TheAudicles Blog
Alera: The new technology in hearing aids
What if there was a hearing aid that provided you surround sound, extended bandwidth, and a wireless connection to a television, stereo, mobile phone, and computer? What if you could understand the words of another person in a room filled with noise? What if there was a hearing aid that improved your quality of life simply because it provided outstanding comfort and peace of mind that you can hear better? Well, it’s here and it is known as the Alera. ReSound released the Alera August of 2010 to provide a hearing aid that offered multiple wireless features to the user as well as exceptional surround sound capabilities. The Alera has been received with much excitement both by the Audicles staff and patients. With its sleek and fitted design it is discreet and comfortable therefore making it one of the most popular hearing aids on the market today. The Alera is popularized by its ability to provide the wearer with a rich quality of sound to improve conversations and listening experiences. Also very well received is the Alera’s blue tooth capability so that wireless connections to tv, stereo, mobile phone, and computers can be appreciated without attachment lines getting tangled. It also uses 2.4GHz technology, which provides a stronger, stable, and clearer signals that surpasses the conventional wireless hearing aids. If you’re seeking a hearing aid that provides exceptional sound quality, wireless features as those mentioned above, significant decrease in echoes and feedback, and a comfortable fit then try the Alera today.
Hearing Loss in Children
For children, hearing and speech are two very important to the learning process as they age. They are essential to cognitive, social, and language development. If a child has a hearing loss that goes undetected and untreated then they are likely to suffer from developmental problems, poor social interaction, and problems at school and in the home. Hearing loss occurs across a range and is different for each child affected by it so it is crucial to have proper testing and fitting done by a licensed audiologist. Through early detection and treatment, children have a much higher success rate of staying on their path of healthy development. So what causes hearing loss in children? The most common type is otitis media, which is an inflammation in the middle ear often associated with the build up of fluid. Hearing loss can also be caused by genetics factors, some viruses, prematurity, maternal diabetes, and other complications that occur during pregnancy. The most common cause, otitis media, affects each child differently in regards to severity, symptoms, frequency, and duration. Otitis media is often a temporary loss of hearing however, frequent occurrence can cause damage to the eardrum, the bones of the ear, or even the hearing nerve. These types of damages can lead to permanent hearing loss that requires hearing devices. Days, weeks, and even months can pass before a parent or caregiver becomes aware that their child is experiencing a degree of hearing loss. If the child does not express pain or have a fever, there are other symptoms that may be an indicator of fluid in the ear: pulling or scratching the ears, unexplainable irritability, short attention span, wanting the television or radio turned to a higher volume, not understanding direction, inconsistent responses to sound, speaking in a loud or soft voice, or lack of verbal communication. The list of symptoms is much more extensive so speaking with your audiologist or pediatrician will help determine if testing for a hearing loss is recommended.
Technology gets Waterproof and Offers Surround Sound
It seems that everywhere we turn there is new technology improving our lives from one area to another. Our business, home, and personal life goes through constant change as advances in technology improve use of our current resources. Hearing aids do not fall into last place when it comes to staying in the technology game. ReSound has introduced the new ReSound Alera™, the first wireless hearing aid to give the user an exceptional surround sound experience. Wireless connections to mobile phones, televisions, stereos and computers are made possible with ReSound Unite™ accessories and have already been enjoyed by many Alera™ wearers. Another benefit of the Alera™ hearing aid is its protection against sweating and moisture. The special nanotech coating was proven effective at a luncheon the Audicles staff recently attended. Dr. Watson was demonstrating the Alera’s water-resistant coating by dropping it into a glass of water. She fished it out with a spoon, dried it off, and replaced it in her ear. She wasn’t surprised it would still function but experiencing this showed us all how well the nanotech coating works in protecting the Alera™! To learn more about this advanced new hearing aid visit http://www.resound.com/alera.
10 Ways to Recognize Hearing Loss
In our country there are over 28 million people that suffer from hearing loss. Children, adults, and seniors are all prone to hearing loss either from genetic problems, exposure to high levels of noise, toxins, drugs, physical damage, and age, just to name a few. The largest group of Americans that experience hearing loss is the elderly population. Roughly 30-35% of seniors experience age-related hearing loss and require hearing aids. Genetic factors are thought to cause more than 50% of all incidents of hearing loss in children that begins at birth or shortly thereafter. Recognizing hearing loss is very important because treatment can improve communication for adults and help children learn the essential language skills needed for development. Hearing loss for adults can lead to depression, decreased communication skills, attendance to fewer social events, and feelings of embarrassment of their condition. Hearing is a sense that should be enjoyed throughout the lifespan so correcting hearing loss as early as possible is very important. Hearing loss in children is sometimes more difficult to recognize but being aware of symptoms is key to early screening. Speech delay, recurring or frequent ear infections, and poor performance in school are all ways to take notice of changes in a child’s hearing abilities. Awareness of birth defects, genetic diseases, and a history of hearing loss in the family are also ways to identify hearing loss at an early age. Treating hearing loss in children at an early age will improve their verbal and cognitive development, improve social skills, and decrease the stress associated with being unable to hear their peers and family. Take this short quiz to determine if you or someone you love should see an audiologist for a hearing test.
Headphones for Hearing Aid Users
For those individuals that experience hearing loss and wear a hearing aid it is always exciting to find an alternative to conventional items that may no longer be comfortable or even useful when hearing aids are worn. We have found two styles of headphones that you can now wear with your hearing aids when listening to your music player. The Music Link is an improvement from the older neck loop design and provides a comfortable fit around the ear. It can be used with your PC, iPod, MP3 or CD Player or any audio device with a standard (3-connector, 2-ring) 3.5mm headphone socket. It also provides stereo sound and offers binaural users left and right channel stereo sound separation. A second alternative we found was the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 a noise-cancelling headphone that fits over the entire ear and provides surround sound to the user. This headphone is not designed specifically for hearing aid users however it is a great piece of equipment if the Music Link doesn’t work with your music player.