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Hearing aids Hearing specialists Signia

5 Tips to Help You Avoid Hearing Aid Repair

A hearing aid device is an electronic gadget that assists people with improving their quality of life. Adult hearing aids have limited functionality when underwater and regular bathing would only provide minimal protection from it anyway.

It is advisable to remove earrings before cleaning them with water. If you feel it is necessary to clean them in a sink. It is helpful to avoid wearing the same acute hearing aids twice a day for long periods or more than 12 hours. This will reduce their longevity and result in irritated skin and hair follicles around their neck areas.

To ensure your advanced level hearing aid lasts as long as possible, ensure you wear them away from the ear and don’t put them down in your pockets or on a desk. These cannot protect things like sand.

The best way to clean their earpieces is to give them a light dusting with dry cotton at least once weekly. Also, ensure you take off the clips when using the devices so that they don’t come off and become lost. You can search for acute hearing reviews to know more about these devices.

Good hearing aids have the possibility of rectifying hearing problems. Your audiologist will recommend using a hearing aid for a short time if your ailment is not serious. The best hearing aids don’t have to be so much expensive. A crucial step to getting affordable adult hearing aids is to shop around from various stores. Some tips can help in shopping around for hearing aids.

First, ensure the hearing aid has a trial period. The devices in your ears are foreign, and you need time to adjust well to them. Moreover, discuss the period involved in the trial period to give you flexibility. Check for the warranty. If you are keen on how to get your hearing better, the warranty should be a factor to look out for. The warranty will allow you to change your hearing aids if you experience dissatisfaction.

You may have started searching; are hearing aids effectively after noticing the hearing loss? Consider your future needs and any misleading claims that may hinder you from getting the best hearing device. Search also which hearing aid is best for severe loss. Lastly, seek different opinions to gauge which devices are best. Avoid any misconceptions as rectifying your hearing loss problem is the main issue. Good research will give you the correct information.

The Center for Hearing and Communication reports that up to 12% of Americans are living with significant hearing loss. Fortunately, better technology has paved the way for better hearing aids, which play an instrumental role in improving the lives of those impacted by hearing loss. Maintaining the functionality of your hearing aids over time can save you money and help you enjoy the basic pleasures of life, from hearing your loved ones’ voices to delighting in the sound of a stranger’s laugh. To keep your hearing aids functioning properly over time and avoid costly hearing aid repair, employ the following simple suggestions.

Keep Hearing Aids Clean

To prevent the buildup of things like earwax, dust, dirt, and debris, it is essential to adopt a daily cleaning routine for your hearing aids. You can help prevent the need for hearing aid repair by keeping your devices clean and unobstructed, thus maintaining their usability. You should clean your hearing aids each night after removing them and simply use a dry, soft cloth to wipe them down. Avoid using water, alcohol, or other cleaning products, as they can damage your hearing aids.

Store Hearing Aids Properly

When you receive your hearing aids from a hearing specialist, you should also be given a special case to store them in. If not, contact your hearing center to inquire about getting one. Leaving your hearing aids lying around unattended is a recipe for disaster. Without proper storage, they could be misplaced, damaged or even picked up by children or pets. Hearing aid storage cases should be durable and waterproof so that they keep your devices safe and secure, even if dropped or exposed to the elements. Safely storing your hearing aids is one of the best ways to avoid hearing aid repair.

Keep Hearing Aids Away from Water and Moisture

Water exposure is one of the top causes of hearing aid damage and as such should be addressed if you want to prevent the need for hearing aid repair. The best way to avoid water damage to your devices is by treating them the same way you would treat your cell phone. If you’re going swimming, taking a shower, or walking in the rain, remove your hearing aids ahead of time and secure them in a dry storage container. Even humidity and moisture in the air can negatively affect your hearing aids, so keep them out of the bathroom or other high moisture areas as well. Since internal moisture can build up during the day, consider removing your devices’ batteries and leaving the battery compartment open for overnight drying.

