As a hearing professional, we often have patients that simply cannot understand speech, even with state of the art hearing aids.  People with normal hearing can also have problems understanding speech.

A recent study helps explain this problem. Researchers from the University of Maryland wanted to learn why older adults often have difficulty following speech while in a situation with background noise.  For this study, they used two groups of people with normal hearing.  One group was around 22 years old and the other was around 65.  Both groups were given speech comprehension tests both in quiet and in noise much like a restaurant.    Tests measuring both mid-brain and cortical activity were also performed.  Through these tests, it was found that it was more difficult for the older people to process speech compared to the younger adults, whether there was background noise present or not. When measuring mid-brain and cortical activity neural deficits were found in the older study group.  It was concluded that the human brain’s ability to process and understand speech declines as we age. One’s speech understanding appears to be unrelated to hearing loss and can occur even when the person has completely normal hearing.

The University of Wisconsin in Madison has been studying a group of people from Beaver Dam. This study known as the Beaver Dam Offspring Study has 2783 participants.  Of those, 686 participants had normal hearing. Despite having normal hearing, 12% of them reported that they were having hearing difficulties.

Unfortunately, the decline in understanding speech is normal as brain function erodes through the aging process. When one cannot understand speech with normal hearing, turning up the volume or raising your voice will not help. It is more important to speak slower, and clearer, while looking at the person so they can consciously or unconsciously read lips.  Closed captioning on the television and telephones with captions will help as well.  Since background noise seems to be a big problem with understanding, try to keep family gatherings quieter than normal and choose quiet restaurants if you go out to eat.  Turn off any extra fans while trying to converse—this will allow for better focus on the spoken word.

As one’s speech understanding declines, it can lead to sadness, depression, and social isolation.  If you are having understanding problems, have your hearing evaluated by your local hearing professional.   Speech tests can be performed to see how well you understand speech in both quiet and in noise.   If you have a hearing loss, hearing aids may be recommended.  If so it will be important for you to get hearing aids that can filter out background noise and as well as speech babble. Hearing aids with wireless connectivity can also put the speech from the TV, the Cell-Phone, and mini-microphones right into your ear—putting the speech in front of the noise. These types of hearing aid features will give you the best chance of understanding in noise.

For your FREE hearing screening, consultation, and demonstration Call Welsch Hearing Aid Company at 920-395-3501 today!

Information for this article came from http://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52709-New-study-shows-why-older-adults-often-struggle-to-understand-speech

By Susan L Fenrich, BC-HIS

Sometimes it is hard to think of what to buy your parents and grandparents for Christmas since they have everything already.    Do they have hearing loss?  Do they wear hearing aids?   If so I have some good ideas for gifts for those with hearing loss.

Christmas gifts for those with hearing loss

For the person who wears hearing aids there are many gift ideas in a variety of price ranges.  Here are some suggestions:   hearing aid batteries, wax guards, cleaning tools, Audio Wipes—to safely disinfect hearing aids, neck loops to use with none wireless hearing aids to connect to media devices wirelessly or with wires, wireless accessories that work with their wireless hearing aids such as a mini-microphone, a TV listening device or a remote control, electronic hearing aid dryers, and gift certificates for hearing aid cleaning and service from your favorite local hearing care provider.

If your loved one has hearing loss but does not yet wear hearing aids or refuses to do so, there are several products that can help him/her hear better for certain things.  Keep your loved one safe with an Alerting System that alerts one when the phone and doorbells ring, someone walks into the house, and when a smoke alarm is sounding.   A person with hearing loss cannot hear the smoke alarm, especially when they are sleeping.  A system that shakes him/her awake would be best to assure their safety.   If your loved one can’t hear the alarm clock in the morning—one with a shaker and an extremely loud ring would get them up on time.   If one can’t hear on the phone, there are many styles of amplified telephones available—there is even funding to help pay for them through the TEPP (Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program).   Answering machines that are amplified and slow down the messages are very helpful too.

For the person who turns the TV too loud, TV listening devices come in a variety of styles and price points.   Special speakers, like HyperSound™, can point the sound directly to the person with hearing loss so they can hear it much clearer and louder than others in the same room.  You can even get a device that picks up the vibration of a cell phone and alerts you that it is ringing.  These are only a few examples of the products available today.

