 Generally, symptoms of tinnitus are fleeting, but some people do have symptoms that are so relentless that they can affect their sleep, which can lead to poor mood and difficulty with concentration.
Tinnitus is more of an annoyance than a life-threatening condition. It is the symptom of an underlying problem. Anyone who constantly experiences symptoms of tinnitus may find navigating life a little more challenging than someone who does not have it. Even though there’s no cure, there are ways to find relief. The Cause If you notice symptoms of tinnitus, contact a hearing healthcare provider immediately. The sooner you receive help, the easier it is to control symptoms. Narrowing down the underlying cause will help them determine your best treatment option. 1. White Noise Machines A silent space is the worst environment for anyone with tinnitus. Your brain must redirect its attention to other noise and force the tinnitus into the background. White noise machines or apps can help with this problem. A constant, low-frequency sound will muffle the tinnitus and teach your brain to disregard the noise. Air conditioners, air purifiers, or refrigerators can conveniently be used instead of a white noise machine. 2. Do Not use Ototoxic Medicines If you notice tinnitus after taking a new medication, the pills may be the culprit. Some prescriptions or over-the-counter medications are ototoxic, indicating they can harm your hearing abilities. 3. Treatment Options There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but training your brain to ignore it is possible. If this training, the white noise machines, or changing your medication does not work, find a specialist who focuses on tinnitus treatment. Hearing aids or apps that connect to your hearing aids can drown out tinnitus symptoms. Some hearing aids feature a white noise generator which must be programmed into the device by a hearing instrument specialist. Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms of tinnitus and hearing loss? Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Most people think medical ID bracelets are worn only by patients with health problems involving heart conditions, epilepsy, or other similar illnesses. But people with hearing loss can also benefit from wearing them if they have a medical emergency.
Medical ID Bracelets These are bracelets inscribed with your name, medical condition, the medications you take, and allergies you have. These are NOT the same as medical alert bracelets - wearable alert devices that notify emergency services during a critical medical situation. Instead, these medical ID bracelets are discreet and intended to provide crucial information regarding your health if you can’t communicate after an accident or emergency. Should People with Hearing Loss Wear Medical ID Bracelets? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends patients with hearing loss should don a medical ID bracelet. If you get into an accident and your hearing aids are damaged, have fallen off, or can’t speak/communicate, the medical ID bracelet would specify vital health information to first responders. Medical ID bracelets will help guarantee that patients receive proper care promptly. Please remember to keep your medical ID bracelet updated. Make sure your emergency contact and medication list are correct. Some ID bracelets have a QR code for medical providers to access the most recent information about a patient’s medications and allergies. A medical ID bracelet for patients with hearing loss lets first responders understand that you cannot easily communicate and prevent mistakes caused by miscommunication or a misdiagnosis. According to a study by Johns Hopkins, medical errors is the third most common cause of death in the U.S., following heart disease and cancer. Medical staff will also be able to assess whether you can get an MRI, CT scan, and X-rays if you wear hearing aids or cochlear implants. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss and believe hearing aids would be beneficial, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Rexton's CROS Hearing Solutions Hearing well is vital to a person’s overall health. Healthy hearing helps a person’s physical and mental health. The human ear is the most favorable and accurate area to track motion and oversee a person’s health.
Why are Ears the Optimal Area to Record Activeness? Your wrist has too many muscles and tendons that move around. The human ear is solely made of cartilage and is one of the most immobile areas of the body. Placing a sensor inside the ear canal makes the signal nearly 100 times clearer than the wrist. The ear creates a stable environment that correlates with your body’s movement. Your wrist can make other movements - not connected to the steps you made. It can lead to inaccurate calculations of steps you’ve taken and record them on your device that displays activity tracking. Hearing aids that feature AI can be found in all modern hearing aids. These devices let you monitor everything from physical activity to hearing activity. You can see graphs on your hearing and physical activity daily, monthly, or annually. If you’ve been holding out on getting new hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation to learn more about the options available for your specific listening needs.  The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that adults 70 years of age and older - with moderate or severe hearing loss had more than a 50 percent chance of mortality than those without hearing loss. Hearing loss itself is not proven to shorten lives. It’s the effects of hearing loss and a combination of factors, such as loneliness and isolation, which leads to dementia or Alzheimer’s that leads to higher death rates.
To get more information on hearing loss and whether hearing aids would benefit you if you have hearing problems, please contact one of our hearing instrument specialists from Pure Sound Hearing.  Do you engage in lip reading, cupping your ears and ensuring you sit close to the action? Do you nod your head in agreement and smile even when you can’t hear what others are saying? And do you laugh because others are laughing, just to mask your confusion? If you find yourself doing these things, you may have hearing loss. These are common coping strategies for someone on the fence about getting hearing aids.