Avoid Extreme Hot Temperatures

Exposing your hearing aids to intense heat is a quick way to cause damage and require a hearing aid repair appointment. Avoid placing your hearing aids near heaters, and never attempt to dry out wet devices by using a hairdryer or your microwave. High heat can destroy the internal electronic mechanisms of hearing aids and can even cause them to melt. Hot temperatures can also lead to a reduction in your device’s battery life. Keep your hearing aids safe in a heat-resistant storage case.

Handle Hearing Aids With Care

Perhaps one of the easiest yet most understated ways to avoid damaging your hearing devices is by handling them with care. Hearing aids are fragile pieces of audio technology and should not be thrown around, grabbed aggressively, or treated roughly. Take the necessary care to avoid dropping hearing aids onto hard surfaces and remember these are delicate pieces of equipment.

After visiting a hearing specialist, taking a hearing test, and receiving your hearing aids, the next step is to ensure you have a way to properly take care of your new devices. From keeping hearing aids in a secure storage container to avoiding water damage to maintaining a daily cleaning schedule, you can prevent wasting money on hearing aid repair by utilizing these simple suggestions.

According to Consumer Reports , Americans experiencing hearing loss average paying more than $2,500 per pair of hearing aids. These devices are essential for the millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss and should be given the utmost care to sustain their functionality and minimize your costs.

 

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Ear nose and throat doctor Ent doctor Hearing aids

Conditions Associated with the Ear, Nose, and Throat

Thyroid disease

Ear nose and throat doctors evaluate and treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. In addition to ear and sinus infections, these specialists address throat issues related to the tonsils and adenoids. Sleep apnea, snoring, and thyroid disease are also within the purview of these medical professionals. In some cases, non-surgical treatments may be effective, while in others, surgical intervention may be required.

Sinusitis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there are approximately 29.4 million adults within the United States that have received a sinusitis diagnosis. When this condition is acute, it can last up to four weeks. Chronic sinusitis, however, can affect people for longer periods of time. In some instances, chronic sinusitis can last for 12 weeks and as much as several years.

Sleep Apnea

Many adults in the United States have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. It has been estimated that one our of every five adults have a case of mild sleep apnea that has remained undiagnosed.

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, individuals that have this serious health condition may experience hundreds of apneas, or cessations of breath, throughout the night. In addition to not receiving a good night’s sleep and being excessively tired throughout the day, there are other serious risks associated with this condition.

When left untreated, people that suffer with sleep apnea have an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Furthermore, the American Academy of Otolaryngology indicated that these individuals are more likely to be involved in car accidents due to insufficient sleep.

There are several options available to treat sleep apnea. The American Academy of Otolaryngology states that CPAP machines and oral appliances may assist people with this condition. If an individual is overweight or obese, losing weight can potentially alleviate sleep apnea. In order for these sleep apnea treatments to be effective, however, individuals need to follow their physician’s recommendations for usage.

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids may contribute to sleep apnea as well. In this case, the American Academy of Otolaryngology indicates that a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy may be able to resolve this condition.

Snoring

The American Academy of Otolaryngology reported that normal, healthy adults may snore on occasion. This is the case with 45% of adults that snore. Another 25% are considered to be habitual snorers.

Nasal congestion, especially when it is significant, can cause someone to snore. It can also potentially lead to sleep disruptions and sleep apnea. CPAP machines, oral appliances, and weight loss can also be effective snoring treatments, as stated by the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

In order to treat snoring, there are other options such as a nasal steroid spray or allergy treatments. When someone has a deviated septum or other structural issues, surgery may be recommended. According to the Academy of Otolaryngology, snoring may result from enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids, and having these surgically removed may make a difference.

Thyroid Disease

It is estimated that nearly 20 million people in the United States have some form of thyroid disease, according to the American Thyroid Association. Furthermore, it has been estimated that 60 of these individuals are unaware they have this condition.

Rhinoplasty as a Treatment Option

During 2016 alone, 223,018 of these procedures were performed. It was also the third most popular surgical procedure performed during this year.

