Bet you didn’t know this about today’s hearing aids
By Patricia Nugent
The newest rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids coming to the market are leaps and bounds ahead of prior generations in terms of providing the clearest level of hearing. They’ve also decreased in size—nearly undetectable within the ear—and simpler to manage. At Hearing Science in Westlake, the team of audiologists is dedicated to advanced technology and the latest diagnostic equipment.
Even if you already wear hearing aids, it’s a smart idea to see if your hearing has changed over time or if you’d benefit by updating the model you’re wearing.
“We’ve invested in high-frequency audiometry, which is very unusual to find outside of academic or research settings,” says Hearing Science founder and audiologist Joe Baker. “This equipment allows us to measure higher frequencies for a more fine-tuned diagnosis. The more data we can collect, the better the treatment plan fits.”
With a 30-plus-year career spanning every facet of the audiology field, Joe founded the practice to offer a premier level of high-tech audiology to the West Side.
Hearing Science is not limited to one or two hearing aid brands. They have expertise with all of the major manufacturers to help you choose the right hearing aids for your lifestyle needs.
Whether you are experiencing loss or not, Joe recommends everyone follow the recommendation from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to get a baseline audiogram by age 50.
Is it Time for “The Talk” with Your Spouse?
Have you noticed your husband or wife has been turning up the volume on the television or asking you to repeat things or not hearing conversations in loud environments like restaurants? It might be time to speak with them about seeing an audiologist.
People resist the reality they are losing their hearing for a myriad reasons. Maybe it makes them feel old or on the decline. Or maybe they fear wearing a hearing aid will make them appear compromised.
Whatever the motivation behind the self-denial, the stigma is pervasive. It can be difficult to speak seriously with a spouse or loved one about the subject.
Here are a few tips from Joe.
• Be kind, considerate and compassionate. Try to understand the reasons they don’t want to face their hearing loss.
• Let him or her know that hearing loss is common—around 37.5 million people report difficulty hearing. They are not alone.
• Help them realize that hearing loss isn’t necessarily a natural part of aging. Their trouble may be caused by several other factors, most of which could be effectively diagnosed and treated by an audiologist. They might not even need hearing aids. Bottom line: You don’t know what you don’t know.
• They may not have noticed how much they make people repeat things or turn up the volume on the television, so it’s good to point that out to them in a supportive and positive way. If they understand the cost of the social isolation, they might want to “get back in the game.”
• Use facts. A recent study found that unchecked hearing loss is the most significant modifiable risk for early-onset dementia. It’s responsible for eight percent of dementia cases. Explain to your spouse you wish to avoid that so you both can enjoy your middle and senior years happily and healthfully together.
Hearing Science is located within the Crocker Office Park at 815 Crocker Road, Suite 8, in Westlake, just steps from the railroad tracks and Bay Village. Financing plans are available. Appointments can be scheduled conveniently online. Call 440-438-3401 or visit HearSci.com for more information.