Lip Reading coupled with Hearing Aids Relying on lip reading as a primary means of communication is a mistake. It can be challenging to follow along in a conversation this way. When paired with hearing aids, however, it can be a good coping strategy. Reading lips alone is exhausting and overloads your cognitive function. Making mistakes about what someone says is frustrating, but using hearing aids as your primary tool lets lip reading add a whole new dimension to the conversation, especially in noisy environments. Cupping Your Ears Does Not Work Trying to funnel sound into your ears by cupping them doesn’t work as well as wearing hearing aids. It’s a useless coping strategy unless you are in a loud environment or someone speaks very softly. As a result, you may miss vital spatial and speech cues important for understanding conversations. False nodding and Smiling Faking your way through a conversation only hurts you. Stick with a patient friend or family member who doesn't mind repeating things for you. It is better to ask again what someone is saying versus pretending to hear. Why? If you struggle to converse with loved ones, you will miss out on the fun if you don’t ask what’s happening. And, if you are at work, you could get fired for not doing assigned tasks you didn’t hear or for missing crucial points in a meeting. Pretending to understand a conversation only invites trouble. You deprive yourself of the meaning of these conversations and miss important information. Laughing to go along with Others Laughing to go along with others only makes things worse. If someone is insulted, and everyone laughs, you might not want to do the same. Also, the joy of conversing with others becomes absent because you can lose track of what was said. Authentic laughter is best; that is another reason hearing aids are the best coping strategy you can employ. Trying to cope without Hearing Aids can be Very Challenging There are some strategies commonly utilized by people with hearing loss. And where lip reading counts, it is only a secondary strategy at best. Enjoy your life, save your job, and be true to yourself--get hearing aids to have the best coping mechanisms possible. You will preserve your cognitive function, your life will be more enriched, and you will have less mental strain and stress. Contact one of our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test.  Life is full of ups and downs, and challenges are bound to occur. These challenges often lead to stress.
To anyone reading this blog, you are fully aware that hearing loss can cause stress. Whether you feel anxiety over engaging in a conversation in a loud and crowded area, experience listening fatigue, or have tinnitus, we’ve got some tips on how to deal with the stress of these problems. Simply receiving treatment for hearing loss can significantly lower your stress levels. Hearing better and having smoother interactions with others can be less stressful. Improving stress management skills can have a lasting effect on your overall health. We’re recognizing Stress Awareness Month by sharing how hearing loss treatment with hearing aids can help with your interactions, reconnections, and lower stress. 1. Wearing Hearing Aids can Reduce Social Anxiety and Withdrawal Connecting with others on a social level is a great way to relieve stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it helps to divert attention away from problems you may face while offering support and encouragement. Wearing hearing aids can make you feel more confident to talk to family and friends, participate in volunteer work within your community, or enjoy things like going to a movie theater and hearing live music again. 2. Tinnitus Relief Tinnitus can cause a lot of stress. Wearing hearing aids can help lower those stress levels. According to one study, 60 percent of patients felt small to significant alleviation from their tinnitus while donning hearing aids. The rest of the patients felt significant relief with their hearing aids. These devices can be programmed by your hearing instrument specialist to feature tinnitus relief, which may be accessed through a customized channel on your hearing aids. 3. Keeping Fit with Hearing Aids Being physically active has been a proven stress reliever. Your brain receives endorphins when focusing your attention away from daily problems to the movements in your body. Donning hearing aids helps with an active lifestyle (including light or intense exercises) by reducing the risks of tripping and/or falling. Hearing aids can help you be more aware of your environment with omnidirectional microphones programmed as an optional feature. These microphones will capture sound from every direction, but you can switch back to a directional microphone if you are in a situation where you want to focus on sounds that are coming from the angle in which you face. If you are biking, and want to be aware of sounds from all directions, use the omnidirectional feature. 4. Don’t miss out on a Joke Everyone knows that laughter is a huge stress reliever. The Mayo Clinic has found that laughing decreases your mental load while starting up and lowering your stress response. Stream a comedy through your hearing aids or hang out with your funniest friends. It’ll make you feel much better and you’ll have a fun time. Work on managing your stress this month, so that you can set yourself up for managing it better from now on. If necessary, get help from hearing aids by scheduling an appointment with one of our providers from Pure Sound Hearing in Elizabethtown, Lititz, or Strasburg.  Connecting with others is crucial in every kind of relationship from romantic ones, to your family members, co-workers, friends, and ordinary people who help you throughout your day.
Good communication requires listening, which is key to understanding. You can’t be close to someone unless you can properly communicate with them. Getting help from an actual hearing instrument specialist is important. It saves you time and money compared to purchasing a cheap hearing device online or over-the-counter. Hearing aid professionals are highly trained and skilled to listen to patients and understand the problems that they encounter on a daily basis, versus a salesperson online or over-the-counter. The Difference Between Hearing Instrument Specialists and Online/Over-the-counter 1. Hearing instrument specialists will listen to you in order to understand the obstacles you face each day. Your hearing aids will be programmed and fitted based on your individual needs. 2. Online and over-the-counter providers simply “listen to respond” so that they can make a sale. Do Not Waste Your Time, Energy, and Money on Someone who does not Listen to Your Hearing Needs Do yourself a favor by getting advice and feedback from an expert in the field, who will work with you at your initial consultation, during your trial period, and provide aftercare services once you’ve settled in with your new hearing aids. An actual person who tirelessly works to understand and help you with your hearing situation will not only help you create better connections and communication skills but they will also be available whenever you have questions or concerns about your devices. To schedule an appointment with one of our hearing instrument specialists, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing.  When it comes to failing vision, people usually seek help immediately, but that’s not always the case with hearing loss. The average person waits nearly 7-10 years to seek help. Hearing loss is gradual in many cases, but evidence points to many adverse effects on a person’s physical and mental health. If you get treatment for hearing loss, you eliminate at least 12 negative consequences to your life. Think about that. Is it worth it?
