FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
 Question 1: What Style of Hearing Aid is right for me
Hearing aids come in a wide variety of styles and is types, ranging from tiny completely in the canal hearing aids to larger behind the ear style hearing aids. Not every style will be suitable for you and your hearing loss. Ask your audiologist to explain the relative pros and cons of each type of style for you. The appropriate style to meet your needs may be dependent on the amount of hearing loss you have, the particular situations where you want the hearing aids to help, your vision and dexterity, and how you want the hearing aids to look, among other things. Once these things have been assessed by your audiologist, he or she will be able to help you decide which style to choose. Question 2. What is a Telecoil and should I have one on my hearing aid? A telecoil is a small magnetic inductive device which is included in many hearing aids. Most behind the ear style hearing aids have a built in telecoil as a standard feature and many in-the-ear style hearing aids can have one added as an option. The most common use of a telecoil is for talking on the telephone. When the telecoil is used, the hearing aid microphone is switched off and this eliminates feedback from the hearing aid. The telecoil will pick up the sound from a compatible telephone very clearly, making it easy for the user to understand the conversation. A telecoil can also be used in theatres and cinemas, churches, conference rooms and meeting places which have a loop system installed. The telecoil can greatly improve the listener's ability to hear with their hearing aids in these situations by picking up the sound directly from the magnetic loop. If you particularly want very small hearing aids it may not be possible to install a telecoil in the aid due to the space it takes up. For those people with milder hearing losses, a telecoil may not be necessary at all as they may manage very well with their hearing aids in these situations without it. Your audiologist can tell you whether a telecoil is necessary for you. Question 3. Do I need Hearing aids in both ears If you have hearing loss in both ears, it is very highly recommended that you wear two hearing aids. Although there are many people who still wear just one hearing aid, with the help of continued research we are now aware that this is not usually the best option. Just like wearing lenses on both eyes when you get glasses, it is important to make use of the hearing in both ears. Hearing “in stereo” with two hearing aids provides a better balance of sound and a more natural listening experience. It means you can pick up sounds from both sides and easily tell the direction of sounds. This is particularly important when listening in background noise where the brain compares information from both ears to help focus on the person who is speaking and filter out unwanted noise. Purchasing two hearing aids need not be more expensive. People will hear far better in difficult listening situations wearing two lower cost hearing aids rather than one very expensive and sophisticated hearing aid. In some circumstances when the listener is only ever listening to one speaker in very quiet environments a single hearing aid may be sufficient. Question 4. Are the most expensive hearing aids the best for me? There are various levels of hearing aid technology with a range of prices attached. Some hearing aids are very sophisticated with a large number of features and are priced accordingly. Other hearing aids are simpler and relatively inexpensive. To select the right technology for you, your audiologist needs to thoroughly assess your lifestyle, daily activities and listening needs. If you are usually at home listening to your spouse or the television, you may not require some of the features available in more expensive aids and you are likely to cope well with lower cost options. If however you are working, or often in noisy environments or meetings, or regularly find yourself in social situations, you will need to spend more to get the features you need to hear well in these difficult listening situations. Question 5. How much hearing loss do I need to have before hearing aids are required? Because of vast improvements in hearing aid technology over the past few years we are now able to successfully fit even the mildest of hearing loss with hearing aids. How soon people decide to get hearing aids will depend on how much they, or others are bothered by their hearing loss, the impact the hearing loss is having on their quality of life, and the effectiveness of available solutions. For example a teacher with a mild hearing loss who needs to hear very soft children's voices at work, may choose to get hearing aids a lot sooner than a person who is retired and is not often in social situations. Many people however, leave it far too long before deciding to improve their hearing. There is nothing to be gained by putting up with hearing loss and this is certainly totally unnecessary now that such effective solutions are available. People who allow their hearing to deteriorate without seeking help, risk becoming very socially isolated, withdrawn and depressed. They are also likely to cause great frustration and stress to themselves, their partners, friends and family. If you or someone else has concerns about your hearing don't delay in having your hearing assessed. See an audiologist and listen to their advice on whether hearing aids might be the right option for you.
