As we noted in our last blog, the goal of an audiologist is re-connection. Typically, individuals do not understand how their hearing loss is disconnecting them from the relationships and activities they value and enjoy most. Clinical audiologists strive to help people who have become increasingly isolated over time due to hearing loss. The ultimate aim is to help the hearing loss sufferer re-connect with loved ones and resume the activities they have avoided (often times unknowingly) due to their hearing difficulties.
A major way an audiologist accomplishes this goal is to properly fit an individual with hearing aids. Modern hearing aids contain many technological features that help the hearing loss sufferer understand speech more clearly in noisy places and on the telephone. Multi-channel programming is a feature that helps the audiologist adjust a hearing device to enhance an individual's remaining hearing capacity. Advanced technology equips hearing aids with up to twenty independently adjustable channels. This allows the audiologist to create customized programming tailored to an individual's hearing loss, lifestyle, and preferences. Each channel can also continuously measure and automatically adjust to sounds in the environment. This feature equips audiologists with the ability to limit the harshness of loud sounds while amplifying soft sounds (and sounds not heard due to the type and degree of hearing loss) to the level of audibility.
For more information on multi-channel programming in modern hearing aids, read this article from Audiology Online.
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