12 Reasons Why You Should Address Hearing Loss 1. It may cause impaired memory, cognitive decline, and risks of dementia/ Alzheimer’s. 2. Safety can be a concern, for example the inability to hear oncoming traffic or potential danger approaching. 3. Income disparity may occur due to making more mistakes at work. 4. You might miss a connection with someone. 5. It causes social isolation, which can lead to depression. 6. You won't be able to hear someone call for help. 7. You'll miss a child's first words. 8. People with unaddressed hearing loss tend to have a lower quality of life. 9. There's an increase in anxiety because you'll be less aware of your surroundings. 10. There is a greater chance of falling due to balance issues related to hearing loss. 11. Missing out and forgetting what nature sounds like. 12. You may be misjudged or miss-characterized based on what you thought was stated and what was actually stated. Don’t let hearing loss progress. Improve the quality of your life by scheduling an appointment with Pure Sound Hearing.  When provided with a pair of hearing aids, your hearing instrument specialist will program the device based on your hearing test results. You should also receive a tutorial about caring for your hearing aids.
You may notice some changes with your hearing aids, including a difference in snugness/comfort, volume levels, feedback noise (high-pitched squealing noises), or some other issues that have come up. It’s a common occurrence within the first few months for anyone who tries new hearing aids. A few short visits with your hearing instrument specialist will get you back on the right track when adjusting to your hearing aids. Home Care for Your Hearing Aids All technology, whether dealing with hearing aids or any electronic device - like your phone, needs appropriate care. Regular cleanings with a soft cloth can keep your hearing aids clear from debris. Check the power levels on the batteries or make sure they are fully charged for the next day. If they come in contact with any moisture, store them in a dryer box container. You can also submerge them in a container of uncooked rice to draw out the moisture. Our specialists at Pure Sound recommend receiving a thorough cleaning from one of our professionals once every six months. When Should You Get Your Hearing Aids Adjusted? You should schedule an appointment with your hearing instrument specialist at least two times each year. Schedule a check-up if your hearing aids don’t fit comfortably or you can’t hear clearly from them. If you experience any of the following problems, come and see one of our hearing aid specialists:
The Hearing Aid Adjustments It’s common to have fluctuations in hearing so eventually, your hearing aids will require reprogramming. Why Reprogramming is Needed
Your hearing aid provider can make adjustments to your hearing aid settings that include blocking out background noise, frequency settings, and volume settings. If your provider believes your hearing has changed, an additional hearing test may be conducted. Your test results will help determine your optimal hearing aid settings. The material from your custom ear molds can become worn and weathered, leading to an uncomfortable fit. Your hearing instrument specialist can create new molds or tailor the current ones to fit better. If you need a hearing test, a re-test, and customized or standard hearing aids, contact Pure Sound Hearing.  Everyone’s ears produce earwax - some more than others. It’s normal and healthy. The purpose of earwax is to protect your ears from bacteria, dirt, and dust particles from getting deeper into the ear canal, which may cause an infection. It moves these particles to the outer part of the ear so you can gently clean it off with a warm, damp cloth. Too much earwax buildup can become a problem, especially while wearing hearing aids.
