Hearing Services
Hearing Aid Benefits
The hearing system functions on the principle of stereo sound. The hearing center of the brain relies on two independent "microphones" - the ears. If only one ear is functioning properly, you could have difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments and in locating the direction from which a sound is coming. This means that it is advisable to wear a hearing instrument in both ears, assuming your hearing loss requires this.
Hearing aids can provide users:
- Ability to localize sound
- Better speech understanding in a noisy environment
- Equal hearing in both ears
- Better sound quality
- Less listening fatigue
All hearing aids at Mid-Kansas Ear, Nose and Throat are fit under an evaluation period of 30-60 days. During this period, the hearing aids are worn by the patient in their own environment. The patient returns to the office every two weeks to address any issues as they progress through the adaptation period. If there are any issues of communication that are resistant to the original amplification selection, it may be necessary to exchange and try and alternative amplification system to solve all the communication needs. This may result in a change in technology, features, options or size and style of hearing aids. If a satisfactory hearing solution cannot be achieved, the amplification devices may be returned for 100% refund less any fee for customized earmolds.
Expectations
In the past, hearing aid users often suffered with occlusion or the sensation of plugged ears, feedback or whistling and uncomfortable loudness in noisy situations. Advances in technology and new sizes and styles of hearing aids have allowed us to reduce or eliminate these complaints.
Working with the audiology department staff at Mid-Kansas ENT you will be able to select the most appropriate style of hearing aid to fit your ear and your lifestyle. New styles of technology have allowed the ear canal to remain more open resulting in a more natural sound which allows that which you hear without aids to blend with amplified sound giving a more natural, realistic, less artificial sound and allowing the user to often forget they are wearing amplification.
Today's technology offers automatic control of many features to maintain comfort and clarity in a variety of listening situations. Output controls prevent sounds from reaching an uncomfortable volume while maintaining amplification of soft sounds. Advanced technology offers automatic volume and noise suppression controls for fast adaptation to rapidly changing environments eliminating the need for manual volume controls.
Feedback, or whistling of the hearing aid, is now controlled with advanced sensor and cancellation features which allow for easier communication on the phone, less issues with wearing hats and scarves and reduced or eliminated whistle when getting a hug.