How We Hear
Sound is collected by the pinna and the ravels through the ear canal. The sound strikes the eardrum and causes it to vibrate. The vibrating eardrum causes the bones (ossicles) to vibrate and mechanically conducts the sound through the middle ear to the inner ear. At this point, sound is converted to an electrical impulse and the movement causes fluid to move over tiny hair cells (or nerv endings) in the inner ear. This electrical impulse travels along the auditory nerve (8th nerve) to the brain. Then the brain interprets the sound by many physical attributes of the sound to tell us what the sound is. If it is a speech, the brain will decode it by many different cues, such as pitch, temporal pattern, etc. so that we understand what the talker is speaking about.
HEARING LOSS
Causes of Hearing Loss
More than 30 million Americans of all ages suffer from hearing loss. Hearing loss can develop at any time. It can develop very suddenly or simply happen gradually over time. Many do not realize for several years that hearing loss is affecting them. Hearing loss manifests itself in many ways: people struggling to understand others in certain situations or simply not hearing certain sounds clearly.
There are many causes of hearing loss, including:
- Long-term exposure to noise
- The aging process
- Heredity
- Infections and illness
- Reactions to medications
- Injury
- Ear Wax
Hearing loss affects not only the individual but also those around them. Many times friends and family recognize the symptoms of hearing loss long before the patient.
Ear Wax
The outer foundation of the ear canal is cartilage covered with skin that contains hair and glands that secrete cerumen or earwax (a yellow or brown substance). Together the hair and earwax help prevent "invaders" such as insects, dust and bacteria from getting into the ear. Typically, the earwax traps the dirt, dries and flakes it out of the ear. The ear canal can become blocked by attempts to clean the ear and push wax deeper into the ear. Blockage can cause temporary hearing loss. And probing to "clean" the ear canal with cotton swabs can damage the fragile structures in your ear.
Ear canals should take care of themselves. Cleaning by wiping the external portion of the ear with a soft cloth or tissue over the finger should be enough. If you experience a hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), earache or a sensation of fullness in the ear, then you may have an earwax blockage. Your physician can prescribe or recommend softeners or clean the wax out in the office.
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Did you know that hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults? The National Council on Aging (NCOA) states that more than nine million Americans over the age 65 exhibit hearing loss. There are an additional 10 million between the ages of 45 and 65 who experience some degree of hearing loss.
As your hearing declines, so does your ability to effectively communicate. You may find yourself avoiding certain situations, accusing others of mumbling or finding it hard to hear certain individuals such as women or small children. All are common signs you may have a hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be frustrating, isolating and for some an embarrassing situation. The great news is a hearing loss can be managed. You can experience 100% of your life again.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are 3 general categories of hearing loss:
1. Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when there is damage to the nerves of the inner ear by aging, pre-natal and birth-related problems, viral and bacterial infections, heredity, trauma, exposure to loud noise, fluid backup or benign tumor in the inner ear. This is generally permanent and accounts for approximately 95% of all hearing losses. It cannot be cured but can be successfully managed with the use of hearing instruments.
Signs/symptoms may include:
* Perceiving speech and other sounds distorted or unclear
* Difficulty hearing certain pitches (usually high pitches)
* Hearing a ringing or buzzing sound that is constant or periodic
* Difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise
2. Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sound is not being transmitted properly to the inner ear due to a "mechanical” problem. It is often the result of damage or blockage in the outer or middle ear. In most cases, conductive hearing problems can be corrected medically.
Signs/symptoms may include:
* Perceiving speech and other sounds as faint or muffled
* Ear pain or discharge from the ear
* Redness or swelling of the outer ear
* Pressure or fullness in the ear
3. Mixed Hearing Loss refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural loss and means that a problem occurs in both the outer or middle and the inner ear. Patient will perceive a mixture of signs and symptoms that are typically experienced in a pure sensorineural or a pure conductive hearing loss.
Self Check for Hearing Loss
Consider the following questions for you and/or your loved ones:
- Do you hear people talk but have difficulty understanding the words?
- Do people seem to mumble or speak more softly than they used to?
- Do you need to ask people to repeat things frequently?
- Do you have trouble hearing at the movies, house of worship, concert halls or other public gathering places?
- Have you had any significant noise exposure at work, recreation or in military service?
