“Austin Texas, Austin Hearing Services announces its concern for the possible confusion of consumers in the light of some recently released over the counter hearing aids. It is concerned that people may be misled, perhaps not intentionally, but because they are not completely familiar with the specialized field of personal electronics, such as hearing aids.”

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It's been over 50 years since Siemens debuted the worlds first BTE hearing aids. In that time, the iconic style is the first image that comes to mind when most people think of a listening device. This is due to it's prominent placement on the rear of the ear as well the long standing success of the device in the marketplace.

Behind the ear listening devices or BTE hearing aids debuted in 1959 and have been continually improved since. While the industry has seen a proliferation of alternatives, this classic maintains popularity for several reasons.

For starters, the device's "biggest in class" size allow it to be outfitted with a full set of controls,  such as volume and on/off switches. This benefit coincides with the power such units are capable of achieving. They are ideal for those with severe hearing loss.

While the fashionista in you may abhor the aesthetics of BTE hearing aids, modern devices are not the clunkers of the mid-twentieth century. Today's devices are ergonomic and available in an assortment of colors. A newer style of mini-BTE units also exist, further decreasing the visibility of the hearing instrument for the chronically self-conscious.

One thing that hasn't changed about these devices are their composition. Now, like then, each unit is comprised of a case, which houses the electronics, an earmold that has a tiny speaker to deliver sound and a tube used to carry sound between the other components.

Depending on the device you select, BTE hearing aids or behind the ear listening instruments are more affordable than other styles. This is no doubt a result of their market maturity and wide availability.

Not only can you get behind the ear units from giants like Siemens, Starkey and Widex, but they're also available from more obscure, discount manufacturers on the web.

Unlike larger companies, discount sellers aren't worried about developing the next generation of cutting edge devices, requiring millions of dollars in research and development. Likewise, they don't have large branding or advertising costs. As a result, discount sellers are able to offer more competitive pricing on BTE hearing aids.

REFERENCES:
http://hearing.siemens.com/ca/10-about-us/01-our-history/milestones.jsp?year=1959

The Better Hearing Institute has developed a new syndicated article summarizing the link between chronic diseases and hearing loss. It has been released to 15,000 media outlets. This opinion editorial is now available for download. Hearing health professionals may modify the article to promote their practice. Here is the article in its entirety.

(ARA) – Hearing loss isn’t a harmless condition to be ignored. In fact, hearing loss often coexists with other serious health problems. And a growing body of research indicates that there may be a link. Studies show that people with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression may all have an increased risk of hearing loss.

When left untreated, hearing loss alone can lead to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions. Impaired memory and the impaired ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension and stress are among its more common side effects. But when untreated hearing loss coexists with a chronic illness, the likelihood is all the greater that the individual will experience exacerbated levels of stress and diminished quality of life.

Here’s the good news: Research also indicates that professionally fitted hearing aids can help improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases when hearing loss does coexist.
“In the vast majority of cases, hearing loss can be addressed with hearing aids to help people hear better and improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI).  “I strongly urge anyone with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and/or depression to talk with their doctor and make hearing screenings a routine part of their medical care.”

BHI encourages people to take a free, quick, and confidential online hearing test at www.hearingcheck.org to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org.

The link between hearing loss and certain chronic diseases Numerous studies have long linked untreated hearing loss to diminished psychological and overall health. But an emerging body of research is now revealing a link between hearing loss and other chronic health conditions.

For example, hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Another study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that older adults with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those of the same age without CKD.

Other studies have shown that a significantly higher percentage of people with Alzheimer's disease may have hearing loss than their normally aging peers. In fact, older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology,. The researchers also found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease specifically increased with hearing loss.

The link between unaddressed hearing loss and depression also is compelling. An Italian study found that working adults aged 35 to 55 who were affected by mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress — and lower levels of social functioning — than a well-matched normal control population.

Perhaps the link between cardiovascular disease and hearing loss is the most widely recognized. In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, the authors reviewed research that had been conducted over the past 60 plus years. They found that the negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system, and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems, was found through a sizable body of research.

