Kick Embarrassment to the Curb!

Let’s face it… not being able to hear well is embarrassing.  I should know, I’m hearing impaired and have been my whole life.  Between not hearing someone at all, asking someone to repeat (perhaps even a 2^nd or 3^rd time) because I didn’t catch what they said, or answering incorrectly to something I misheard, I have spent a good portion of my life feeling embarrassed by my hearing.

Hearing loss affects us socially, with other people noticing our impairment way more than we do.  How do you know if you’re not hearing a sound you are supposed to hear?  You don’t.  Not until someone else points it out, and if that someone else isn’t there… right over your head it goes.  Funny thing it, it just sounds normal to us, because we don’t really have conscious awareness of what we’re missing.

Our family and friends aren’t shy though.  They tell us that they notice our problem.  How embarrassing is it to have friends and family members tell you repeatedly that you need to get your hearing checked?  Or when they complain about the volume and proceed to turn down the TV until you can’t follow what’s going on?  Or to just get fed up trying to talk to you, saying, “Forget it, it wasn’t important anyway?”

Embarrassment is an emotion most humans want to avoid at all costs.  This explains why hearing impairment so often leads to social isolation.  We’d rather stay at home by ourselves than risk the embarrassment that occurs when we mishear others.  Social isolation is a huge risk factor in many health conditions, from mental decline and dementia, to depression and anxiety, to heart health and more.  So it’s no wonder that hearing loss is well known for making all these conditions worse.

Even worse than the problems of hearing loss were the big clunky hearing aids of the past, drawing attention to how we’re different than everyone else.  They were large and visible.  They would squeal loudly, drawing unwanted attention.  They had to be fiddled with all the time, and never did sound great.  Technological limitations of the past made hearing aids a less than ideal solution to a complex problem and have resulted in a number of hearing aid myths that prevent people from getting hearing help today.

Fortunately, both the technology and our understanding of hearing loss have taken leaps forward.  We know better than ever how to help provide clearer, more understandable sound for even severe hearing losses.  We have technology that is incredibly discreet and no longer squeals.  We have better support accessories to help our hearing aids connect with other technologies around us, and help solve the problems presented in even difficult listening situations.

My hearing loss doesn’t embarrass me anymore, because with my A2 Platinum Power Solution from Audibel, I can hear.  It’s not the same as having normal hearing, and I still do miss things sometimes, but compared to life without my hearing aid, you couldn’t fight me to get it away from me now.  It is so much better that most people don’t even believe me when I tell them I have hearing loss, until I take out my hearing aid and show them. 

My hearing aid changed my life so completely for the better that I became a hearing specialist and I dedicated my career to helping other people with their hearing challenges.  I know what it’s like not to hear well, and I know what better hearing sounds like.  I’ll never go back.

When you are ready to get help with your hearing, give Audibel a call.  With 9 offices in Central Illinois, staffed with compassionate and skilled hearing care professionals, you will experience the highest quality in hearing health care.  From your very first visit to a life time of after care, Audibel is here for your hearing needs.

Give us a call for a complimentary hearing examination.  We can see if it’s just wax causing your problem, if you need to see a doctor, or if it is something a hearing aid may be able to help.  We will find out about your lifestyle and common sound environments you get in to.  We will make a recommendation that will fit your hearing loss, your lifestyle and your budget… AND you’ll get 6 full weeks to try it out with a 100% money back guarantee.  There is no risk to find out if better hearing will improve your life.  With today’s advanced hearing solutions, you too can eliminate the embarrassment of hearing loss from your life! 

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Alina Phoenix, HIS

PS… Audibel has offices all around the country.  If you’re located somewhere other than Central Illinois and want to find the Audibel nearest you, visit http://www.Audibel.com and enter your zip code to find your closest Audibel professional.

 

Troubleshooting Common Hearing Aid Problems

One of the most frustrating things about wearing hearing aids is when they stop working correctly. Every hearing aid wearer will, in time, experience a sound quality issue that reduces their ability to hear with their aids. Before you take those hearing aids in for repair, there are a few things you can try in the comfort of your own home to fix your hearing aid yourself.

Step 1: Check the obvious. The first thing you should do is check the basics. Is your hearing aid inserted properly? Is your hearing aid is turned on and is the volume is turned up? Next, check your batteries. Are they the right size? Are they inserted properly? Do they need to be replaced? Does your hearing aid have a mute function? Is the mute function engaged? Check your hearing aid settings, are you on the correct one? If all of these parameters check out, move to step 2.