The buildup of earwax can lead to damaged hearing aids. Loud feedback noises, muffled/poor sound quality, an uncomfortable fit, and worsened hearing may also occur. Contact your hearing instrument specialist for professional and thorough cleanings so that you can remove earwax buildup. Your hearing aid provider should have reviewed how to handle light, daily cleanings, and general maintenance practices with you during the initial hearing aid trial period. How can Hearing Aids lead to Earwax Problems? Earwax tends to build up more for hearing aid users. The devices are more likely to cause the cerumen glands located in the ears to become stimulated and create more earwax. Sometimes, hearing aids can prevent the wax from instinctively clearing itself out of the ears. A hearing healthcare provider can discuss regular cleanings with you if you frequently experience earwax buildup. Regular cleanings can lower the chances of buildup, ear infections, and additional hearing loss while keeping your hearing aids functioning. How can Earwax lead to Hearing Aid Problems? If you experience too much earwax build-up in your ears, and it doesn’t clear out on its own, your hearing aids can become damaged. The wax can obstruct sounds, making them harder to hear. The hearing aid receiver (the piece that goes in the ear canal) can become clogged. Sounds from the microphone won’t be able to transfer through. This ricochet’s the sound waves back, which creates feedback noise - the high-pitched sounds that can be painful to hear. When the vents and receivers become blocked with earwax, the hearing aids won’t be helpful. Any moisture from the earwax can also harm the hearing aid and cause battery erosion, leading to severe defects in hearing aids. Preserve Your Hearing Aids with Cleanings Nearly 60-70% of hearing aids that need professional repairs are due to damage caused by earwax buildup or other natural materials. Simply cleaning them on your own or getting a professional cleaning can save you the hassle of regularly dealing with glitches, problems, and repairs. Your hearing instrument specialist will help you select the proper cleaning kit for your hearing aids if necessary. Tools such as dry cloths, professional strength cleaning wipes, wax picks, tube and vent cleaners, and brushes will be available. Clean your hearing aids using a soft, dry cloth to wipe them down. You should be able to see most of the wax on the devices. If your hearing aids have a wax guard or filter, check and change them out regularly if dirty. The sound bore (the tip where sound releases from the hearing aid) can become obstructed with earwax or debris. Use a cleaning tool with a brush or loop to remove any debris. Hearing aid tubing can also become obstructed. Use a wax loop or air blower to extricate earwax or other debris. We’ve mentioned earlier that earwax can build up and cause too much moisture to accumulate on the hearing aids. Moisture can harm your hearing aids and lead to a corrosive battery. If this happens, inform your hearing instrument specialist and ask about a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier. What is the Proper way to Clean Your Ears? If you need to clean out the earwax in your ears, you need to be careful. Depending on how much earwax you produce and how thick the wax is, cleaning your ears out with cotton swabs or any other small object may push the earwax deeper into the ears. It can cause a blockage which can restrict your ability to hear. Do not engage in ear candling. It's best to use a warm wet cloth to wipe off earwax that naturally releases from the ear. You may also gently wipe your ears with warm water during a shower or a bath. If you need a professional cleaning for your hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing.  Back in 2018, a test group of elderly adults who reportedly experienced severe hearing loss participated in a study by a team of researchers from the University of Michigan. Some participants treated their hearing loss by wearing hearing aids, and others did not.
The team knew that hearing aids were an important investment and wanted to figure out whether the cost of hearing aids negated fewer visits to the hospital and additional healthcare expenses. Not only did they discover that hearing aid users were less likely to make a hospital or emergency room visit the year before taking the survey, but those who wore hearing aids were also less prone to experience other chronic ailments like diabetes or high blood pressure. Although the study did not delve deeper into the reason why non-hearing aid users reportedly had more cases of diabetes and high blood pressure, it’s hypothesized that hearing aids allow users to have a more physically and mentally active lifestyle. This is another great reason why seeking treatment for hearing loss sooner is always beneficial. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  If you’re a hearing aid user, you know the benefits that these devices can have in various situations. Depending on your range and type of hearing loss, it can still be challenging to hear people over the phone, while watching a movie/TV show, or with people at a restaurant. If you have normal hearing abilities, you may need help to communicate better with friends and family who have difficulty with hearing.
If you use a captioned phone, that’s great for calls made at home. A caption app is helpful if you’re away from home and use a smartphone. Here’s a list of some captioning service apps you can check out. Many of them transcribe phone calls and live conversations into text. Android and Apple iOS Apps Ava Your smartphone’s microphone for the captioning service picks up speech and transcribes it into text on your phone. A strong wifi connection is necessary for this app to work and pair with Bluetooth® devices. Users may share a QR code with others to add them to the conversation. Ava has text-to-speech features via keyboard. You can save conversations through this app to share or view them later. Ava is also available on the desktop for both Macs and PCs. Ava is accessible with Android and Apple iOS. CaptionMate CaptionMate is a free app that immediately transcribes the conversation between people speaking on a phone call. Users can add this app to a smartphone, computer, tablet, or landline. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) pays for the real-time captioning service if you have hearing loss. You are required to register and self-certify your hearing loss. This app transcribes captions in more than 100 languages in real-time. Conversations are saved and can be accessed later. CaptionMate is available for Android and Apple iOS. ClearCaptions Mobile ClearCaptions Mobile provides real-time captioning. It is FCC-certified, which allows the service to be available via a federally-funded program for qualified people with hearing loss. They offer a free account with a personal ClearCaptions voice phone number used for captioned calls. ClearCaptions Mobile is only available for Apple iOS. InnoCaption The InnoCaption app is a free captioning service funded by the FCC. Anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing can receive real-time captioning on their smartphone. The app was developed in partnership with live stenographers so that users can receive quick and accurate captions. Users are required to register and self-certify that they have hearing loss. InnoCaption applies to Android and Apple iOS. Rogervoice Rogervoice can transcribe live conversations in more than 80 languages. After making a call, the speech instantly displays in the text on the screen. All you need to do is reply by speaking or texting. Captions can show up for incoming calls. Rogervoice is Android and Apple iOS-friendly. Hamilton CapTel This mobile app is free and made for people who have difficulty hearing over the phone and want to listen to conversations while they read word-for-word captions. In addition to creating an account through Hamilton CapTel, users need a voice, data plan, and a Bluetooth or a wired headset that works with hearing aids. Hamilton CapTel is only available for Apple iOS. Hearing Helper - Live Captions Hearing Helper uses Siri through Apple to translate speech to text for anyone who wants/needs to communicate with someone hard of hearing (HOH), Deaf, or uses ESL (English as a Second Language). Users must press and hold the mic to record speech and have the ability to correct any words and make the text larger. Hearing Helper can only be used with Apple iOS. These apps can be beneficial in certain situations where you have difficulty hearing. It should NOT be a substitute for getting hearing aids if you need them. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, or both, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Rechargeable Rexton behind-the-ear hearing aid. We’re a few months into the new year. What new things should you expect when it comes to your hearing health?