The Rhinoplasty Society outlines several reasons why someone may choose to have rhinoplasty, which is a surgical intervention performed by a plastic surgeon that specializes in this area. In addition to aesthetic reasons, this surgery may be performed when someone experiences difficulty breathing through their nose. Rhinoplasty may also be indicated due to an injury or when the nose’s bridge has shifted position.

The Importance of Visiting a Specialist

Given that there are a variety of treatments available, when someone is suffering with any of issues related to their ear, nose, or throat, it is important to be professionally evaluated. If an adult even suspects that they may have thyroid disease or sleep apnea, it is also important to visit a specialist. Since these issues can interfere with an individual’s overall well-being, and in some cases, pose serious risks, scheduling an appointment is the best course of action.

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Affordable digital hearing aids Batteries for hearing aids Hearing aids

Five Signs You May Suffer from Hearing Damage

Hearing aid battery

Like many signs of aging, hearing loss can be so gradual that we may not realize it’s happening to us. Our bodies grow accustomed to the incremental loss of sensation and we lose perspective of the accumulative damage. Among Americans, 1 out of every 5 adults suffers from hearing loss, and for those over the age of 65, numbers increase to 1 in every 3 adults. While it can be difficult to notice the change, there are always clues.

Here are a few signs that it is time to seek out hearing loss treatment.

    You have trouble following conversations in large groups.
    Do you struggle to keep up with the table talk in busy restaurants or crowds? Do you find yourself tuning out of a conversation when too many people are talking or when the room has lots of background noise? Hearing aids may help you rejoin the conversation. In spaces with lots of background noise or competing voices to follow, someone with hearing loss can have trouble distinguishing between important sounds and plain old noise. Digital hearing aids and assisted listening devices can help sharpen sounds and weed out background comotion.

    You can’t always tell which direction sounds are coming from.
    Not only do our ears help us hear, they also help with balance and location perception. Hearing well from both ears helps us place where sounds are coming from. If you’ve found yourself looking to the right when you hear a siren, but the ambulance drives up on your left, you may be suffering from hearing loss. People who have hearing damage in one ear will mistakenly assume that all sounds are approaching on their more perceptive side. Hearing aids and custom hearing protection can help restore normal perception.

    Your friends and family complain about the TV and radio.
    You think the volume is just right, but your fellow watchers ask you to turn it down. This one may seem obvious, but it even happens to people who have sought treatment for hearing damage. Hearing aid batteries begin to wear out, and often times we turn the dial up instead of checking our hearing aids. If you’re straining to hear when others are happily listening, it might be time to get your hearing checked.

    You have trouble understand young children.
    It’s true that sometimes children have trouble annunciating their words, and occasionally their parents are the only ones who can distinguish the child’s meaning. That being said, hearing loss can make it especially difficult to hear the high-pitched voices of young children. Their words may sound muffled and distant, but if you’re struggling to understand more than other adults, it may be a hearing issue.

    You frequently suffer from a ringing in your ear.
    Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, affects 50 million Americans. The noise can come and go, but when you hear it, it’s annoying and distracting. A tinnitus hearing test can help determine if the ringing is an internal auditory issue and can be resolved. Tinnitus can be linked to other health or hearing issues and a professional audiologist can help discuss all the options and possible solutions. Even sporadic ringing in the ears can be a big annoyance and it’s unnecessary to suffer through without a solution.

Any of these signs may be a tip that it’s time to check your hearing. Though hearing loss is a common and easily preventable health issue, many people avoid seeking help. On average, people with hearing damage will wait seven years before they pursue relief.

Hearing loss can be isolating and frustrating, both for those who are hard of hearing and the friends and loved ones trying to communicate with them. Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can make a big difference. Modern advances help audiologist fine tune hearing aids to suit the specific concerns of each patient. It never hurts to have your hearing checked.

Have you noticed these signs in yourself or a loved one? What other clues have helped you recognize hearing damage? Tell us about what made you seek help and the solutions that have given you relief.