Listens to electrical signalinstead of (or in addition to)the sound.

Electrical signal can be from atelephone, CD, TV, orpersonal ALD

Major advantage is improvedsignal to noise

Boots available only for BTEs

Opinion: Very good signal;comparable to FM, but requiresthe wires.


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Booted or Integrated FMSome Aids have FM receiverseither booted on (as shown) orintegrated into the aid.

Some can be used with hand-held transmitters or with fixedtransmitters which canintegrate TV and Telephone.

Clean signal; bridges distance;

improves signal to noise ratio.

Opinion: Expensive but wonderfulif you can afford it.


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Programmability

The ability of an aid to have several different sets of settings

Hearing aid dealer/audiologist chooses and sets up the programs

User can switch among the programs

Examples of useful programs

for quiet situations

for noisy situations

for music

telecoil or DAI with or without microphones

FMMay be controlled with a switch or button on the aid or with aremote control

Opinion: Very valuable, but you must understand,choose and learn how to use the options.


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Speech Enhancement andNoise Reduction

Speech Enhancement

Enhance certain speech sounds (like consonants)

Noise Reduction Processing

Identify speech in the signal and separate it from noise

Opinion: May be useful in some situations but these arenot miracles and their benefit may not be obvious inmany situations.


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Frequency Shifting

010

20

30405060

7080

90100

2k 4k 6k 8k

dB

Only one aid, so far (AVRImpaCT)

Lowers the frequency ofsounds you cant hear into arange where you can hear

them.

Does some speechenhancement, too

With practice those newsounds start to soundrealistic.

Can Hear Cant

Hear

Opinion: Most likely usefulfor steep ski slopes


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Ear Mold DesignThe shape andsmoothness of the bore

The size andsmoothness of the vent Too small: Drum Feeling Too Large: Feedback

Depth of the mold

Smoothness of the

adaptor

Vent

Bore

Depth

Adaptor

Opinion: Very important,and much ovelooked.


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Remote ControlsLet you control your aidsconveniently

Some simple; some powerful

Some people like them; some

dontControl:

Volume

Program

Mode

Opinion: Very convenient;especially if it allows directaccess to individual programs.


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Feature Availability By Type

Feature / Type BTE ITE ITC CICTelecoil Most Some No No

Directional Mics Some Rare No No

Compression/Clipping Yes Yes Yes Yes

DAI Some No No No

FM Some Few ?? No

Programmability Most Most Some ???

Power Plenty Less Less Less

Remote some some few ???


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Summary

Put hearing better as the top priority.

Put vanity at the bottom of your priorities.

Be a savvy consumer; know what

features might help you.Watch out for people trying to sell youwhat they THINK you want.

Choose a provider that lets you try

multiple aids/settings.Small is not necessarily better (andusually isnt).


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Summary (cont.)

Watch out for sales pitches; if it sounds toogood to be true; it probably is.

Get professional help from someone you

trust.New is not necessarily better (butsometimes is).

Use the trial period. Try the aids in different

situations and make notes. Work with yourprovider during the trial period byexplaining what things sound good or badto you.


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Final Opinion

Knowing about features is important.

Hearing loss isnt a spectator sport.

Hearing better is up to you.

Learn to be a better consumer.

Join SHHH at www.hearingloss.org

introduction to hearing aid features

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