Real-Ear Measurements and Hearing aid Verification

Probe microphone that measures sound environment close to the eardrum

The Aurical one example of a real-ear measurement system used to verify hearing aid fittings at the San Francisco Hearing Center

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There are many resources written about the best hearing aid on the market. These sources range from consumer reports, customer reviews, and manufacturer rankings. This article will provide the reader with trusted information on how to determine what is the best hearing aid in 2022.

Which hearing instrument manufacturer is best?

There are many hearing aid manufacturers, but the 5 leading manufacturers of hearing aids worldwide are Widex, Oticon, Phonak, GN Resound, and Starkey.  Each manufacturer offers cutting edge hearing aids at various levels of technology. Each brand and technology level offers different features.

Get the latest technology.

Today’s hearing aids are more like mini-computers than megaphones, and recent advancements have led to increased patient satisfaction and better outcomes. Our audiologists are up-to-date on all of the latest technology and will work with you to find the best solution to fit your needs. Popular features include:

•     Automatic noise reduction.
•     A high number of channels for processing.
•     Receiver-in-the-canal or completely-in-the-canal styles.
•     Bluetooth Connection. Wirelessly Stream your cell phone, television or music directly to your hearing aids.
•     Rechargeable. Charge in the evening, be ready to go all day. No batteries to change!
•     Lightning-fast sound processing.

Each manufacturer develops proprietary technology unique from other manufacturers in the way that it processes sound.  Each has its own unique philosophy that makes each top hearing aid manufacturer stand out above mediocre offerings in the hearing aid world.  An online hearing aid may claim to be the latest technology but is actually using sound processing that is from an older model. The hearing may just increase the volume of sounds but not the clarity.

Current device manufacturers are now looking at how the brain processes sound. Some hearing devices use machine learning to allow the hearing aid to make decisions for you based on real-world evidence of other hearing aid wearers.  We like to say that your ears are the door to hearing and in your brain is where the hearing takes place. Therefore your brain will typically prefer one type of processing from one manufacturer over another. 

Which hearing aid is the best on the market or best for you requires some guidance from a trusted professional such as a Doctor of Audiology. A good audiologist will match your hearing loss, ability to process hearing in noise, and listening needs with the technology that is right for you. Your audiologist has extensive experience with each of these manufacturers and technology. Look for an audiologist who uses real ear measurements for fine-tuning to fully customize the hearing aid for you.  It is important that you return for follow-up visits to ensure that as your brain becomes accustomed to the new input your hearing aids are also changing.

When you see an audiologist who is affiliated with an independent private practice such as San Francisco Hearing Center your audiologist has many different manufacturers to choose from when determining what is the best hearing aid for you. Your audiologist is committed to improving your quality of life with the best hearing aid for your individual needs and hearing loss. Visit San Francisco Hearing Center today and experience the expertise and care from our hearing experts and Doctors of Audiology. 

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Managing your stress

The constant ringing or buzzing in your ears caused by tinnitus can, unsurprisingly, make life stressful on occasion. As stress and anxiety can provide a negative stimulus to a sensitive hearing system, it is important to manage the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety and have this be a priority. Upon diagnosis of a hearing problem, it can be tempting to withdraw, as feelings of isolation upon diagnosis of these sorts of issues are common. But by managing your stress through mindfulness techniques, this can provide a suitable coping method, as well as counseling and other alternative therapies recommended by an audiologist.

Protecting your ears

Many people benefit from using a hearing aid because it can amplify outside noise, but it’s also important to avoid situations that can damage your hearing further. This could mean that you would have to alter your lifestyle accordingly, especially if you go to noisy events like concerts or sports games. Just because tinnitus has been diagnosed, it doesn’t mean that this will stay in the same condition. When appropriate, you should use protective ear wear. Avoiding loud environments where possible will safeguard your ears against additional damage.

Addressing certain lifestyle habits

Looking after yourself is priority number one, and addressing the habits that you know to be negative to your body, such as consumption of alcohol or smoking, can actually have an effect on your hearing. Likewise, a lack of exercise is something that can negatively impact your hearing ability. As regular exercise is beneficial for your body by improving the circulation of blood, this can help tinnitus sufferers as there have been cases linked with low blood supply to the inner ear.

Therapy options

Various therapies, such as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) are very useful in the fight against tinnitus. There are different aspects of TRT, such as utilizing a device with tinnitus-masking features. that can help the person to gradually tune out the tinnitus. Because TRT can focus on two different aspects, the sound itself, as well as the emotional reaction, the efficacy of dealing with the issue can be dealt with more comprehensively, tackling the problem itself, but also providing strategies for the sufferer in every other way. Using sound therapy to mask the internal sound of tinnitus can help to refocus the person’s attention, providing immediate relief. But what can happen over time is that sound therapy can result in the brain being “retrained” to view the tinnitus sound as something that can be ignored, such as the day-to-day noises we mask automatically. In addition to this, by using specific sounds can help to minimize a hyperactive brain which is believed to be the underlying function of tinnitus.

The other component of tinnitus retraining therapy is to focus on the emotional elements. Because tinnitus can trigger depression and anxiety, this can prove to be a more long-term problem than the actual condition. And this can be done through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can be done in a group or one-to-one, which then helps to identify specific triggers, as well as instigate lifestyle choices and coping strategies to make the condition more bearable.

As tinnitus can prove to be frustrating for your hearing ability, as well as the emotions, it’s crucial that you speak to an audiologist to identify the best course of therapy for you. As you can see, there are many ways to protect yourself from additional hearing damage caused by tinnitus. If you believe yourself to be suffering from tinnitus or any hearing related problem, you don’t need to suffer in silence. You can contact the San Francisco Hearing Center to speak to a professional and book an appointment with an audiologist who will put you on the right path.

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Problems hearing softer sounds

It’s usually softer sounds that you start struggling with first of all if you are experiencing mild hearing loss issues. These are sounds that begin with ‘f’ or ‘s’ or ‘th’. These sounds might start becoming harder to pick out and understand in everyday conversation because they’re a little more subtle than harder sounds so your hearing has to work harder to notice them.

Feeling like you have plugs in your ears

The feeling that you have plugs in your ears is a common example people use to describe what they’re feeling when they’re suffering from mild hearing loss. Other people it’s like your ears are full of water or something like that. If you’re noticing that sensation and you’re not sure why it’s happening, it could be down to mild hearing loss.

Quieter voices become harder to understand

We all know that some people naturally talk more quietly than others. And you might start to notice that you’re struggling to hear what those people are saying if your hearing is in decline. You might not notice this with most people, but some people definitely have a quieter way of speaking and those voices can start to sound even quieter.

Expending more energy on hearing people

The task of hearing what people are saying is one of those things that will usually just happen naturally, so if you’re noticing that you’re having to strain and expend more energy to hear what people are saying, it might be down to the issue of hearing loss. Having to strain is not ideal and it’s not necessary for people with healthy hearing, so you should get it checked out.

Treatment Options For Mild Hearing Loss

Hearing aids
One of the most common treatments for hearing loss is having a hearing aid fitted. This can be suitable for mild hearing loss, even if it seems like a huge step to take for a relatively minor issue. It’s one of the most effective ways to rebalance a person’s hearing and take away the problems that we mentioned above. Don’t rule it out without considering it.

Compensating via small daily life changes
If you feel like your hearing is not so bad that you need a hearing aid in order to function normally, you might decide to make small changes in your daily life so that this issue doesn’t bother you so much. Compensating by turning up the volume and asking those around you to speak more clearly might be enough for some people.

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