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Hearing Aids – Everything you need to know

by | Jun 1, 2022

When a person with hearing loss decides to put on hearing aids they have the following questions. What brand of hearing aids should I get? Should I get lice? What are their prices? Should I buy from skroutz? Will I be able to find in installments? Where can I read hearing aid reviews?

Hearing aids are sold in special stores with specific structures and appropriate equipment. It is very important, however, that the person who will completely undertake the application of a hearing aid is a certified hearing aid professional. This means that they should have formal training and experience in the selection, application and adjustment of headphones.

It should also have a specialized lab to be able to upgrade your handset periodically and deal with any issues that may arise. If you don't know a good hearing care professional, it's a good idea to ask your doctor for a referral.

Read the full article to learn everything you need to know about hearing aids.

Hearing

Ακοή
Reduced Hearing in one ear

Hearing is one of the most important senses.

Man can enjoy the sounds of life, communicate, socialize, work, interact with the environment, that is, live.

By the term reduced hearing (hard of hearing) we mean the loss of hearing in one or both ears.

Hearing loss is divided into the following types:

  • Neurosensory: It is caused by damage to the auditory nerve, resulting in a failure to correctly and comprehensively transfer information regarding the volume and frequency of sounds. This type of hearing loss is usually characterized by progressive difficulty in understanding speech.
  • Conductivity: Caused by some mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear.
  • Mixed: It is a combination of the two previous types.

What are the symptoms of the person with Hard of Hearing?

  • Difficulty in the person participating in everyday conversations.
  • He hears that they are talking to him, but he does not understand exactly what they are saying to him.
  • Turn up the TV volume.
  • He asks them to repeat.
  • Avoids social interactions.
  • He has a feeling of fatigue due to the constant effort to listen.
  • Difficulty communicating with those around him, especially in noisy environments.
  • Tinnitus, i.e. whistling or buzzing in the ears.

In elderly people, the hearing loss is called presbyacusia and we notice difficulty in hearing high-frequency sounds, such as for example the telephone, the doorbell or the chirping of birds.

Audiogram

Ακοόγραμμα ακουστικά βαρηκοΐας

The audiogram is the visual representation of hearing, in the form of a diagram. With the audiogram we measure the lowest intensity at which the patient responds to a sound tone.

The examination is performed in a sound-proof chamber with the use of headphones and a button which the examinee presses when he hears even a little bit of a tone. This tone is captured at all frequencies and thus we form the hearing loss curve.

The levels of hearing loss are configured as follows:

  • 15-30 dB HL- mild hearing loss.
    Usually the hard of hearing does not hear soft sounds in the environment and soft speech.
  • 31-50 dB HL- moderate hearing loss.
    Usually, the hard of hearing needs a lot of intensity from the interlocutor to communicate
  • 51-80 dB HL = severe hearing loss.
    Communication is extremely difficult and requires the interlocutor to speak very loudly.
  • 81-100 dB HL= very severe (profound) / Residual hearing.
    Communication is almost impossible and usually these people communicate by lip reading or sign language.
  • 100 dB HL+ = deafness (total deafness).
    The Hearing aids can now cover even the most difficult cases of hearing loss by amplifying the frequencies and supplementing the loss until we reach a normal level of hearing.

Latest generation hearing aids

Ακουστικά βαρηκοΐας τελευταίας γενιάς

As environmental demands change, most hearing aids are individually adjustable, which allows them to access a network of frequencies for sound processing.

By recording the environment, hearing aids mimic the way the brain would hear sound if the hearing were not impaired.

