Curtis' Hearing Aid Recommendations
Editor: Most of you probably recognize the name Curtis Dickinson.
I've shameless published lots of his information over the years.
(Thanks, Curtis) He recently updated his information sheet on what to
look for in a hearing aid, and graciously allowed me to share it. BTW,
if you're in the market for an assistive listening device (ALD) or other
hearing related product, you owe it to yourself to check out his online
store (WWW.Hearing-Loss-Help-Co.com). You may also contact Curtis by
email (hearmeco@infi.net).
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SYNOPSIS:
Hearing aids do work. The technology is amazing for what they do. But,
they must be properly fitted and you need to have realistic
expectations. The idea of purchasing a hearing aid is to improve your
EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING--Not have them join the statistic of one
of four aids that stay in a drawer. Hearing aids are expensive. It
doesn't matter whether this is right or wrong, they are EXPENSIVE! (Up
to 400 percent markup). So don't be afraid to be satisfied 400 percent!
If you include the following three things with the purchase of your
hearing aids, you will receive the best value.
* DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE
* ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
* PRE-AMPLIFIED/POWER TELECOILS
Hearing aids work best within 10 feet of the sound source and when
the environment is SILENT. But you know that is NOT the real world. So
don't hand over your money just because you hear well in the dispenser's
office--you will always hear well in there--even when the dispenser is
out of sight around the corner. But step outside and wham, the sounds
hit you! So....the odds are great that you'll need to go back for
adjustments: what you hear in the privacy of a dispenser's office is not
what you will hear outside of it!
As in any practice, there are excellent dispensers and dispensers who
are not so excellent. Real world dispensing is not learned in the
classroom! Nor is hearing in a dispenser's office representative of
being in the real hearing world. Just about ANY aid the dispenser fits
you with will sound good in their office.
Do your homework. Choose your dispenser wisely. Shop around. There is
a huge need for improvement in the Hearing Health Care Industry. And
much is wrong with it. Don't settle for less. Be assertive. Put your
hearing loss into your hands, not into those that market and sell
hearing aids.
Here are my suggestions and things to consider:
1) MEDICAL EXAM: Get a medical exam. Perhaps the loss is due to
blockage by wax or perhaps medical treatment will fix the loss. If the
doc says nothing can be done, look into hearings aids. If the cost
scares you start out with an ALD. They work better, cost less, but are
NOT invisible or as miniature. Who cares?! You want to hear, don't you?
2) HEARING AID MANUFACTURERS: ALL quality hearing aid manufacturers
produce hearing aids that fit your loss.
3) FITTING: All aids producing the correct volume range for your loss
can be "adjusted", "fitted" or
"programmed" etc. to fit your loss.
5) FITTING: IS IT ART or SCIENCE? Fitting hearing aids is an art, not
a science. Expect to go back several times to be satisfied. No dispenser
gets it right the first time. They can't. They don't know your brain or
your lifestyle.
6) DIGITAL VS ANALOG HEARING AIDS: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY WILL NOT
REPLACE THE FREQUENCIES THAT YOUR EARS CANNOT USE ANYMORE. (Nor will
analog either). For some, the digital hearing aids are super. For others
the increase in cost is not worth the improvement in hearing. Still
others say there is no difference in hearing between analog and digital
hearing aids. And studies by manufacturers have proven word
understanding has not improved. YET, some swear the digital hearing aids
help them hear better - better known as the psychological effect. It is
up to you to determine how important this is. Ask the dispenser that you
try both.
7) PROGRAMMABLE HEARING AIDS: Don't confuse digital technology with
digital programming. Most ANALOG aids can be programmed using digital
technology software programs. This does NOT make them digital hearing
aids. Big difference. (Mostly a cost difference).
8) WHICH BRAND? Ask why the dispenser is choosing the particular
brand/make/model for you. There may be a profit motive here. (See #2)
9) MANUFACTURER WARRANTY: Some of them offer up to two years. That's
the one you want--the manufacturer's warranty! Ask for it!