Step 2: Inspect your hearing aid for wax and dirt. When is the last time you changed your wax filter? Is there any dirt around your buttons or microphone? Use your hearing aid cleaning tools to brush the face plate and remove any visible debris, and make sure you have a fresh wax filter installed (if your hearing aid has one). If you have misplaced your hearing aid cleaning tools or need more wax filters, please come in to our office and we will be happy to provide you with complimentary replacements.

If you wear a hearing aid with an earmold and tubing, when is the last time they were cleaned? Do you see any wax in the end of the earmold or in the tube? When was the last time your tubing was changed? Is your tubing still soft and supple or is it hard? Inspect your tubing for cracks or moisture inside the tube. If the tube shows defects or has hardened, contact us for an appointment to get your tubing changed – but if it looks good, go on to step 3.

Step 3: Dry your hearing aids. Moisture is one of the biggest causes of hearing aid repairs. When you wear hearing aids, they are just like tiny computers inside your ears and these electronic components are sensitive to moisture, including humidity and perspiration. In order to keep your instrument dry, open the battery door at night and wipe everything gently and thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.

One of the best investments you can make for your hearing aid is a dehumidifier, or hearing aid dryer. If you don’t already have one but suspect moisture in your hearing aid, a jar of rice can act as a dehumidifier in a pinch. Fill the jar with about 1 cup of uncooked rice and place a tissue over the top of the rice. Put your hearing aid on the tissue and close the lid. Leave the hearing aid in the jar of rice overnight and check the function in the morning.  This is a temporary solution that can help while you are working on getting a real hearing aid dryer, and should not be used long term.  Also, do not eat the rice after it has been used this way.

Hearing aid dryers are available here in our office for purchase, or you can find them online. It is especially important to purchase a hearing aid dryer if you live in an environment with high humidity, perspire heavily, or have problems with excessive wax production. Storing your hearing aid in a quality hearing aid dryer can help you reduce repair issues over the life of the aid.

Step 4: Contact our office. If you have checked the obvious, cleaned and dried your hearing aids but still continue to experience sound quality issues, it is time to make an appointment. Give our office a call and we will arrange a convenient time to come in. We will inspect your aid thoroughly, as well as inspect your ear. Many times, a blockage of earwax is the culprit in reducing sound quality or causing feedback issues. We will make every effort to fix your hearing aid in our office during your visit, and will send the aid in to the lab for repair if necessary.  Call 800-605-9608 to make an appointment at any of our nine offices in Central Illinois – Champaign, Danville, Monticello, Gibson City, Tuscola, Mattoon, Paris, Sullivan or Robinson.  Please specify your preferred office when calling.

It is average that most hearing aid users can expect to have a once yearly hearing aid repair. For those who work in environments with a lot of moisture or dirt, for those who perspire a lot or produce a large amount of wax, repair issues can occur more often. For those who have very clean ears and lifestyle, they may not experience repairs as frequently. Everyone is individual, but a once yearly lab repair is average for any given hearing aid. Routine home maintenance, and attending a few yearly checkups for professional cleaning will help keep your hearing aids functioning properly so you can depend on them for years.

Protect Your Ears When You Put The Top Down

The weather is warming up and it’s the perfect time to put the top down on your convertible, or to roll down the road with the windows wide open.  While the brisk breeze is refreshing, did you know the sound of the wind is loud enough to cause hearing damage?  According to tests conducted by the Better Hearing Institute,  driving with the top down can expose you to sound levels exceeding 85 decibels in over 80% of the convertibles tested.  That level of sound, when you are exposed to it for a lengthy period of time, can cause hearing damage.

Now, keep in mind that they were strictly measuring just the sound levels from wind noise with the top down.  When we take into account other noise factors in the environment, such as motorcycle and other traffic, air conditioning and the radio, you can easily exceed 85 decibels of sound.

We certainly wouldn’t suggest giving up the pleasure of riding in the car with the windows open or the top down, it is prudent to take steps to protect your hearing while you are doing so.  Reducing speeds while cruising and keeping to shorter trips is one way to protect your hearing.  Another way is to keep handy some disposable foam earplugs which can attenuate the sounds you are experiencing to less dangerous levels.  For those who enjoy cruising regularly, we also provide custom earplugs that can reduce harmful sounds while still allowing you to hear your companions in the car and important environmental cues.  These simple suggestions will help you enjoy your road trips while protecting your precious hearing.

If you have any further questions on this topic, feel free to post your comment below or contact us via email.

Here’s to your hearing health!

       ~Audibel Hearing Aid Centers

http://www.GetHearingHelp.com