Most of the hearing aids of this generation work on the following innovations:

  • Dynamic noise cancellation (Dynamic Noise Cancellation).
    The biggest challenge people with hearing loss face is understanding background noise. Now audio sampling and noise reduction work to their full potential, allowing speech to emerge from the noise, providing high-definition hearing.
  • Motion sensor (Motion Sensor Hearing).
    Combined with dynamic noise cancellation, the sensor is able to locate the source of the sound if you're moving, while also monitoring the environment to focus on the speech signal. The microphones adjust to keep the dominant speech signal in focus, allowing you to continue your conversation.
  • Speech Enhancer.
    This new feature is designed to amplify the softest acoustic cues of speech, without increasing the overall volume of the hearing aid or changing the overall soundscape.
  • Frequency generator (tinnitus masking).
    The most advanced hearing aids have a tinnitus masking system. They have the ability to emit sounds at different frequencies depending on the patient's need, in order to cover the disturbing noise. Studies conclude that even with the classic process of hearing enhancement, tinnitus can be minimized provided that hearing loss is present.
  • Wind noise reduction.
    Wind noise reduction can make all the difference for those who spend time enjoying the outdoors, for athletes, as well as for professional drivers. This function detects the effect of wind on the hearing aid microphones and avoids or reduces its amplification.
  • Data recording.
    Data logging is a feature that stores data about the listening environment in which the headset is used. The device collects the user's preferences in programs, volume levels and other functions. The information is accessible to the hearing care professional when you return for a follow-up appointment. Your hearing care professional can use this information to further customize your hearing aid fit.

Digital Hearing Aids

Ψηφιακά ακουστικά βαρηκοΐας

Digital technology has been consolidated in recent decades, with the result that the processing and amplification of processed sounds is done automatically (without manual procedures) and in a very short time (tenths of a second) using digital circuits called microprocessors.

Digital headphones offer:

  • High quality and fidelity of sound and voice without distortion and interference.
  • Excellent discrimination with automatic separation of speech from background noise.
  • Natural and relaxing sound.
  • Automatic volume adjustment.
  • Locating the direction of sound.
  • Automatic environmental adaptation.
  • Nullification of sound feedback (feedback).
  • Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Improved aesthetics..
  • Automatic Program Selection..

Types of Hearing Aids

Τύποι ακουστικών βαρηκοΐας
  • In-EarIntracanal headphones (lice).
    Τα Intracanal headphones (lice) are placed exclusively in the ear canal of the user. We use the impression of the pore and make shells from acrylic, instead of an allergic material to achieve a proper fit and the best possible performance of the earphone. Depending on the form of the hearing loss and the morphology of the ear canal, we have their final shape and size.

    Headphones of this category are usually applied in cases where the hearing loss is characterized by a low to medium degree..

    But there are also technological categories that concern how well the aid can process the sound environment.
    Premium: the top range with 20 channels and 7 automatic programs.
    Advance:with 16 channels and 4 automatic programs.
    Standard:with 12 channels and 3 automatic programs.
    Essential:with 8 channels and 2 automatic programs.
  • BTE Behind the Ear Hearing Aids
    Behind the ear headphones are placed behind the ear flap and the amplified sound is carried through a clear silicone tube into the ear canal. Application is made with a personalized mold, which fits perfectly. Their size makes them easy to use, especially for older people who may have vision problems or finger dysfunction.Behind the ear hearing aids are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes.

    They have two microphones, automatic sound environment management programs, are rechargeable, have moisture and dust protection filters, and have Bluetooth connectivity..

    There are also technology categories here, which are about how well the aid can process the audio environment.
    Premium20 channels and 7 automatic programs.
    Advance: with 16 channels and 4 automatic programs.
    Standard: with 12 channels and 3 automatic programs.
    Standard: with 8 channels and 2 automatic programs.
  • RIC Receiver In the Canal
    They are placed behind the fin, while a loudspeaker (receiver) ends in the ear canal either with a special nipple or with a personalized mold. Behind-the-ear RICs have been the new trend in the hearing aid market for the last 15 years, combining the discretion of in-ears with the multitude of technologies offered by behind-the-ears.