1. Rechargeable Hearing Aids The great thing about rechargeable hearing aid batteries is:
More and more hearing aid manufacturers are making rechargeable options more widely available. Eventually, this will become the norm. 2. Noise-induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Young people in their pre-teens to mid-30s are beginning to lose their hearing. This demographic tends to engage in risky activities like turning up music/podcasts/videos too loud on their personal media players or going to loud clubs, bars, sports arenas, and concerts. Noise levels in these areas surpass the safe level of 70-85 decibels (dB) - depending on your personal hearing sensitivities. The only preventable type of hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). If you need others who are close by to shout for you to hear them, that means your environment is too loud. Here are some easy tips to follow so you can safeguard your hearing:
Keep up with your annual hearing tests. The sooner you notice any hearing loss and get tested, the quicker you can receive appropriate treatment options to preserve the hearing that you still have. 3. Connect Hearing Aids to Other Devices All modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth®, so connecting your TV, music, phone calls, or podcasts straight to your hearing aids is more convenient. Hearing aids act like Bluetooth® earbuds allowing you to listen to any media wirelessly. You can download compatible apps and control your hearing aids directly from your smartphone or tablet. 4. Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) When you log onto Netflix or Hulu, there will be a list of suggested movies or TV shows based on your previous viewing preferences. The thermostat in your house can set a comfortable temperature without manual assistance. Your smartphone auto-suggests words when you text someone. A subset of A.I. is machine learning, and it’s become part of everyday life. A.I. is becoming more useful with hearing aids by making things simple and more convenient. Some hearing aids can track a user’s brain and body health, detect if a user falls, translates other languages, and creates auto-captions in real-time. If you are experiencing hearing loss and need new hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Whether you are a new or long-time hearing aid user, you have probably had some concerns or personal experiences with device damage. Depending on how extensive the damage is to these digital devices with intricate electronics, getting them repaired or replaced can be costly. Proper cleaning and maintenance can prevent you from needing serious repairs and replacements.
Careful and Thorough Cleanings If you wear your hearing aids for the entire day, they need proper maintenance. When you’re ready to wind down for the day and go to bed, clean them out using a soft, dry cloth and a loop pick/brush. These tools should be provided to you after purchasing your hearing aids. If you are missing these tools, go to your hearing aid provider’s office to get them replaced. At Pure Sound, we recommend scheduling a cleaning with our office every six months, or less if you need a professional cleaning. You can check if there is any damage to the hearing aids. If your ears are full of wax, gently wipe off the ears with a warm washcloth or clean them with warm water while showering to remove excess dirt and wax. Do NOT clean your ears by inserting anything small, like a cotton swab or a hairpin, into your canals. Inserting a cotton swab into your ears can cause earwax to get pushed further into the ear canals, leading to impacted earwax. A hairpin or anything of that size may puncture your eardrum, leading to further hearing loss and damage. Do Not Drop Your Hearing Aids Dropping your hearing aids, especially on a hard surface, can damage the devices. Depending on the impact of the fall, they may be irreparable. In most cases, if your hearing aids fall to the ground, you might need to get them repaired by your hearing aid provider, or they will send them out to the manufacturer for repairs. To avoid these problems, when you remove your hearing aids, sit down and place a towel down as a safety net in case they fall. Remove Your Hearing Aids before Going to Bed Even if your hearing aids are properly fitted or customized for your ears, they may still fall out when tossing and turning at night or as you rest your head against them. Prevent possible damage or losing your hearing aids by removing them and keeping them in a storage box. If you wear rechargeable hearing aids, you should place the hearing aids in a rechargeable device for storage and to recharge them for the following day. Remove Your Hearing Aids when You’re Near or Go into a Body of Water. Hearing aids are water resistant but not waterproof. The devices should work fine if you experience perspiration or briefly get caught in the rain. If you go swimming or shower/bathe, the devices should be removed and placed in a dry space. Hearing aids are becoming more intricate, with novel features and ways to adjust them in any circumstance or environment. It’s important to understand that even with these advancements, proper care and maintenance will always be crucial to prevent repairs and replacements. If you need professional cleaning or repairs done to your hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for an appointment.  There are three things you can do with old hearing aids:
Donating them is the best thing you can do with them. The donated devices are repaired and reconditioned to give to someone who cannot afford hearing aids. Be instrumental in doing something nice for someone else. It can make a huge difference for one person. If you need help with donating your old hearing aids or for information on new hearing aid technology, contact one of our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.  Pure Sound Hearing's Elizabethtown office at Sycamore Square in Masonic Village. Hearing is a crucial sense to moderate and care for throughout your lifetime. When searching for hearing aids, finding the right style, fit, and programmed settings to accommodate your lifestyle and listening needs should be your priority. Hearing aids are an investment, so finding the right provider to guide you through your new hearing journey is also a factor to examine.