10) TRIAL PERIOD: Ask for a 60-day trial/return policy. Most
manufacturers offer 90 days to the dispenser. Will they pass it on to
you?
11) RETURN OF MONEY: Ask what monies the dispenser will keep upon
return of the aid. It is reasonable for the dispenser to keep a service
fee for the earmolds, shell or audiogram.
12) AUDIOGRAM: Get a copy of your audiogram. It is YOUR medical
record. You PAID for it. Ask them to briefly explain how to read it. Be
sure a word recognition test is done. Bring it when you shop around.
13) DISPENSER, HEARING INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST (HIS), DISPENSING
AUDIOLOGIST: Good dispensing takes lots of practice. It is an art not a
science. Don't let the terms Hearing Aid Specialist or Audiologist
influence you. Find a dispenser you are comfortable with. You will need
to go back for fine-tuning. Make sure you can feel GOOD about going
back. Find one that puts things in writing! Find one that offers an ALD
so you can hear what they are telling you! It is common decency!
14) REAL EAR TESTING: It is important that your dispenser objectively
verifies and validates the hearing aid settings they determined is best
for your loss. Use a dispenser that utilizes Real Ear Testing. It is
imperative to a good fitting. Real Ear Testing actually tests what your
ear is receiving as it comes out of the hearing aid and enters your ear
canal. The shape of your ear will change these characteristics and Real
Ear testing is the only way to offset this. --VERY IMPORTANT! This means
the original settings, based on the audiogram, can be WAY off base! .
Real Ear measurements provide OBJECTIVE INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO THE
SELECTION, FITTING AND MANAGEMENT OF HEARING AIDS.
This technology has been effective for over 20 years yet only a few
take the time to utilize it. Those who do, have your satisfaction in
their heart. Find a dispenser that will use Real-Ear measurements as
part of the fitting process.
15) REAL-EAR UNOCCLUDED RESPONSE: (For analog aids). This helps the
manufacturer to provide a better hearing aid for analog hearing aids.
Without this, a difference of 20dB can occur, often requiring the aid to
be sent back to the manufacturer or settle for a less than optimal fit.
Be sure your dispenser provides this information.
16) BTE, ITE, ITC For any loss beginning with
Mild-to-Moderate--Severe, the Behind the Ear (BTE) aids are best. They
are usually less fragile, last longer and the options offered are the
best. Generally they cost less too! Your hearing is important, don't
hide its loss behind an invisible aid. Would you rather seem dumb or let
others know you have a hearing loss? Just as important, BTE's allow for
loaner aids when yours are in for repair!
17) LEAVING THE DISPENSERS OFFICE: Once fitted, ask the dispenser to
step outside with you for a stroll, a ride in your car. Offer to buy him
a coffee. What is heard in the quiet of the dispenser's office will be
different from the real world! More adjusting can then be done.
18) FOLLOWING-UP: List EVERYTHING that bothers you the first week or
so after being fitted with the aid. List it regardless of how you sense
its importance. Return to the dispenser with the list. Most likely they
have a solution.
Follow-up is YOUR responsibility. For an investment of thousands of
dollars your aid needs to be worn all the time to maintain your standard
of living, your status quo.
19) CONTINUED FOLLOW-UP: After investing thousands of dollars it is
foolish not to make follow-up appointments for the whole year! After
all, 1 out of 4 aids in a dresser drawer is NOT a made up statistic!
Make sure the dispenser writes the appointments in the calendar and you
have a card to take home and put on your calendar. If you go back the
first year (12 visits) don't you think you'll be wearing that hearing
aid?
TELECOILS
TELECOILS ELIMINATE BACKGROUND NOISE AND ONLY AMPLIFY WHAT YOU NEED
TO HEAR VIA ALD'S AND TELEPHONES
1) TELECOIL IMPORTANCE: If the dispenser shrugs off the importance of
telecoils, find another dispenser. Telecoils turn any aid from working
like a Ford into a Cadillac. Telecoils make the difference whether you
hear or not on the telephone. They make a difference whether you hear a
movie or not. They determine whether you'll hear in a car or not. Any
place with a LOOP system installed-you are golden to hear! And I kid you
not!!!!!!