Don’t let this Christmas be just another “Silent Night” Give the Gift of Hearing!

Rechargeable hearing aid batteries have been made for many years.  In the ‘80’s custom hearing aids had a big button cell which made the hearing aids quite large and rather ugly.  The aids were put in the charger at night. If the electricity went off during the charge cycle the hearing aid user would not have a functioning hearing aid in the morning.   Rechargeable batteries developed a memory so if the charge was not complete the battery life got shorter. For the behind-the-ear hearing aids, the older chargers had similar problems.   It was often difficult to get the contacts on the hearing aids to line up with the contacts of the battery charger, which shortened the battery life.

Today, hearing aids are available that use rechargeable or standard batteries. If the battery or charger fails, which they can, a standard battery can be used.  Even though the chargers and the rechargeable hearing aid batteries have improved significantly over time they still only last 10-16 hours per day, depending on the battery size, usage, and the hearing aids strength.   When one is a “night owl” it can be frustrating when the hearing aid battery stops working before you stop working or playing, whatever the case may be.

The latest rechargeable hearing aid comes from Signia ( Siemens). Cellion primax is the world’s first lithium-ion inductive-charging hearing aid.   Available in the Pure, Signia’s receiver-in-the-canal hearing aid which can fit a wide range of hearing losses.  This is ideal for hearing aid users who have poor vision and/or poor dexterity, and for those who just don’t like changing their hearing aids batteries.  The Cellion primax turns off and starts charging automatically as soon as it is placed in the charger. With its smart electronics, it turns on automatically when it’s taken out again. It’s rechargeable lithium-ion power cell lasts for 24 hours with one charge, even while streaming from other devices as cell phones. And, with no battery contacts or battery door, it’s unique OneShell design makes it very easy to use.  The rechargeable battery that is in the Cellion is supposed to last 4 years.   The battery can be replaced by your hearing care provider.  To find out if the Cellion is appropriate for your hearing loss, call your hearing care provider today.

By Susan L Fenrich, BC-HIS*

*Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences

One day, a lady came into my office with her husband while he had his hearing tested. Upon completion of the test, we discussed hearing aid technology and styles. She was very skeptical about hearing aids due to her recollection of her father’s experience with hearing aids.  She remembered that they were very large and whistled all the time and when he wore them and he was forever adjusting the aids.  He could not stand them in back ground noise and often left the hearing aids in the drawer. Her father’s hearing aids definitely left a bad impression on her.   Fortunately, her husband was not swayed by all her negative comments and is a very happy hearing aid user, enjoying the sounds of life once again.

Billions of dollars are spent every year on research by the hearing aid manufacturers.  Research scientists comprised of audiologists, physicians, electrical and sound engineers, and others work together to bring you the best hearing possible in the smallest space possible.  They study, how the ear works to gather the sound, and the path it takes to bring the signals to the brain for interpretation of that sound.  The brain is studied to find out how it processes sound once it is heard.  The more they learn, the better able they are to mimic what a normal functioning hearing system does through the use of highly sophisticated miniaturized computers that are found in today’s digital hearing instruments.  As electronic components get smaller so do the hearing aids.

Today very sophisticated feedback reduction systems prevent the annoying whistling hearing aids once produced.  When fit properly, some never whistle.  Miniaturization of components allow for nearly invisible hearing aids. These two improvements allow for stronger hearing aids in smaller packages with larger air flow venting for a more comfortable fit without feedback.

Grandpa’s hearing aids were amplifiers that increased the volume of everything. Today, hearing aids have sophisticated noise reduction systems. In the best technology available, both the omni and directional microphones are now adapting in such a way that they can detect speech from the front, back, and right and left, automatically. Studies have shown that the new Signia Primax hearing aids reduce listening effort throughout the day while providing “better than normal” hearing in challenging listening environments as busy restaurants and cocktail settings.  In addition, wireless technology allows hearing aids to connect to other media devices and cell phones.  The list goes on!

With today’s technology listening effort is reduced, helping reduce sensory overload.  It has also been found that people who wear hearing aids are less likely to have cognitive issues compared to those with unaided hearing loss.

If you have been struggling with hearing loss, it is the time to take care of it.   Have your hearing tested by your local Hearing Care Provider today, and hear what you have been missing!