“With so much evidence emerging on the potential link between hearing loss and various chronic illnesses, it becomes all the more pressing for people to identify and address hearing loss early on,” Kochkin says. “Talk to your doctor. Get your hearing checked. And be assured that in most cases, today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids, programmed to the specific hearing requirements of the individual, can help people hear better and thereby regain quality of life.”

The Better Hearing Institute is a not-for-profit educational organization whose mission is to educate the public about the loss of hearing, its treatment and prevention. www.betterhearing.org.

There will be light refreshments; a drawing will be held each day for a TV Listening System by Sennheiser, the grand prize winner will get a pair of hearing aids. The days are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week the 16, 17 18, possibly the 19th, from 10:00 to 5:00 each day.

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1.     Life and Death.  Ok, that’s over dramatic, but it is true that your hearing is part of your overall health. I recently reviewed an audiogram that had been done by a warehouse store, and was alarmed that the patient hadn’t been referred on to a medical doctor- this person had the red flag signs of an acoustic neuroma (auditory tumor).

While an acoustic neuroma won’t kill you, it will destroy your hearing over time.  Most “Free hearing tests ” will provide the tester just enough information to sell you a hearing aid.  At Audiology Concepts we complete a comprehensive evaluation and work closely with physicians when needed. Doctors of Audiology have 8 years of schooling, and supervised clinical requirements to ensure we are trained at diagnosing all types of hearing loss, and recognizing the signs of a more serious auditory or vestibular (balance) related problem.

2.     A bargain is only a bargain when it is the same product (same warranty, etc) at a lower price.   FACT:  The club warehouses do not sell top tier manufacturers.  Rather they sell a company that is affiliated with a top tier manufacturer.  They are not the same.  Beware of flashy marketing, or sales people that mention the top tier name, not the actual manufacturer.  Their hearing aids cost less for a reason- the technology is less superior.

3.     A hearing aid (at any cost) is worthless if it is not programmed correctly.   A hearing aid is like a miniature computer that is programmed specifically to a patients hearing loss, previous amplification experience, age, and ear canal characteristics.  Part of the cost of hearing aids is the expertise of the person (audiologist or dispenser) setting your instruments.  I’ve recently “re-fit” several hearing aids purchased elsewhere because they were set or fit improperly.  Audiology Concepts uses state of the art verification equipment to ensure you have the hearing you paid for.

4.     Physician trusted professionals.  Physicians refer their patients, family, friends and themselves to Audiology Concepts!   They know we have all their patients’ best interest in mind.  Physicians do not refer their patients to bulk retail stores, period.

5.     Service.  Unfortunately many new hearing aid users don’t understand how important the service part of a hearing aid purchase is.   Its all the little things we do to go above and beyond.  At Audiology Concepts we do these things because we care, not because our corporate manager told us to.   Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.  Here’s just a few of the services we provide that you wont find in the large retail stores:  loaner hearing aids (for instruments in repair), a pay it forward program, trade in options, demo hearing aids and accessories, complimentary insurance coverage check and claim submissions.

In today’s market consumers are bombarded with so many buying decisions.  While its smart to “shop around” for the best deal, its also imperative that you understand what you are losing at a big box warehouse compared to a medical based audiology clinic like Audiology Concepts.

This was Used with Permission—Click Here For The Original Article

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Hearing Aids

"Austin Texas, Austin Hearing Services announces its concern for the possible confusion of consumers in the light of some recently released over the counter hearing aids. It is concerned that people may be misled, perhaps not intentionally, but because they are not completely familiar with the specialized field of personal electronics, such as hearing aids."

Several important points to consider:

1.” Digital hearing aids” are those in which the sound coming out is controlled by a microchip. Different hearing companies use different chips; some are faster, and more able to execute more commands (handle information) than others.

2. There are several different uses of the term "program" in play when talking about hearing aids. A "basic program" is the one in which the hearing aid tries to duplicate the shape, or requirements, of the hearing loss.

"Situational programs" are meant to handle different sound environments in which people find themselves. "Situational programs" and "basic programs" are similar, but differ in level of function. A "basic program" might work okay in a face-to-face situation in quiet, but may be impossible to hear through in a restaurant environment, for example.

