Opticians recommend that we have our eyesight tested every 2 years, and for most of us this seems normal and is accepted as a regular health check-up. Most people would agree that if they were having trouble with their eyesight they would not hesitate in visiting the doctor or optician to have it checked.
Spectacles have become something of a fashion statement of late, with plain glass lenses even being sold to give the look of wearing glasses with no medical reasoning. Glasses have been sold in a multitude of styles for years and in fact have closely reflected the style of each era in their frame shape and size.
We at Bexhill Hearing Centre believe that it won't be long until hearing aids receive the same acceptance that spectacles have today. No longer are they the big, beige embarrassments they were 10 years ago; hearing aids are now sleek, designed objects packed full of features.
The latest hearing aids can be customised to suit the fussiest of clients even changing the colour to suit their hair or match their favourite suit. Different production methods are also available with one supplier offering the first Eco-friendly production.
The product itself is a desirable gadget, which sold as a convenient audio system would do well on its own, with its Bluetooth connectivity, remote control and more, but to call it a hearing aid means that the user must first accept that they have a hearing loss; and this is where the problem lies.
A hearing loss means you’re old. A hearing loss means you’re disabled. A hearing loss means you don’t understand.
The stigma attached to a hearing loss is what prevents a great deal of people from seeking help and improving their quality of life. At Bexhill Hearing Centre we are trying to tackle that stigma and increase the acceptance of hearing loss.
Many people forget (or do not realise) that more people suffer from a hearing loss than a visual impairment, its logical really we hear more than we see. A right handed tennis player will incur more injuries on their right hand than their left due to wear and tear.
Whilst we sleep our eyes are closed, they receive no light and no stimulation, and therefore they rest for around 8 hours every day. Our ears do not close whilst we sleep; they receive sound constantly and are stimulated the whole time, hence why certain sounds (not even loud) such as a creaky floor board will wake you up.
Simple maths shows that in a lifetime we will hear for 26 years more than we see; when you put it like that it’s amazing hearing loss is not more accepted.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Have you heard...Ototoxicity
There are more than 200 known ototoxic medications that can damage the ear, resulting in hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or balance disorders. These include medicines used to treat serious infections, cancer, and heart disease.
What are the effects from ototoxic medications?
Usually the first sign of ototoxicity is ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Over time, you may also develop hearing loss. This hearing loss may go unnoticed until your ability to understand speech is affected.
Balance problems can also occur as a result of ototoxic medications. You may experience a loss of balance and feeling unsteady on your feet.. Sometimes these problems are temporary because the human body can learn to adapt to reduced balance control.
What is happening inside the ear to cause these effects?
Ototoxic medications cause damage to the sensory cells used in hearing and balance. These sensory cells are located in the inner ear.
Which medications are ototoxic?
There are more than 200 medications and chemicals that are known to cause hearing and balance problems. It is important to discuss with your doctor the potential for hearing or balance damage of any drug you are taking. Sometimes there is little choice. Treatment with a particular medication may provide the best hope for curing a life-threatening disease or stopping a life-threatening infection.
Ototoxic medications known to cause permanent damage include certain aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin (family history may increase susceptibility), and cancer chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin.
Drugs known to cause temporary damage include salicylate pain relievers (aspirin, used for pain relief and to treat heart conditions), quinine (to treat malaria), and loop diuretics (to treat certain heart and kidney conditions).
In some instances, exposure to loud noise while taking certain drugs will increase their damaging effects.
What to do before begining treatment with ototoxic medications?
You should monitor your hearing and balance systems before and during treatment. Before starting the treatment, a baseline record of your hearing and balance should be recorded by an audiologist.
This information can help you and your doctor make any important decisions to stop or change the drug therapy before your hearing is damaged.
For cases in which the drugs cannot be stopped or changed, the patient and the audiologist can take steps to manage the effects of the hearing loss that results.
During the course of your treatment, you should have periodic hearing tests as part of the monitoring process. This will help enable you to report any hearing changes, ringing in the ears, or balance problems that you may notice.