Hearing Aids are Medical Devices Hearing aids are medical devices that you wear on your ears. Precise and proper tuning for your specific listening needs is necessary to get the most out of your devices. You will need to take multiple trips to your hearing instrument specialist as you adapt to the hearing aids. Your specialist is responsible for finely tuning the hearing aids so you can hear at optimal levels in any environment. Making sure that the hearing aids fit securely and comfortably should be a priority. Our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing are experts in the field who keep up with their training. Quality Service Exceptional services are one of the essential qualities to think about when selecting a hearing aid provider. Pure Sound ensures quality service. Our specialists will patiently work with you to provide everything from routine cleanings to any mishaps you may encounter with your hearing aids. Usually, hearing aids from big box stores cannot be taken for services at your local hearing aid stores, but at Pure Sound, we offer to service any hearing aids, no matter where you purchased them. Besides the hearing test and consultation, there will be a fee for any other services we provide. Invest in Your Hearing Hearing aids are an investment, so don’t let prices shy you away from taking care of your hearing health. At Pure Sound, we offer quality hearing aids, quality service, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Find out which insurance providers we accept. Contact us for a complimentary hearing test and consultation!  Consider this scenario: Getting a television should be easy. Buying it isn’t hard, but understanding how to operate or program it may be daunting at best.
Having a secure internet connection for your streaming apps and updating the firmware to improve your TV's performance are some things to consider. In short, modern TVs come with their complexities. In contrast, despite experts talking about hearing aids with noise management algorithms featuring automated technology that adapts to your environment with range and advanced customization, they will assure you that using these devices will be easy. User-Friendly Hearing Aids With new technology, hearing aids are easier to use than ever before. Bluetooth® hearing aids will do all of the work. They adjust to listening environments automatically or through a simple command on an app. Here are four things to think about before getting your hearing aids:
The challenging part of receiving hearing aids is taking time to adapt to all of the sounds you may not have heard in years. It can be overwhelming! Simplicity is the key to hearing aids. There is little fuss in using them, unlike with TVs. If you are experiencing issues with your hearing aids, just contact Pure Sound Hearing for help. If you notice any hearing loss and believe hearing aids can be a solution, contact us for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.  Is it time for you to get better hearing aids? Do you need an upgrade? If you’ve been thinking about it, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing to get a free hearing aid trial.
Hearing aids with clarity and quality performance is now better than ever. Audibility and speech understanding, as well as a comfortable fit, can also be addressed. The technology is so good you can even understand the subtle tone of someone’s voice. But there may be other reasons why you need to change your hearing aids. Your hearing ability may have changed--it may have gotten worse. Or, you may have had a change in lifestyle, such as in your work, where you need to be involved in conference calls or team projects. Maybe you are enjoying retirement or attend more appointments for your health and need to hear important information? Wireless technology addresses various listening needs using automated programming for different settings. They’ll even reprogram on their own for specific environments you frequent, for example, offices, restaurants, or entertainment venues. Schedule a complimentary hearing test and consultation with one of our hearing aid providers by getting in touch with us at Pure Sound Hearing.  A 2012 New York Times article stated that loneliness is harmful at any age. It tends to hurt older adults more because it can lead to early death or loss of physical functioning, like bathing, getting up, dressing, and eating. The article outlined a six-year study on people aged 60 and older. Seniors who weren’t lonely were more likely to live longer than the ones who were.
What is the link between Hearing Loss and Loneliness? Because humans are social creatures, it is not hard to see why loneliness affects your health negatively. With hearing loss, people often withdraw from social interaction out of frustration with the inability to keep up with conversations. But since loneliness is subjective (like living alone and feeling okay about it) and is not the same as social isolation, which is objective (you either maintain social interactions or you don’t), you have to look at the objective side. You can surround yourself with people and still feel lonely. But one often leads to the other--social isolation often leads to loneliness. Hearing aids as a buffer against Loneliness. A 2016 study found hearing aids are a buffer against loneliness because it improves relationships. It’s easier to communicate with others. There’s less frustration and more confidence. Hearing exercises your brain, reducing or slowing down the onset of dementia. There were positive effects on physical and mental health. If you are having trouble hearing and feel lonely, hearing aids could help. Please contact one of our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing.  Tinnitus affects each patient differently. Just like hearing aids, some treatments that work for one person won't work for others. You should get a hearing test from a licensed professional before exploring treatment options.