And finally, "programming" is something performed by a licensed professional, using specialized equipment, to ensure that the potential hundreds of sounds and sound situations fit the exact needs of that person's pattern of hearing loss. Having a basic program is better than nothing, but won't help people when they want to go somewhere with groups of other people, and lack the other two meanings of "program" in their hearing aids.

3. First-tier hearing aid companies have spent time developing software and microchips that:
a. reduce back ground noise,
b. provide a boost for one speaker in a noisy background,
 c. change the settings of the hearing aid automatically when the sound background changes.

First tier hearing aids often have three-year damage warrantees on their products because their products hardly fail and need repair. They have three year loss warrantees because they are highly consumer-conscientious.

In addition the Better Hearing Institute is warning consumers of the inherent risks associated with purchasing over-the-counter, one-size-fits-all hearing aids instead of consulting a hearing healthcare professional. Hearing loss is sometimes the symptom of a serious underlying medical problem. All 50 states require that consumers use a credentialed hearing care professional to purchase hearing aids.

The Better Hearing Institute also points out that hearing devices that are purchased over-the-counter or Internet without the consultation of a hearing healthcare professional may result in the devices not being accurately customized to the specific hearing needs of the individual.

"Today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids should be programmed to the individual’s specific hearing loss requirements in order to provide good levels of benefit and customer satisfaction,” says Sergei Kochkin, BHI’s Executive Director. (Better Hearing Institute) “The process requires a complete in-person hearing assessment in a sound booth; the training and skills of a credentialed hearing healthcare professional in order to prescriptively fit the hearing aids using sophisticated computer programs; and appropriate in-person follow-up and counseling. This is not possible when consumers purchase one-size-fits-all hearing aids over the Internet or elsewhere.”

Extensive research shows that individualized hearing health assessments and fittings programmed specific to the needs of the hearing aid user provide the best chance for optimal hearing enhancement and customer satisfaction.

“The best advice BHI can give anyone purchasing a hearing aid is to find a state credentialed hearing healthcare professional and to communicate openly during the evaluation, fitting and trial period to increase the likelihood that you are receiving the best possible benefit from your hearing aids,” says Kochkin. “It will make a tremendous difference in your ability to hear and in your quality of life.”
BHI has published a comprehensive consumer guide entitled, “Your Guide to Buying Hearing Aids.” (See www.betterhearing.org under hearing loss treatment). The guidelines give confidence to first-time hearing aid buyers by providing a detailed, step-by-step explanation of what to expect, ask, and look for when selecting and visiting a hearing healthcare professional and purchasing a hearing aid.

BHI also has published, “Your Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids,” the first comprehensive guide on how people can obtain financial assistance to purchase hearing aids.
More about Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
The number of Americans with hearing loss has grown to more than 34 million—roughly 11 percent of the U.S. population. Over the past generation, hearing loss among Americans has increased at a rate of 160 percent of U.S. population growth and is one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today.

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk of personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

But the vast majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. In fact, eight out of ten hearing aid users report improvements in their quality of life, according to a survey by BHI of more than 2,000 consumers.

Advances in digital technology have dramatically improved hearing aids in recent years, making them smaller with better sound quality. Designs are modern, sleek, and discreet. Clarity, greater directionality, better speech audibility in a variety of environments, better cell phone compatibility, less whistling and feedback than hearing aids of the past, and greater ruggedness for active lifestyles are common features.

About BHI

Founded in 1973, BHI conducts research and engages in hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss benefit from proper treatment. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org.

About Austin Hearing Services

Austin Hearing Services was founded in 1999 by Margaret Hutchison. Dr. Hutchison has been an audiologist since 1983. She has done both clinical and research work.

Margaret was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Development and Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1996. She has a number of publications and presentations, including "Auditory Temporal Integration and the Power Function Model" in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (1990) and "Hearing-Impaired Theater-goers Experience Direct Sound Input" in Hearing Instruments (1993).

Listen in as a patient shares his experience with them.

Watch the video below to learn more.

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Listen in as a patient shares his experience having Widex hearing aids with Austin Hearing Services.

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