We believe hearing aids are a tool for you to use to enjoy life better. Hearing aids today are technologically advanced and have various types of features to make your life easier. Our audiologist works with multiple manufacturers in order to have more options to better fit patients. Right now, two of our favorites are Oticon and Phonak because of their excellent customer service and turnaround time. We value our patients so it’s important that the manufacturer we work with has a similar mind set.
The Right Hearing Aid
There are multiple types and styles of hearing aids, all of which have their own specialties and features. When choosing the right hearing aid for you, we keep in mind a few factors. Based off our conversation with you and the results of your hearing test, we look at your degree of hearing loss, your lifestyle, dexterity, age, and listening demands. Because each patient is unique, we adjust our recommendations according to your individualized expectations and needs. We are focused on your needs, not on making a sale. So you never have to worry about us trying to oversell you hearing aids. We will make a recommendation based on what we truly think will be best for you and will educate you on the different types of hearing aids so you can make your own decision.
Seeing the difference hearing aids make in our patients’ lives is incredibly rewarding. We love when our patients come back after being properly fitted with hearing aids and we can see how happy they look. Patients don’t realize how much they are straining themselves when they can’t hear, it’s exhausting trying to hear when it doesn’t come naturally. Once you receive hearing aids you’ll be relieved at how much easier it is to hear.
Follow-Up Care
After we fit and program your hearing aids for your specific hearing needs, we recommend coming in for follow-up appointments once every six months. This allows us to check in and see how your hearing is doing, examine your ears to see if your hearing loss has changed at all, ensure your hearing aids are performing their best for you, and to provide a deep cleaning on your devices. It’s important to bring your hearing aids in regularly so they can be properly cleaned and maintained, that way they will last you for many years to come.
Hearing Aid Lifespan
Hearing aids typically last for 3-5 years. Depending on how well you take care of your devices, if you bring them in for regular cleanings and maintenance, and store them in dry places then they can last for longer. However, hearing aid technology is constantly advancing so many patients like to upgrade their hearing aids every few years so they can get the most out of their hearing and enjoy the new advancements. Because of how fast manufacturers update their technology, we recommend upgrading your hearing aids between the 3-5 year span so you can guarantee you will continue to hear your best.
Caring for Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids don’t require a lot of upkeep, but they do need to be taken care of in order to last you. It’s important to keep your hearing aids clean by wiping them off after taking them out of your ears. Your ears are full of moisture and earwax, both of which can easily build up in your hearing aids. You should always store them in a dry place so moisture doesn’t get trapped inside them. It’s best to bring your devices in at least every six months, depending on how active you are, to be deep cleaned by a professional.
BAHA Hearing Aids
The Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) is a surgically implanted device designed to help people with hearing loss. The majority of the conventional hearing aids transmit sound through the medium of air conduction. BAHA stimulates the cochlea by transmitting the sound waves through the bones in our skull, or bone conduction, thereby bypassing the outer and middle ear. Once the cochlea receives the sound signals, the information is converted in to neural signals and transferred to the brain, where it is perceived as sound. thereby bypassing the outer and middle ear.
Call Benjamin Liess MD at (207) 415-4841 for more information or to schedule an appointment.