If the tinnitus is caused by an underlying condition, treating that problem could relieve symptoms. Usually, tinnitus is managed through different therapies. Here are some common treatments: Sound Therapy This is a simple treatment where those who experience tinnitus can listen to sounds in order to refocus the brain from the tinnitus noise to the sounds that are heard through an app, white noise machine, or everyday appliances that are found in the home or workspace like air conditioners. Specialized sound therapy equipment can be used to train and distract your brain from hearing the ringing noises. A tinnitus assessment must be performed in order to identify the frequency and volume of your symptoms. Programmed Hearing Aids Hearing aids can be programmed to treat tinnitus symptoms. Hearing instrument specialists can program comforting sounds that match the range of frequencies that the patient experiences, in order to mask the distracting ringing noises. Hearing aids can also be programmed to help those who have both tinnitus and hearing loss. If you or a loved one are experiencing tinnitus and/or hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation with one of our hearing instrument specialists.  When looking for tinnitus features in hearing aids, sound amplification should be the primary step to help with your selection.
1. Amplification Hearing aids can make speech sounds clearer through amplification. That is the most crucial feature you should have for your hearing devices. It can help mask the noises from tinnitus. 2. Receiver-in-canal (RIC) style The next most important feature of hearing aids with tinnitus masking is the device’s style. One option is the “receiver-in-canal.” It’s the best hearing aid style for anyone with tinnitus. Most people with tinnitus also experience high-pitched hearing loss. It indicates that trouble with clarity of speech progressively worsened. This device features a small wire connected to a dome or earpiece placed inside your ear and a piece that rests behind your ear. The receiver with rubber-tipped vents is inserted inside the ear canal. The vents provide a more natural sound. Please be patient, as it will take some time to acclimate yourself to how different noises are heard, but your brain will eventually adjust. It is important to note that your voice will sound different than what you are used to. If you have high-pitched hearing loss, the RIC style would work best for that type of loss. If you prefer something discreet, the RIC style has a thin wire that goes up along the side of the head and is attached to the hearing aid which rests behind the ear. It still has some visibility, but not as much visibility as other styles. 3. Volume Settings Volume control is the third most important feature of hearing aids. This feature controls the sound levels of your surroundings with your hearing aids, along with masking noises that cover up the sound of your tinnitus. You can hear speech sounds better. Your brain needs to be aware of the tinnitus sound to make it seem less threatening. This is necessary for the initial months and years of managing tinnitus. Being able to adjust the sounds for when the tinnitus symptoms change is also essential. The volume doesn’t need to change in their hearing aids or environment. Instead, they need to make the soothing sounds streaming in their ears louder. 4. Resonant Sound Environment using Sounds that Soothe Another vital feature of hearing aids is streaming sound therapy. “Soothing sounds” indicate sounds that can be played directly through devices or your smartphone. Users can experience sounds that comfort, soothe, and relax so that the tinnitus isn’t as noticeable. Sound therapy should be used every day to make tinnitus more manageable. These soothing sounds can range from ocean sounds to white noise. 5. A Strong Battery Life The fifth crucial feature of hearing aids is their battery life. Accessibility at the touch of a button is helpful when those tinnitus spikes sneak up on you, or you wind up in a space that’s too quiet. The hearing aids use Bluetooth, so strong battery life is important. Carry around an extra pair of batteries, or make sure your hearing aids are fully charged if they are rechargeable. Some rechargeable hearing aids can last up to 15+ hours on a single charge. You may get hearing aids with disposable or recyclable batteries. It’s convenient if you don’t have an outlet to recharge. Simply remove the batteries from the packaging, remove the tab, and immediately insert them into the hearing aids. As soon as the battery tab is removed, the hearing aid life will begin to drain. 6. Great Bluetooth Connectivity Having a good connection to Bluetooth lets hearing aids easily stream sounds from your smartphone or other Bluetooth-supported devices. You can use it to listen to sound therapy apps, podcasts, music, and any other form of media. You can connect to iTunes, YouTube, or Spotify, and choose a sound that relieves your tinnitus. As long as there’s battery life, you’ll be able to stream these sounds. If you have tinnitus contact Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing aid trial. Our hearing instrument specialists will guide you and help you figure out what works best for you.  Daily hearing aid cleanings that are performed by you will help you get the most out of them, and expand their lifespan. Follow these steps for proper maintenance.