- Do you have a ringing in the ears or other head noises (hissing, buzzing, crickets, etc.).
If you or your loved one answered yes to 2 or more of the above questions, then you or your loved one may have hearing loss and should have the hearing evaluated by a hearing healthcare professional.
You may also use the questionnaire to find out your listening need and matching hearing aid technologies.
HEARING AIDS
Hearing Aid Types
Over the years, generally there are 3 types of circuitry: Analog, Analog Programmable, and Digital.
Analog hearing aids offer basic amplification with some adjustments of trimmers and/or volume control available. They are not as adjustable for future changes in hearing loss, and tend to not perform as well in background noise as programmable or fully digital hearing aids. The hearing aids are usually noisy and bulky. This is the first generation of hearing aid technology.
Analog and Programmable aids are the predecessors to fully digital hearing aids. They were hot in the market in late 1980's and the 1990's. They could be programmed with memories, but the circuitry is still analog that is not adjustable per the hearing loss and hearing change. They typically have less advanced features than their fully digital counterparts, but did offer high sound quality and more adjustment options than conventional hearing aids. This is the second generation of hearing aid technology
Digital hearing aids came into play in the mid-1990's. Now, just like computers, digital cameras, and other digital devices, the digital technology exploded very fast. The digital aid can offer the most advanced sound processing and the greatest benefit to most people with a hearing loss. They are also usually the easiest aids for a new user to get accustomed to. Now, more than 95% of the hearing aids are digital.
They are highly adjustable – they can be reprogrammed using a computer if your hearing loss changes, or if only certain frequencies need to be modified. Some models come with very advanced features, such as feedback cancellation, directional microphones, and digital noise reduction.
Digital Hearing Aid Technologies
There are generally 3 major types of digital signal processing algorithms that have complex processing of sound signals: Noise Reduction, Directionality, and Feedback Cancellation. There are also many other technologies available.
Noise Reduction:
Noise reduction reduces background noise to enhance speech intelligibility. It is very useful in the environment that has steady noise.
Noise reduction reduces background noise to enhance speech intelligibility. It is very useful in the environment that has steady noise.Directionality:The use of directional microphones provides the user the ability to focus on the talker and ignore the surrounding noise. Some instruments provide adaptive directionality with different focus areas (e.g., 3 beam-width options). ReSound's Natural Directionality also provides the full benefit of directionality while maintaining peripheral awareness.
The use of directional microphones provides the user the ability to focus on the talker and ignore the surrounding noise. Some instruments provide adaptive directionality with different focus areas (e.g., 3 beam-width options). ReSound's Natural Directionality also provides the full benefit of directionality while maintaining peripheral awareness.Feedback Cancellation :It eliminate feedback in the instrument by calibrating the sound path from the instrument to the ear drum and providing an out of phase signal to cancel the feedback before the feedback happens.
It eliminate feedback in the instrument by calibrating the sound path from the instrument to the ear drum and providing an out of phase signal to cancel the feedback before the feedback happens.Other Technologies:There are many other technologies incorporated into the tiny package of the hearing aid brain - the computer chip to enhance the performance of the product and wearing comfort, also tools for assessing the success of the instrument. For example: automatic adaptive directionality switching, wind noise remover, automatic environment switching, usage data logging, etc. There are also hardware technologies being used, e.g., anti-corrosion, anti-shock, wax guard, etc.
There are many other technologies incorporated into the tiny package of the hearing aid brain - the computer chip to enhance the performance of the product and wearing comfort, also tools for assessing the success of the instrument. For example: automatic adaptive directionality switching, wind noise remover, automatic environment switching, usage data logging, etc. There are also hardware technologies being used, e.g., anti-corrosion, anti-shock, wax guard, etc.Hearing Aid Styles
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
For mild to moderately-severe hearing loss: * Smallest custom hearing aids available
* Fits inside the ear canal
* Nearly invisible
* Better sense of direction
In-the-Canal (ITC)
For mild to moderately- severe hearing loss: * Slightly visible in the ear
* Moderate power
* More venting options
* Volume control available
In-the-Ear (ITE)
For mild to severe hearing loss: * Available in Full Shell
* Available in Half Shell
* Visible in the ear
* More power available
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
Covers all hearing losses from mild to profound
- Available in multiple models and sizes
- Now available in nearly invisible, small sizes
- All components contained in a case that is worn behind the ear
- May be barely visible depending on case color and earmold color
- Available with Open-Fit Technology
- Available with Receiver-In-the-Canal Technology
Wearing One Aid vs. Two Aids
Being able to hear with both ears is just as important as being able to see with both eyes. If you closed one eye, your depth perception would be distorted. If you close off one ear, your understanding is affected. Hearing occurs in your brain, not in your ears. Your ears simply process the signal or sounds for the brain. The brain requires information from both ears in order to give meaning to the sound.