What are the effects from ototoxic medications?
Usually the first sign of ototoxicity is ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Over time, you may also develop hearing loss. This hearing loss may go unnoticed until your ability to understand speech is affected.
Balance problems can also occur as a result of ototoxic medications. You may experience a loss of balance and feeling unsteady on your feet.. Sometimes these problems are temporary because the human body can learn to adapt to reduced balance control.
What is happening inside the ear to cause these effects?
Ototoxic medications cause damage to the sensory cells used in hearing and balance. These sensory cells are located in the inner ear.
Which medications are ototoxic?
There are more than 200 medications and chemicals that are known to cause hearing and balance problems. It is important to discuss with your doctor the potential for hearing or balance damage of any drug you are taking. Sometimes there is little choice. Treatment with a particular medication may provide the best hope for curing a life-threatening disease or stopping a life-threatening infection.
Ototoxic medications known to cause permanent damage include certain aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin (family history may increase susceptibility), and cancer chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin.
Drugs known to cause temporary damage include salicylate pain relievers (aspirin, used for pain relief and to treat heart conditions), quinine (to treat malaria), and loop diuretics (to treat certain heart and kidney conditions).
In some instances, exposure to loud noise while taking certain drugs will increase their damaging effects.
What to do before begining treatment with ototoxic medications?
You should monitor your hearing and balance systems before and during treatment. Before starting the treatment, a baseline record of your hearing and balance should be recorded by an audiologist.
This information can help you and your doctor make any important decisions to stop or change the drug therapy before your hearing is damaged.
For cases in which the drugs cannot be stopped or changed, the patient and the audiologist can take steps to manage the effects of the hearing loss that results.
During the course of your treatment, you should have periodic hearing tests as part of the monitoring process. This will help enable you to report any hearing changes, ringing in the ears, or balance problems that you may notice.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Have you heard...Wireless hearing
One of the most recent developments in Hearing aid technology has been the vast range of wireless functionality now available to the hearing impaired; from a basic loop system to Bluetooth, there are now no real excuses why a hearing aid cannot fit anyone’s lifestyle.
Wireless systems offer both an improvement in audibility and in usability. One way in which audibility has been improved is through CROSS hearing where control can transmit from one ear to the other; so that pressing one aid's program button simultaneously changes the other aid, so that both aids change background settings simultaneously. CROSS hearing is particularly useful for clients with no hearing on one side, offering the opportunity to transmit that ears sound over to the other ear.
FM listening systems with wireless receivers are also available. A separate wireless microphone can be given to a partner to wear in a restaurant, in the car, during leisure time etc. which in essence places the client’s ear directly below the speakers chin; offering unmatched speech audibility by eliminating the effects of distance and background noise. FM systems can also be hooked up to a TV, Radio and other input devices.
Very similar to FM; Loop is now used in many public places as a convenient and inexpensive form of assistive listening. Very simply an audio input, be it a microphone, music etc., can be transmitted to any hearing aid user within a chosen area (as long as they have their loop program switched on) this allows everything from general announcements to individual conversations to be achieved comfortably.
Bluetooth connectivity is the most recent innovation in wireless interfacing for hearing instruments to audio sources such as TV streamers or Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. Current hearing aids generally do not stream directly via Bluetooth but rather do so through a secondary streaming device (usually worn around the neck or in a pocket), this Bluetooth enabled secondary device then streams wirelessly to the hearing aid but can only do so over a short distance.
FM systems are considered a cornerstone in the treatment of hearing loss in children as the need for the teacher to be heard is tackled simply by placing a mic transmitter round their neck. Bluetooth has bridged the gap of convenience for hearing aid users, offering all their gadgets tailored to their own hearing prescription.
Many theatres and schools are now equipped with assistive listening systems that transmit the sound directly from the stage; audience members can borrow suitable receivers and hear the program without background noise.
