Frequently Asked Questions
I can hear people speak, but sometimes I can't understand what they say. How are hearing and understanding related?
Understanding words and sentences is a function of your brain. Your ears collect sound, transform it into nerve impulses and send them to the brain where understanding takes place. If damage of the nerves (cilia) has occurred, understanding may become difficult or sometimes impossible because parts of the sound are missing. A properly fitted digital hearing instrument is designed to compensate for a loss of sound. and may improve your ability to understand again.
I have been told that I have nerve deafness. Do hearing aids help?
Possibly. Most hearing instrument users suffer from this type of loss. Medical experts generally agree that no effective medical treatment has been found for nerve deafness. If you are one of the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from this kind of hearing loss, you should consult a hearing professional - hearing help is available.
My hearing isn't really that bad. Why shouldn't I put off getting hearing instruments?
It is sad and wasteful to live a life less than at its fullest. Remember, hearing instruments cannot restore your hearing to normal. They may only add strength to the hearing you have left. Early help may lead to the greatest long-term benefit from the use of hearing instruments.
A doctor told me hearing instruments wouldn't help. What can I do?
Breakthrough technological advances in the design of hearing instruments have given many people the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of amplification. Although some people may not be helped by hearing instruments, you should have a thorough test by a hearing care professional to baseline your hearing and discuss your options for improving your everyday hearing ability.
I can understand when one person is speaking in a quiet room. But will hearing instruments help me to understand in a crowd?
Much of the noise in our surroundings is low-toned and tends to compete with weaker, high-toned sounds that give speech meaning. The latest development to solve hearing and understanding problems in a crowd is the NU EAR Best-In-Class background noise management system. This advanced digital system reduces the frequencies where background noise exists and increases speech frequencies. Although noise is not eliminated, it is managed like never before.
Hearing instruments are so small and expensive. Why do some cost more than others?
Hearing losses are as different as fingerprints. With most patients, it entails the selection of a precise digital device specifically designed for that individual. Based on the patients specific needs or performance expectations, the cost may vary from the style or type selected.
I have difficulty hearing with both ears. Do I have to wear an instrument in both ears?
When both ears are impaired, two-ear assistance may be superior to that of a single instrument. This will provide balanced hearing and may help preserve speech activity in both ears.
Are hearing instruments hard to wear?
At one time, the only hearing instruments available were bulky and uncomfortable to wear. Today, however, you may fit with hearing instruments that are custom-built to fit entirely within your ear canal. Wearing traditional, bulky devices is no longer a concern with the advancements in hearing instrument design. Award-winning designs have proven to be aesthetically appealing, as well as fashionable.
My hearing is getting worse. If I get hearing aids won’t I just have to replace them later?
A hearing instrument is normally fitted with updatable prescriptions, which to a degree, may be adjusted to your changing hearing loss.