Before You Clean Your Hearing Aids We recommend that you lightly clean your hearing aids each day. A more thorough cleaning should be done by a professional every 6 months. Here are some simple tips:
Cleaning Tools for Your Hearing Aids
Steps for How to Clean BTE Hearing Aids
Get a Professional Cleaning from Pure Sound Hearing As mentioned earlier, take your hearing aids to get professionally cleaned every six months, or sooner if your hearing aids are looking too unkept, or not functioning properly. Our professionals at Pure Sound have special tools and expertise to remove wax and other debris from difficult-to-reach areas. We can also replace your wax filters, hearing aid domes, and other parts that are worn or dirty. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.  Just like a new pair of shoes on your feet, a “break-in” period is necessary for hearing aids. They might initially feel snug but should not feel painful after wearing them for a while. You need to adapt and it takes time to get used to the sound and feel of the hearing aids. Be sure to take breaks each day. After the first week, the hearing aids should be comfortable and unnoticeable to you. But if your ears feel irritated from the hearing aids, get in touch with your hearing instrument specialist for adjustments. There are three questions you can ask yourself:
Do you need to reinsert your hearing aids? Ask yourself if you need to reinsert your hearing aids. Before leaving your hearing instrument specialist’s office, there’s no doubt that you’ve practiced inserting your hearing aids with their guidance. Depending on the model and style you get, there is usually a specific way to insert them. Your hearing aid provider will address this before you leave. Also, you need to insert the hearing aids completely, even if they feel snug, so you don’t feel discomfort. Attempting to alleviate the snug feeling by partially inserting them will not benefit your hearing. Are your hearing aids ill-fitting? Ask yourself if there’s an area on your ear that is uncomfortably rubbing against the hearing aids. Contact your hearing instrument specialist if you notice this type of problem. Perhaps your hearing aids need to be remolded, or the dome needs to be a different size. Impressions may need to be retaken and sent to the manufacturer to create a new mold. Are allergies the culprit? Ask yourself if you are experiencing an allergic reaction. Certain earmold materials, like silicone, may be irritating. Perhaps the chemicals used to clean and disinfect the hearing aids irritated your ears. See your hearing instrument specialist if you suspect these might be a reaction to your hearing aids. You won’t be sorry for investing in hearing aids. They will highly benefit your life by increasing your health and social life. With some practice, patience, and support, you will love your hearing aids in no time. For help with answering your questions about hearing aids, please contact our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound Hearing.  If you notice that your hearing aids are not functioning correctly, you might be able to fix the problem yourself. Here are some tips before you contact your hearing instrument specialist.
Do your hearing aids sound weak or are they dead? First, you should check your batteries. Replace your current batteries with a fresh pair, or place them in the charger if they are rechargeable hearing aids. Please note that your hearing aid batteries drain quickly when you stream calls or audio from your phone. Usually, hearing aids sound weak or dead because there’s too much wax or debris build-up. If your hearing aids feature wax guards, replace them with new ones. Your hearing aid provider should have given you cleaning tools (a brush or loop pick), to clean the microphone and receiver. Have your hearing aids come in contact with water? Moisture can collect in the tubing of a behind-the-ear style hearing aid or in the casing where the electrical parts are stored. If your hearing aids get wet from water or sweat, place them in a dehumidifier, drying kit, or even a bowl of dry, uncooked rice. This will help soak out the moisture from your hearing aids. Do you hear whistling or feedback noises? Be sure that the hearing aid is correctly inserted in your ear canal. If feedback noises are still occurring, there may be wax or debris obstructing the hearing aid microphones or your ear canals. In addition to daily cleanings, professional hearing aid cleanings should be done every six months. Another reason for the noises may be an improper hearing aid fitting. If that’s the case, contact your hearing instrument specialist so that adjustments can be made. Are your hearing aids sliding out of your ears? Your hearing aid may slip out of your ears because of moisture buildup in your ear canal. The devices may also shift position when you chew or talk. Hearing aids that feature domes may need a different dome size. A retention wire might need to be added by your hearing instrument specialist. Do your hearing aids feel uncomfortable or painful in your ears? Make sure your hearing aids are properly placed in your ear canals. You should also see if there’s wax buildup in the ear canals. If your hearing aids still feel uncomfortable, the hearing aid dome might need to be a different size, or the customized earpiece may need to be remade to fit better. What should you do next? If your hearing aids are still not working, drop off your hearing aids with your hearing aid provider. The devices may be reprogrammed or repaired in their office. It may also be shipped to the manufacturer for more technical repairs that cannot be done in the office. If your hearing aid is not fitting properly, you might need to get a new ear mold impression from your hearing instrument specialist. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing if you are experiencing any problems with your hearing aids, or need new hearing aids.  When you have hearing loss and don’t have hearing aids, the inability to hear clearly can make you feel depressed and isolated from others. When it is hard to hear, it is hard to comfortably participate in one conversation, let alone in group conversations and activities.
Hearing aids ease the stress of struggling to listen. Communicating with others can still be challenging while wearing hearing aids, but not as strenuous as before using hearing aids. You may still need others to face you when they speak, and only one person should speak at a time while making sure you are paying attention to them. Hearing aids feature directional and omnidirectional microphones. Directional microphones pick up sounds from an assigned direction, usually from those facing you. Omnidirectional microphones pick up sounds that occur from any direction. Programmable Hearing Aids A hearing instrument specialist can program your hearing aids, and you can select appropriate settings for different situations. For example, let’s say you are talking to some people in a crowded environment. Maybe you only need to focus on a conversation with those people while blocking out background noises. Your hearing instrument specialist can program a setting through an app on your smartphone. All you need to do is open the app to access it. You can also use speech-to-text apps to help facilitate conversations. If you are driving or biking in a busy area, you can place your hearing aids in an omnidirectional setting, which lets you hear in all directions to be more aware of your surroundings. For a complimentary hearing test and hearing aid trial, contact us for a consultation with a hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing. |
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