The other benefits of wearing two aids are…
* Your ability to accurately detect the sound source improves.
* It is easier to understand speech in noisy environments.
* Your surroundings take on a fuller, richer and more comfortable sound experience.
* You protect the understanding of both ears from auditory deprivation.
* You do not have to have people stand on one side of you so your hearing aid can pick up their voice.
* Should you have a hearing aid that needs repair you still have one to hear with until the repair is complete.
Open Fit Hearing Aids
Open fit hearing aids are fast becoming more popular. Open fit hearing aids are very small and nearly invisible on the ear. Essentially, open fit hearing aids are small BTE units that sit up on top of and behind the ear. There is no earmold needed - a clear thin tube with a dome tip delivers the sound from the hearing aid to the open ear canal. Open fit digital hearing aids are also lightweight - many users find that after a few minutes of wearing them, they cannot feel them at all.
There are two types of open ear hearing aids, acoustic thin tube open fit and receiver-in the canal (RIC) hearing aids. The acoustic thin tube hearing aid incorporates all of the electronic components in the plastic case behind the ear. The sound then travels through the acoustic thin tube into the ear canal. The RIC hearing aid moves the receiver (i.e., speaker) from the plastic case down into the sound tip connected with very thin wires wrapped with a thin tube. RIC hearing aids can cover both a sloping high frequency hearing loss as well as a wide range hearing loss. Also, because the sound does not have to travel down a thin tube acoustically, the quality of the signal is improved.
The biggest benefit to open fit digital hearing aids is that they minimize occlusion. Open ear hearing aids are ideal for those who have normal and mild loss of low frequency hearing but who are experiencing problems with high frequencies - which usually occurs with early hearing loss. They are also easier to fit because they are not custom made, unlike many in the ear hearing aids. Although they utilize the latest technology, open ear hearing aids should not cost much more than standard hearing aids and may even cost the same.
Because of their size, open fit hearing aids use smaller batteries and will have a shorter battery life than other devices
Receiver-In-the-Canal (RIC)
Receiver (the speaker in a hearing aid) was usually situated inside the hearing aid shell. Due the proximity to the microphone, the microphone in a standard hearing aid system is prone to pick up the amplified sound by the receiver, thus causing feedback, the squealing sound. When the receiver is separated from the instrument shell by electric wires and put into deep in the ear canal, while keeping the microphone(s) on the hearing aid, the system is more stable. This benefits the hearing aid wearer the comfort of wearing the device with much less chance of feedback, and more better sound quality. This category or products is rapidly gaining popularity.
Invisible Open Technology (IOT)
Invisible Open Technology is a new category developed by ReSound that combines the advantages of the behind-the-ear and custom (in-the-ear) models. The microphone has been moved to the outer ear and is connected to the main body of the hearing aid by a thin transparent tube. The result is a virtually invisible hearing instrument that offers Open-fitting comfort and maximum wind noise suppression.
Invisible Open Technology is exclusively used in be by ReSound™. This brand new technology provides
- a unique design that's invisible in the ear
- absolute comfort - in both wearing and listening - with MultiVenting™
- brilliant clarity of speech understanding
- advanced elimination of whistling
- the most natural listening experience available
be by ReSound™ is available in both the standard forms and with two custom solutions:
- be by ReSound™ Custom, and
- be by ReSound™ Custom Power.
Hearing Introduction
Hearing Resources
After you viewed the introductions on our website, if you would like to learn more detailed information about Hearing Loss and Hearing Solutions, we found out it would be helpful to visit the website of
Better Hearing Institute :
Call (651) 324-4589 for free IN-HOME hearing evaluation and consultation
