| Deafness and hearing loss are not uncommon among | | | | on your preferences. Can you imagine ear-to-ear |
| people over 50, or even younger. Today's hearing | | | | communication that auto-balances your hearing? How |
| solutions are affordable, comfortable and highly | | | | about automatic wind screening so you don't get |
| technical. | | | | whistles and screeches from brisk wind? |
| The Hearing ProblemMore baby boomers are facing | | | | Your audiologist can, and should, interview you about |
| hearing loss issues than any other generation, if you | | | | lifestyle and environment in order to monitor the |
| believe reports in print and electronic media. Boomers | | | | settings that will work best for you. Fittings aren't about |
| reaching their 50s and 60s deal with typical age-related | | | | size and style as much as they're about meetings with |
| hearing loss, but many also suffer consequences of | | | | the audiologist. You'll discuss what's working for you |
| having been the first teens to latch onto ear-splitting | | | | and what needs tweaking. You'll explore the benefits |
| rock music. | | | | your insurance company may or may not provide. She |
| Earbuds, headphones and concerts may be | | | | should also do a complete preliminary workup and a |
| contributors. But no matter the reasons, this generation, | | | | series of hearing tests to determine your exact needs. |
| with wide-spread hearing concerns, is failing to do | | | | Those screenings and subsequent fittings should be |
| something about it, says a recent report from ABC | | | | included in the price you pay. |
| News in Denver. | | | | How the Technology WorksHere are a few digital |
| Quoting a Harris poll for Cochlear Americas, the report | | | | innovations that make hearing today's hearing aids far |
| says hearing loss has a profound impact on | | | | superior to yesterday's clunkers: |
| quality-of-life. For instance, both women and men | | | | Reduction of low level background noise and |
| become annoyed or impatient with people who appear | | | | microphone sounds.Feedback reduction or |
| to not be listening. Those non-listeners are often | | | | elimination.Improved speech recognition.Digital speech |
| hearing impaired and undiagnosed. | | | | enhancement (DSE) – relatively new, but thought to |
| Relationships, says the study, can be adversely | | | | increase intensity of some speech |
| affected. Hearing loss is known to create depression | | | | components.Directional microphones that can switch |
| and isolation. It can be dangerous – you can't hear | | | | between directional and multi- or omni-directional |
| oncoming traffic, for example. Even so, the poll says | | | | modes, so you can determine where sound is coming |
| 57% of men and 37% of women have not sought | | | | from.Rechargeable batteries.Transmitters that fit right |
| treatment or evaluation. | | | | into your ear canal, making the aids practically invisible |
| How You Can Manage Your Hearing Dr, an audiology | | | | and so comfortable you'll forget you're wearing |
| practice in Spring Hill, FL says the process, the road to | | | | them.Granted, the new digital aids, almost bionic in their |
| better hearing at any age, is painless and convenient. | | | | intuitiveness, can be pricey – as much as $12,000. |
| There are remedies and treatments to fit almost any | | | | But as incredible as high end technology like Siemens' |
| budget and lifestyle. | | | | Centra Active is, prices for good quality hearing aids |
| Today's high-tech hearing instruments can talk to each | | | | begin much more reasonably than that and lower to |
| other and self adjust to filter out annoying background | | | | mid-end aids can be just as life-altering for many |
| noise. Some have as many as a million | | | | patients. |
| computer-connected adjustments to customize your | | | | The Next StepMany companies make reliable hearing |
| hearing experience and specifically suit your particular | | | | instruments. Doing your homework can begin as simply |
| loss. | | | | as searching the Internet for various manufacturer's |
| Your grandparents may have worn bulky blobs of | | | | sites. Read up on technologies at the Better Hearing |
| brittle plastic visible from a block away. Their hearing | | | | Institute's Web site hen find out about established and |
| aids had cords winding through their clothing to a little | | | | qualified audiologists in your neighborhood. Start with a |
| pouch pinned to undershirt or bra. Adjustments | | | | visit to your medical doctor to rule out health issues, |
| consisted of on, off and loud whistling. | | | | then get at least two audiologists' opinions before you |
| Now, instruments like Centra Active come with remote | | | | make a purchasing decision, say experts and patients |
| control that allows digital volume adjustments. You | | | | alike. |
| may choose from three custom designed hearing | | | | Bottom line, according to Dr. , and echoed by qualified |
| programs programmed into your aids. Like music and | | | | professional audiologists, is have your hearing checked |
| TV? The aids can be programmed to enhance that | | | | annually. If you are having trouble understanding |
| sound. Work in a noisy environment where you have | | | | conversation, if you're not hearing sounds that once |
| to sort conversation from background junk? No | | | | seemed routine like the telephone, if people seem |
| problem. | | | | annoyed with you in social conversations or your |
| These talented hearing aids smooth sound so harsh | | | | significant other suddenly seems terribly soft-spoken, |
| noise like breaking glass or running water don't cause | | | | see a specialist and follow their advice. It's the hip thing |
| discomfort. Siemens, for example, has perfected data | | | | to do. |
| learning, allowing a pair of hearing aids to adjust based | | | | |