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December 17, 2007
An Earful About Hearing
If your hearing isn't as good as it used to be, you may be thinking about getting a hearing aid.
Then again, there's a good chance you can't be bothered, even though you find yourself cranking up the volume on the TV set or asking a friend sitting next to you to speak up.
Hearing loss affects more than 28 million Americans. With baby boomers starting to turn 60 last year, that number is expected to nearly double by 2030, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. The likelihood of losing your hearing increases as you get older, with up to one in three people older than 65 having some kind of hearing loss, according to the association.
Although 95 percent of Americans with a hearing loss can be successfully treated with hearing aids, only 22 percent (or 6.35 million individuals) now use hearing aids.
More often than not, people put off getting a hearing aid after they first notice it's getting harder to hear, audiologist Leigh Kjeldsen said.
"People wait an average of seven years between knowing they have a problem with hearing and doing something about it," she said.Why the wait?
"People don't know about the process and don't know where to begin," Kjeldsen said.
The first step is to get your hearing tested by a professional. That's followed by more evaluations to help determine what type of hearing aid would best fit your needs. Once a hearing aid is selected, there is a fitting, which involves adjusting the device. Often, you must go back for further adjustments after the initial fitting.
While a hearing aid can improve your life by improving your ability to hear, they're not cheap. The cost of a quality analog hearing aid can range from $900 to $1,200, while a digital aid can range from $1,300 to $3,000, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site. And that's just for one.
Some people need two.
Digital hearing aids, which are programmed by a computer, allow for more flexibility and fine-tuning so they can be adjusted to hearing fluctuations of the user as well as different hearing environments.
Not only are hearing aids expensive, but Medicare won't pay for them. That means people have to either buy a hearing aid as an out-of-pocket expense or have supplemental Medicare or retiree insurance to help foot the bill. Some financial assistance programs to help people buy hearing aids may be available from nonprofit and government agencies.
Tips for buying a hearing aid
1. Read your sales contract carefully. Make sure you understand everything. Your signature on a contract is your commitment to fulfill the terms of that contract. Take someone with you to give you a second review of the contract.
2. Verify whether your hearing aid dispenser has a current and valid license.
3. A properly fitted hearing aid can amplify sound and enrich your life, but it cannot restore permanently lost hearing, prevent further hearing loss or cure dizzy spells.
4. If you see a hearing aid advertisement that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Apply good judgment when evaluating advertisements about hearing aids.
5. Before you complete your purchase, be certain your contract specifies the refund and warranty provisions.
6. Financial assistance may be available. If your dispenser is unable to direct you to a source of financial assistance, write or call your local United Way, the Department of Veterans Affairs or the state health department.
7. Keep in mind when it comes to a mail order or Internet purchase of a hearing aid, there is no selection, fitting or adapting of the hearing aid. It may be difficult to obtain a refund.
Source: California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau
Thinking of buying a hearing aid?
To find an audiologist near you, go to www.audiology.org.
More information is also available from the Hearing Loss Association of America. Go to www.hearingloss.org or call 301-657-2248. TTY number is 301-657-2249.
Go to www.mayoclinic.com and type in "hearing aids" in the search box.
Types of hearing aids
Basic analog
This conventional technology amplifies all sounds equally. Your audiologist sets the amplification level, though it can be adjusted later. Loud sounds might require you to manually turn down the volume on your hearing aid. Basic analog is the least expensive technology. Analog hearing aids are slowly being phased out.
Programmable analog
The programmability of this technology means that your audiologist can adjust these sounds to amplify sounds differently. Some of the programmable analog hearing aids have multiple settings. These aids are being replaced by more flexible digital instruments.
Digital
A computer chip converts the incoming sound into a digital code, then analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss and listening needs. The signals are converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. The result is sound that's more finely tuned to your hearing loss.
http://www.star-telegram.com/health/story/361862.html
Posted by 4HL on December 17, 2007 9:54 PM
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