Amplifon Hearing Health Care Blog

‘Tis the season for fuzzy sweaters, hot cocoa, thick blankets, and…hearing protection? Whether you live in a cold climate, or you’re visiting family or friends for the holidays, chances are you’ll be experiencing the bitter sting of cool winter air at some point this season. You may know that a drop in temperatures can cause your body to shiver and your teeth to chatter, but did you know that it can also cause changes in your ears that lead to ringing in the ears, pain, dizziness, and even hearing loss? Learn more about the potential dangers to your hearing and how you can protect your hearing in cold weather.

With more than 36 million Americans who have hearing loss, there’s a good chance that one or more of them will show up at your table this holiday season. For these individuals, normal conversation can be a big challenge — a challenge that’s compounded at holiday gatherings by multiple simultaneous conversations, clanging silverware, shrieking children and other competing sounds.

Consumers today have access to an unprecedented array of hearing aid styles, technology levels and options. This is great news in terms of tailoring a solution to your hearing loss, lifestyle and preferences. However, all of these options can overwhelm the average consumer.

You have an inkling that something is wrong with your hearing. But it’s not always bad. For example, perhaps you can clearly hear and understand a friend who’s visiting you at home. But in a busy restaurant, it’s almost impossible to have the same conversation. Like a lot of other health conditions, hearing loss comes in various types and degrees, and no two people experience it exactly the same way.

Each year in October, we observe National Protect Your Hearing Month, an optimal time to raise awareness about the importance of preventing noise-induced hearing loss. 

As summer begins to wind down, individuals are maximizing their time by enjoying the last of their favorite summer activities and with the transition to fall upon us, we're excited to partake in our favorite events like football games, hiking, hunting and apple picking. However, unwise lifestyle choices can certainly lead to negative consequences, affecting both health status and on-the-job performance.

Hearing aids have evolved so much overtime - it's hard to believe that a hollowed-out horn was the only option at one point!  "Technology" didn't find itself in the hearing aid industry until the late 1800's with the invention of the telephone as the inspiration.  It wasn't until the late 1900's technology was able to fit into something that only fit on your ear vs a device with wires you had to clip on your pants.  

Congrats, you've selected a hearing aid and are on the path to better hearing! It's almost time for your fitting. There's going to be a lot of great information and instructions provided at your fitting. You'll learn how to operate, clean and store your new devices.

ONE: Affects people of all ages

It’s time to put aside preconceived notions about hearing loss — including the idea that hearing loss is simply a condition of old age. The fact is, only 35% of individuals with hearing loss are over age 64, according to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that approximately 15% of Americans (26 million people) between the ages of 20 and 69 have high-frequency hearing loss due to exposure to noise at work or during
leisure activities.

TWO: Has many possible causes

You might be surprised at how many ways you can lose your hearing.  In addition to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss), causes of hearing loss also include:

THREE: Diminishes quality of life

When you lose your hearing, you lose your ability to communicate with family, friends and coworkers. Studies have shown that hearing loss can lead to social isolation and even depression. If you ignore it long enough, a hearing loss may increase the risk
of dementia, falling and illness requiring hospitalization. Are you in the workforce? An untreated hearing loss translates to lower earnings —by as much as $30,000 annually, according to a BHI study.

FOUR: Can be prevented

You can’t stop the aging process or alter your genetics. But you can take control of certain risk factors for hearing loss, especially exposure to excessive noise. Millions of Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis, making this one of the leading causes of hearing loss. Fortunately, noise-induced hearing loss is almost totally preventable. Wear hearing protection whenever attending a concert, operating power equipment, shooting a firearm or exposing your ears to any sound level that exceeds 85 decibels. Also, listen to music on an MP3 player at no more than 50% volume.

FIVE: Is frequently treatable

Thanks to advances in technology, nearly 95% of people with a sensorineural hearing loss — the most common type — can be helped with hearing aids, according to the BHI.

SIX: Are more effective than ever

Remember Grandpa’s big, clunky hearing aid? How it whistled and squealed? To borrow a popular advertising phrase, the products offered by today’s hearing healthcare professionals are definitely NOT your Grandpa’s hearing aids! The sound is more natural than ever*. Annoying feedback is all but a thing of the past. Conversation comes through more clearly than ever, while competing noises are suppressed. In short, modern hearing aid technology far surpasses older technology in virtually every
aspect of performance, comfort and convenience.

SEVEN: Work best as a customized solution

You wouldn’t go to an optical shop, get your vision tested and then buy a pair of one-size-fits-all glasses. The same holds true for hearing aids. Your hearing loss is not exactly the same as anyone else’s, and neither are the size and shape of your ears. For
optimal performance and maximum comfort, insist on hearing aids that are programmed to your hearing loss and tailored to the dimensions of your ears.

EIGHT: Should be professionally fitted

Nowadays, you can buy hearing aids via the Internet or mail order. The problem is, you won’t get the professional care — before, during and after your fitting — that are so crucial for wearer satisfaction. Hearing aids are sophisticated electronic devices, requiring expert fine-tuning to precisely match your needs and preferences.
Hearing healthcare professionals also provide aural rehabilitation counseling to help maximize the effectiveness of your hearing aids.

NINE: Can be your little secret

Advances in technology have spawned an exciting new era of hearing aids: packed with power and features, yet contained inside tiny, discreet packages. The smallest devices fit deep inside the ear canal, where they are truly invisible to others. Even hearing aids worn outside the ear (behind the ear and receiver in canal) have been downsized and streamlined to the point where they’re practically undetectable.

TEN: Are surprisingly affordable

Sure, it would be great to wear one of the top brands of hearing aids, customized to you and your needs, and fitted by a trusted hearing healthcare professional. But how can you afford that? Through your Amplifon Hearing Health Care program! The Amplifon value proposition includes access to more than 2,800 hearing aid models from leading brands; a low-price guarantee (we’ll gladly beat a local competitor’s price by 5%**); service from our national network of hearing healthcare providers who’ve met
our strict credentialing requirements…and much more.

To learn more about your Amplifon program benefits and to schedule an appointment with a provider, call today!

*Hearing aids cannot restore natural hearing.  Your experience will depend on the severity of your hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to adapt to amplification.
**Amplifon offers a price match on most hearing devices.  Some exclusions apply. Not available where prohibited by law.  Visit www.amplifonusa.com or call for more details.

What's the 3rd most common health condition that affects an estimated 36 million Americans?

If you guessed hearing loss, you're right. Hearing loss affects about 12% of the American population.