    The features that differentiate them are the dual microphones they have, which adapt to the environment the user is in and focus on speech. RIC headphones are either battery powered or rechargeable. They have built-in Bluetooth technology so they can be easily connected to your mobile phone, computer or TV.

    We see the technology categories regarding how well the aid can process the audio environment.
    Premium: with 20 channels and 7 automatic programs.
    Advance: with 16 channels and 4 automatic programs.
    Standard: with 12 channels and 3 automatic programs.
    Standard: with 8 channels and 2 automatic programs.

Unilateral or Bilateral Headphone Application

Μονόπλευρη - Αμφίπλευρη εφαρμογή ακουστικών βαρηκοΐας

The choice of fitting one or two hearing aids basically depends on the audiogram we want to cover.

First we check the droop of each ear, medical history, anatomy of the ear canal, and then we take into account factors of the person's personality and daily needs, which we will rely on.

The environments we are in differ in terms of sound stimuli. For this reason, it happens that the hearing-impaired person using a headset does not distinguish the interlocutor in a <<difficult>> audio environment (noise) or when there are many interlocutors around him.

This is due to the fact that the other ear (when hearing impaired) is not amplified, resulting in no localization of the sound direction and finally not achieving stereo sound, like the real ear function. We approach normal hearing, that is, the best processing of sound from both ears in order to achieve the best possible detection of directionality, discrimination and understanding of speech. At the same time, we choose a lower setting in the acoustic amplification and sound pressure of the headset, resulting in a softer and softer result.

In cases of children's hearing loss, two (2) headphones are always used to ensure the closest approximation of the sound environment in relation to the development of speech.

The price of a hearing aid

Ακουστικλα βαρηκοΐας τιμή

Hearing aid prices are something that concerns most potential users.

The point, of course, is that these values ​​cannot be specific before we consider some factors that affect them.

For example:

  • The type of handset.
  • The sampling level of the sounds that the aid is going to handle.
  • How incoming frequencies are processed.
  • The coverage range of hearing loss.
  • The automatic selection of operating programs in relation to the environment.
  • The possibility of multiple connections with external devices.
  • The ability to charge.

Also his age, the patient's skills, his individualized needs, the particularities of his work and many more factors that are likely to arise from the uniqueness of each person.

By extension choosing the right hearing aids is a complex process and not just the purchase of a product.

It is worth mentioning that the patient's insurance fund (EOPYY) subsidizes the purchase of a hearing aid with €450.

Tinnitus

Εμβοές και Απώλεια Ακοής

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

We call the noise that one hears in one's ear without actually having any source of sound. This noise varies from person to person in terms of its timbre or intensity and resembles whistling or whistling.

They may be continuous or intermittent, steady or pulsatile, varying in rate and intensity and may be located in one or both ears.

There are two types of tinnitus:

  • Subjective Tinnitus.
    The sounds are perceived only by the patient. This is the most common type of tinnitus which can be caused by a problem in the outer, middle or inner ear,
  • Objective Tinnitus.
    These are sounds that the doctor can also hear during the examination. This is a rarer type of tinnitus.

During the day, tinnitus is not particularly noticeable, as the ambient noise covers it. However, at night when the environment is quiet, they become particularly annoying and often unbearable.

Causes of tinnitus:

  • Hearing loss due to age (presbyacusis).
  • Exposure to loud noises.
  • Accumulation of wax (wax) in the ear.
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction.
  • Meniere's syndrome.
  • Otosclerosis.
  • Other ailments.
  • Alcohol consumption.
  • smoking.
  • Caffeine intake.
  • Stress and fatigue.
  • Excessive use of salt.

The application of a hearing aid that has tinnitus management programs, can help sufferers by improving the situation considerably and effectively supporting the treatment that the ENT doctor will indicate.

These programs provide a relaxing sound background that compensates for tinnitus noises and relieves users of their unpleasant effects. Our specialized hearing care professionals are trained in dealing with tinnitus to achieve the best possible adjustment depending on the case.