In a world where life itself is requiring more and more gadgets, it's good to see that the hearing impaired have a vast choice of ways to continue hearing comfortably and conveniently.
Wireless systems offer both an improvement in audibility and in usability. One way in which audibility has been improved is through CROSS hearing where control can transmit from one ear to the other; so that pressing one aid's program button simultaneously changes the other aid, so that both aids change background settings simultaneously. CROSS hearing is particularly useful for clients with no hearing on one side, offering the opportunity to transmit that ears sound over to the other ear.
FM listening systems with wireless receivers are also available. A separate wireless microphone can be given to a partner to wear in a restaurant, in the car, during leisure time etc. which in essence places the client’s ear directly below the speakers chin; offering unmatched speech audibility by eliminating the effects of distance and background noise. FM systems can also be hooked up to a TV, Radio and other input devices.
Very similar to FM; Loop is now used in many public places as a convenient and inexpensive form of assistive listening. Very simply an audio input, be it a microphone, music etc., can be transmitted to any hearing aid user within a chosen area (as long as they have their loop program switched on) this allows everything from general announcements to individual conversations to be achieved comfortably.
Bluetooth connectivity is the most recent innovation in wireless interfacing for hearing instruments to audio sources such as TV streamers or Bluetooth enabled mobile phones. Current hearing aids generally do not stream directly via Bluetooth but rather do so through a secondary streaming device (usually worn around the neck or in a pocket), this Bluetooth enabled secondary device then streams wirelessly to the hearing aid but can only do so over a short distance.
FM systems are considered a cornerstone in the treatment of hearing loss in children as the need for the teacher to be heard is tackled simply by placing a mic transmitter round their neck. Bluetooth has bridged the gap of convenience for hearing aid users, offering all their gadgets tailored to their own hearing prescription.
Many theatres and schools are now equipped with assistive listening systems that transmit the sound directly from the stage; audience members can borrow suitable receivers and hear the program without background noise.
In a world where life itself is requiring more and more gadgets, it's good to see that the hearing impaired have a vast choice of ways to continue hearing comfortably and conveniently.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Have you heard...Hearing in any environment
Life was meant to be lived without limits. Everyday things such as water, dust or shock shouldn’t bring yours to a halt. With its tough build, impressive design, perfect engineering, and cutting-edge advancements, Aquaris™, the first truly waterproof hearing aid from Siemens, lets you actively enjoy every decibel of life to its fullest.
Waterproof
- Completely sealed housing shell and battery door
- IP57 certified: waterproof up to 3 feet (1m) (for 30 minutes)
- Custom-made soft ear mold for swimming
Sweat and dust resistant
- Efficiently repels dust, perspiration, and dirt
- Robust and moisture-resistant surface
- Watertight housing safeguards against corrosion
Shockproof
- Virtually shockproof thanks to ergonomic shape and soft-touch laquering
- Scratch-proof non-slip soft rubber surface
- Attachable Sport Clip for extra security
Innovative
- BestSound™ Technology for excellent sound clarity
- Unique materials and cutting-edge ideas ensure waterproof seal
- Connects seamlessly to Tek and miniTek wireless enhancement systems
Hearing comfortably and safely in every environment is available from Bexhill Hearing Centre from as little as £1800
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Have you heard...Loop systems
The Hearing Loop System is a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids. It is important to know how loop systems tie in with sound systems in general, since they are frequently used together. This article will also include guidance on how to specify your own loop system and other general aspects of loop systems.
Sound systems for use in public places are generally used to reinforce or relay sound to a hall, church or auditorium or to other parts of the building from some central point.
Sound is said to be reinforced when the audience can hear the original sound (eg from stage or rostrum) both directly and via the sound amplification system. Hence the term sound reinforcement.
Sound is said to be reinforced when the audience can hear the original sound (eg from stage or rostrum) both directly and via the sound amplification system. Hence the term sound reinforcement.
A sound system may also relay sound to areas of a building where the original performer, speaker or musician, cannot be heard without the use of the sound system. This may be used, for example, in a large sports arena or to relay speech or music to different parts of a building where the sound source is out of earshot. This type of a system is known as a public address system.
