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April 8, 2005
New hearing aids cut through the noise
Many people who need hearing aids have given up on trying to find one that works, but you may want to give hearing aids another chance. New technology may be worth listening to.
Andrea Fetterman has heard the complaints from dissatisfied hearing aid users. She's a clinic audiologist.
"We have people come in and say I got these hearing aids. I hate the way they sound. I keep them in the drawer and I won't use them."
But Federman says digital hearing aids today automatically adjust their program settings to fit your situation.
The older, linear hearing aids would amplify all noise, including background noise, but that's all changed with digital.
Federman says digital hearing aids weed out much of the extraneous background noise.
"We have the ability to determine soft sounds, loud sounds, and what is speech and what is noise."
Laverne just switched to digital and loves the difference, especially for playing cards. "And of course, when we play bridge we have to hear our partners," she said.
Federman says hearing problems can make people feel withdrawn or depressed, and while no hearing aid is perfect she says digital can bring you closer than ever before.
By Kevin Rompa
Posted by 4HL on April 8, 2005 1:59 AM
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