Tinnitus is a pathological condition that can trouble the patient for a very long time, causing him worry and irritation. Timely evaluation of the problem by the specialized ENT is necessary in order to treat the problem.

Noise: Why should we care?

Θόρυβος και Απώλεια Ακοής

Loud sounds or excessive noise exposure of any duration (short or long) leads to temporary hearing loss or tinnitus.

When exposure is too strong (above safe limits), it can lead to permanent damage to sensory cells, resulting in irreversible hearing loss. In addition, prolonged and continuous exposure will cause progressive hearing loss, ultimately affecting speech understanding which has a negative impact on the individual's quality of life.

In our daily lives we are all exposed to different types of sounds that can be considered "noise", even if we don't really notice it. At school or work, in traffic, mowing the lawn – or even hearing the neighbour's dog – there is noise all around us. It all depends on the noise level, but this is not so easy to predict. Thus, in general, loud noise can be categorized into occupational, recreational and environmental noise.

Any type of sound exposure above a certain threshold, whether work-related or leisure- related, can in most cases be expected to cause hearing damage. In general, sounds up to 85 dBA are considered safe for humans. Within this limit, hearing problems are unlikely to occur.

High-quality hearing protection earmuffs cancel noise and loud sound so that we can have a good communication and perceive the sound environment. We protect our hearing by ventilating the ear and letting it breathe to prevent excess moisture from building up.

Special silicone earplugs are also available for children and adults, ideal for protection against water and noise. Each earmold is unique, since it is manufactured by taking the impression of your ear canal, aiming for the perfect fit.

Children's hearing loss. The importance of early diagnosis

Παιδική βαρηκοΐα

Hearing loss in children is one of the most serious disorders that can appear after birth.

The Childhood hearing loss can be congenital or acquired.

Prenatal causes of hearing loss are considered:

  • the diseases of the mother during pregnancy
  • the infections
  • ototoxic drugs

Congenital causes of hearing loss are considered::

  • premature birth
  • the low weight of the infant
  • the hypoxia
  • the jaundice
  • the infections

Postnatal causes of hearing loss::

  • the infections
  • the ear infections
  • the injuries
  • the plug (alveolus) in the ear

The diagnosis must be made by the 3rd month of the child's life so that the intervention can begin. If the reduced hearing in children is not diagnosed until the age of 2 years then delays in the development of speech are found. A child's hearing loss also affects their communication and cognitive development. The greater a child's hearing loss, the greater his inability to understand the environment, with the consequence that his social and learning development is not promoted.

How do I know if my child is not listening?
In the development of oral language, the child forms 2-3 words with meaning until the 1st year of his life and the words increase gradually. In year 2 he can put 2-3 words together as a short sentence and from 2 to 5 years he has developed a vocabulary of 250 words by creating sentences. In the event that there is a large deviation from the above reference, a hearing test is recommended.

Also, when the child does not react when you call his name, when there is noise in his environment capable of attracting his attention but this does not happen, or even when he does not try to imitate the sounds of your voice, then there is a suspicion of hearing loss.

The diagnosis:
To detect hearing loss in newborns, the otolaryngologist mainly relies on otoacoustic emissions (AAE) and automatic brainstem evoked potentials (ABR), which are non- invasive and safe methods for diagnosing hearing loss.

Unilateral hearing loss in children

Μονόπλευρη βαρηκοΐα

This is the condition in which one ear of the child is hard of hearing and the other is normal.

The difficulty in diagnosis is that the child seems to hear well and respond to sounds, since he is hearing from the healthy ear. But when he finds himself in a more complex environment where the demands are increased, such as in a classroom, he is forced to make more effort to understand and concentrate. This often leads to a wrong diagnosis of the problem since these children are characterized as children with learning difficulties.

Preventive hearing screening at the various stages of the child's development contributes to the early diagnosis of single-sided hearing loss.