Any sound system may also incorporate a hearing loop system. Ideally they will be used together, as a fully integrated system.
A simple, complete sound system will comprise five main elements: at least one microphone, one sound amplifier, one loudspeaker, one induction loop driver and one induction loop cable.
How the Hearing Loop System works
- Sound is collected by one or more microphones.
- The very small electrical output from these microphones is mixed with any audio required (e.g. CD player) and fed to the Induction Loop amplifier, usually referred to as an induction loop driver.
- The loop amplifier drives a powerful current through the loop, which changes with the variations in the speech or music patterns. This sets up similar patterns of speech or music in the hearing aid by magnetic induction. The hearing aid must therefore be switched to 'T' when using a hearing loop.
- In this way, any sound picked up by the microphones or from other sound sources, whether speech or music, is heard directly and clearly in the hearing aid.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Have you heard...Rechargeable hearing aids
The Siemens eCharger
Most of Siemens hearing instruments (BTEs) are always ready to keep up with your busy lifestyle. That’s because you won’t have to stop to change batteries or dry your instruments. Just leave your BTE to the new battery charger to do it for you.
Many Siemens hearing instruments offer you unparalleled convenience: they run on standard batteries, as well as rechargeable ones. Simply place your instruments in the eCharger at night and after just 6 hours, they’re ready to work all day. Thanks to the new, improved battery charger, you’ll have no unwelcome surprises of batteries running out and no fumbling with your instruments. Now you can truly rest easy.
Most of Siemens hearing instruments (BTEs) are always ready to keep up with your busy lifestyle. That’s because you won’t have to stop to change batteries or dry your instruments. Just leave your BTE to the new battery charger to do it for you.
Six hours of rest is all it needs.
It dries while you dream.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Siemens Xcel launch
On Thursday night both the Helliers attended the Siemens Xcel product launch at Bistro Live, Nottingham. The venue for the launch was kept secret right up until the last minute; two very sparkely stretch hummers arrived to pick the select group of audiologists up from their hotel and escort them in style to a local club where they were greeted by champagne and tribal drums.
Once everyone had arrived and seated, the official launch could begin.
We were told that the new XCEL was the new generation of BestSound Technology from Siemens, which introduces features which focus on key aspects of Better Hearing and Sound Comfort; effective Audibility and Sound Quality.
Not only will it provide effective Audibility which contributes to speech understanding without jeopardise sound quality; the Xcell will allow maximum spontaneous acceptance, as well as long-term hearing instrument satisfaction.
The new Xcel range includes upgraded models which may be recognised from the Siemens range such as the pure or motion, but also includes the all new Eclipse ITE, which is said to allow shallow impression taking without the occlusion affect; good news for dispensers and clients.
The night was rounded off with an brilliant 3 course meal, and equally fantastic entertainment from Siren and Tommy T and the Belletones.
Bexhill Hearing Centre is very much looking forward to trying out the new product range on our clients and seeing whether the claims come to fruition.
Once everyone had arrived and seated, the official launch could begin.
We were told that the new XCEL was the new generation of BestSound Technology from Siemens, which introduces features which focus on key aspects of Better Hearing and Sound Comfort; effective Audibility and Sound Quality.
Not only will it provide effective Audibility which contributes to speech understanding without jeopardise sound quality; the Xcell will allow maximum spontaneous acceptance, as well as long-term hearing instrument satisfaction.
The new Xcel range includes upgraded models which may be recognised from the Siemens range such as the pure or motion, but also includes the all new Eclipse ITE, which is said to allow shallow impression taking without the occlusion affect; good news for dispensers and clients.
The night was rounded off with an brilliant 3 course meal, and equally fantastic entertainment from Siren and Tommy T and the Belletones.
Bexhill Hearing Centre is very much looking forward to trying out the new product range on our clients and seeing whether the claims come to fruition.
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