Should I buy wireless accessories for my hearing aids?

Most modern hearing aids are bluetooth compatible devices. This means the hearing instruments can wirelessly connect to multiple devices through the use of a streamer. A streamer is a small device that transmits the audio of a device directly to the hearing aids. Wireless accessories can provide numerous benefits to the hearing instrument user:

• The audio of a television, smart phone, cell phone, landline phone, mp3 player, and computer can be streamed directly to both hearing aids. Hearing the audio in both hearing aids can dramatically improve the clarity of what is heard.  
• The settings of the hearing aids can be adjusted using a remote control. Siemens, Oticon, Phonak, Unitron and other Tier 1 hearing aid manufacturers have remote control devices that can access and adjust the settings of hearing aids. This empowers the hearing aid user to adjust the settings of the hearing aids in multiple listening environments. 
• Siemens and Phonak hearing aid manufacturers have released a small bluetooth microphone that can be worn by a family member or friend of the hearing aid user. When the individual uses the microphone, the audio is sent directly to both hearing aids in distances beyond 30 feet! This is ideal for conversations in difficult listening environments like restaurants, places of worship, etc.

Wireless accessories are inexpensive devices that can be used to help individuals hear better in noise, listen to the TV without extreme volume adjustments, participate in phone conversations, and promote the clarity of conversations in difficult listening environments. If you feel you would benefit from these features, investigate the wireless accessories available for your hearing instruments by clicking on the links below:

For information on wireless accessories compatible with Siemens hearing aids, click here.

For information on wireless accessories compatible with Phonak hearing aids, click here.

For information on wireless accessories compatible with Oticon hearing aids, click here.

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The World's First "Made for iPhone" Hearing Aid

GN ReSound has announced the world's first truly "made for iPhone®" hearing aid. The GN ReSound LiNXTM is the first hearing aid to earn the "made for iPhone" label. This means that the audio from an iPhone can be directly transmitted to both hearing aids without the use of a streamer or intermediary device.

More details (such as when the hearing aid will be released for purchase and what other features it will contain) will be forthcoming as GN ReSound makes them available. 

To read more about the world's first "made for iPhone" hearing aid, click here.

iPhone is a trademark of Apple, Inc.

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The Link Between Hearing Loss and Heart Disease

Numerous studies point to a link between heart health and hearing health. If the cardiovascular system shows signs of restricted blood flow, the individual's hearing can be detrimentally impacted. In fact, many experts are beginning to call the ear a "window to the heart" because of the correlation between cardiovascular and hearing health. Researchers are unclear as to which condition comes first- heart disease or a loss of hearing. However, many physicians are now calling for patients over 40 to have their hearing evaluated as a normal part of a routine medical exam.

For more information on the link between hearing loss and heart disease, click on the links below:

• Article from the Better Hearing Institute (source of information for this blog post)

• American Journal of Audiology Article

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How to Know if You Have Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

In a recent interview with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Dr. Sandra Gordon-Salant suggests that about 50% of adults over the age of 60 have some form of hearing loss. Of this 50%, it's estimated that only 20% actually take action to address their hearing health. That's why the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association decided to launch the "Identify the Signs" Campaign- a publicawareness program designed to help people recognize the signs of untreated hearing loss and learn how to address it. 

Here are some signs of noise-induced hearing loss as presented by ASHA and the "Identify the Signs" campaign: 

• You feel like people are mumbling all the time
• It's difficult to understand conversations over the phone
• People tell you the television volume is too loud
• It's difficult to follow conversations in a group or a crowded room
• Children and women are particularly hard to understand
• You frequently ask for people to repeat themselves

If you feel like you or a family member are experiencing one or more of these signs, visit our website for information on how to address your potential hearing loss.

Image provided courtesy of David Castillo Dominici of freedigitalphotos.net