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Hearing Aids: What’s Out There
Hearing aid technology has been booming in the last years. There are four general classes of hearing aid technology that are present today. As digital technology becomes more reasonably priced, analog hearing aids are slowly becoming a thing of the
past.
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The Economy Hearing Aid - This is a hearing aid with a digital circuit; however it is not computer programmable. The hearing aid is programmed at the manufacturer, but there are limited program adjustments with the audiologist.
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The Performance Line - Digital hearing aids are computer programmable to allow more flexibility and customization of the hearing aid fit. Basic features are available on this level of technology including multi-channel programming.
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The Advanced Line - Digital hearing aids with increased automation. This hearing aid automatically adjusts to noise and has a basic feedback reduction system. Flexibility in this system is slightly increased over the performance line.
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The Premium Line - Digital hearing aids with speech enhancement components for added clarity in noisy situations. Fully automatic with programs changing automatically in various environments. Ideal for multiple listening situations.
Hearing aid prices range from $900 to $2800 each depending on the technology level. Two Hearing Aids Are Better Than One This is not because they make sounds twice as loud, but because two hearing aids provide a more natural perception of sound. There are many benefits to wearing two hearing aids when a bilateral hearing loss is present.
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Better listening with ambient noise - the brain needs input from both ears in order to better separate the background noises from the conversation. Wearing two hearing aids results in an improved ability to understand speech in a noisy environment.
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Localization - the brain is able to tell where a sound is by the time difference of a sound being perceived by each ear. When two hearing aids are worn, there is an improved ability to locate the sound source.
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1+1= 2.3 - research has shown that wearing two hearing aids increases the perceived loudness of sounds more than just one hearing aid. Wearing two hearing aids results in the improved ability to hear soft sounds and distant speech.
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Slowed deterioration - generally speaking, the ability to understand speech deteriorates with the passage of time. Research shows that for someone wearing only one hearing aid, the deterioration rate of the unaided ear is likely to be greater than that of the aided ear over a given period of time.
Please keep in mind that an ear with either normal hearing or no hearing at all is not considered a candidate for a hearing aid.
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