2) TELECOILS: Always get strong, pre-amplified (Power) telecoils in
your hearing aids. Preamplified telecoils can be separately programmed!
Ask for Tibbetts coils. Ask that they be programmed to work with the
microphone of the aid-if possible. Be sure they are positioned for both
LOOP and Telephone use-halfway perpendicular between the floor and wall.
3) TELECOIL COMBINATIONS: Ask the dispenser to explain the options of
the "Microphone/Telecoil" combination and straight
"Telecoil" use. (If you wear two aids, perhaps one for the
microphone/telecoil position and the other strictly telecoil)
4) TELECOIL PRACTICE: After being fitted, use the dispenser's
telephone to practice using the telecoils. Don't leave his office until
you are comfortable using it.
EARMOLDS:
1) EARMOLDS/FEEDBACK: (whistling) is a result of IMPROPER FITTING!
There is NO good reason for it happening! Do not accept feedback. A
loose earmold, loose fitting, cracked tubing; broken microphone or other
things can cause it. Generally though feedback comes from either a bad
impression or an old ear mold that shrunk with age. Ask them to remake
the earmold. (Adjusting the programming or dials on the hearing aid, to
prevent feedback, is a cop-out--your dispenser is either ignorant or
lazy. The full potential of the hearing aid is then WASTED). Instead,
ask for a remake of the earmold. Or inform them of the three-stage ear
impression technique.
It GUARANTEES no feedback. It is known as the 3-step ear impression
technique. Also known as the Australian method
(I will send you a copy upon request).
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
1) ALD's: Assistive Listening Devices and your telecoils are the best
way to help eliminate back ground noise, spend money wisely, increase
the value of your hearing aids investment and provide overall better
satisfaction. I can help you with assistive devices for the telephone,
TV, wake-up alarm, door knock, restaurant conversing etc. See my website
listed after my signature.
WHEN YOUR HEARING DETERIORATES:
1) RE-PROGRAMMING YOUR HEARING AIDS: When your hearing loss fades
more, there is a good chance your hearing aids can be reprogrammed for
the loss. No need to buy new aids.
REPAIRS--TESTING HEARING AID OUTPUT
1) HEARING AID VALIDITY TEST:
Ask for a printout from the Hearing Aid Box test. A device called a
hearing aid box can test the output of the hearing aid to see if it
still meets the specs of the manufacturer. This is particularly
important when it comes back from a repair service. It will prove if
quality parts were used. Test takes about 30 seconds.
DO YOU REALLY NEED A NEW HEARING AID?
1a) REPLACING A HEARING AID: If your hearing aid is 5 years old, most
likely ANY new aid will sound better. It is not only because the hearing
aid is new but it could be the old one just needs cleaning or an
adjustment to compensate for your eroding hearing loss. Don't blindly
spend a lot more money for a "newer better" model.
SUPPORT GROUPS: After getting your hearing aids, seek a support
group. If you are on line the SayWhatClub offers terrific emotional
support. It is free and invaluable. (Donations are accepted and needed).
For emotional support go to:
WWW.SayWhatClub.COM.
For education go to:
WWW.HOHADVOCATES.ORG
Other support groups are SHHH, ALDA and BEYOND HEARING.
ABOUT ME:I have a life long 60 to 90 dB loss in both ears, I insist
on telecoils in my hearing aids. I insist on BTE's (Behind-The-Ear
hearing aids) for durability, versatility and easy loaner hook-up during
repairs. Along with ALD's and lip-reading I manage to remain
mainstreamed within society.
I have shared office space with several dispensers. My job involved
demonstrating, selling and installing Assistive Devices. This included
making sure the client understood the use of telecoils. As a team, we
added value to the purchases of hearing aids, and increased consumer
satisfaction.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact me with
questions, comments, or concerns.
Curtis
WWW.Hearing-Loss-Help-Co.com
hearmeco@infi.net