Question 6. Will wearing hearing aids make my hearing worse or my ears "lazy" ? There is a common misconception that wearing hearing aids somehow makes your ears lazy or causes your hearing to deteriorate. Many people use this as an excuse for putting off doing something about their hearing problem. Hearing aids cannot make you hearing worse and in fact they do quite the opposite. Wearing hearing aids stimulates your remaining hearing and amplifies sounds the brain has not been receiving. This has the effect of “exercising” the brain so that it becomes better at recognising speech and filtering unwanted noise. The sooner you obtain hearing aids the sooner you can start exercising your brain. Question 7. What is a digital hearing aid? The word “digital” simply means computerised. A digital hearing aid will contain a tiny computer chip which amplifies sounds in a specific way. The computer chip can be very simple or very sophisticated and this will affect the price of the hearing aid. Digital hearing aid technology has now been around for many years and almost all hearing aids available on the market now are digital. A simple digital hearing aid may automatically control the volume of sound for you. A highly sophisticated digital hearing aid may do additional things such as filter out unwanted background noises, amplify a voice in front of you while suppressing sounds behind you, reduce or eliminate feedback or whistling from you hearing aid and automatically adapt to the type of environment you are in. Question 8 Will my hearing aids whistle? The whistling noise which is made by hearing aids is known as feedback. Feedback is caused by amplified sound coming out of the speaker of the hearing aid getting back into the hearing aid microphone. This is the same thing that happens when someone giving a talk with a microphone strays too close to a Speaker and a loud squeal is heard. Because the microphone and speaker on a hearing aid are very close together, feedback from hearing aids can be hard to control. New advanced hearing aids have special features to help get rid of feedback. Properly fitted hearing aids should not whistle when in your ear.
Question 9. Will hearing aids be difficult for me to operate? Hearing aids need not be difficult to operate however if your vision is poor or your fingers number or arthritic, you may need to select the type of hearing aid which is easier to manage. Some hearing aids are fully automatic with no controls at all. Others have a small pushbutton for adjustment or a remote control. Your audiologist will teach you how to insert and remove the hearing aids and operate the controls. With practice and perseverance you should be able to do this quite easily. Question 10. I have hearing aids but still find it really hard to hear in some situations. What else can be done? If you have a very significant hearing loss or particular difficulties with processing and understanding speech, even the most expensive hearing aids may not help you enough in some difficult situations. If this is the case for you, you should ask your audiologist about other equipment which might help you hear. A very effective solution is an FM system, which involves a transmitter which picks up speech and sends it via radio waves to a receiver on your hearing aid. Other accessories such as plug and microphones and adapters which allow direct audio input from your television or stereo many also be useful. It is important to remember that some very noisy situations or rooms with poor acoustics will be extremely difficult to hear it even for people with normal hearing. Explanation of Questions 1-10 in this section of FAQ We are grateful to Stephanie Meares of Bay Audiology Christchurch for supplying and answering questions 1-10 in this section of FAQ. If you wish to print out all these questions and answers go to www.hearingifo.co.nz on the News page under the heading "Buying a Hearing Aid" Do I need an aid with a seperate control device? Some people, especially elderly and in different working environment may find a remote control difficult to locate and operate , Others may find them essential if they suffer from arthritic conditions. Very much a matter of individual choice. What is a "T" switch and how does it help me? A "T" switch disconnects the built in microphone and connects a pick up coil in its place.
This coil enables the user to hear a telephone call much clearer (provided the telephone is compatible), also in public places where audio sound loops are fitted. When using the "T" switch.
External sounds are not picked up and amplified but this does mean you cannot hear someone speaking to you. Can I have a "T" switch fitted to my aid? Many behind the ear (BHE) aids have the switch fitted as standard. Other types may be fitted as an extra cost. Which type of aid is best for me? There are three types of aid:
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- In-the-Canal (ITC).
Factors to consider are the comfort of the aid, cosmetic appearance and ease of fitting and cleaning. Will hearing aid(s) help me? Or are their alternatives? This will depend on the type of hearing loss you have, and its cause. If your hearing loss is minor their are alternatives, these also assist many hearing aid wearers, and are collectively called Assistive Devices.
Ask your professional about these. How long do Hearing Aids last? If well looked after and maintained your aids are said to remain efficient forr 5 years, many are adequate for longer than this, but depends on whether or not your hearing loss deteriorates further. How often should I have my ears checked for wax build up and have a hearing test? Ears should be checked for wax every six months. A hearing test is recommended annualy. How do I know if I have a hearing loss? If you think people mumble, or you have to turn radio or TV louder, have difficulty following conversations in noisy surroundings - chances are you have some loss of hearing, and should have your hearing checked.
It is often a family member or friends who notices that you are having problems hearing first! Can Medical help restore my hearing to its former level? No - this is not possible.
Hearing aids, at their most basic, are amplifiers. However, with modern computerised technology hearing aids have become more sophisticated in delivering good sound. What can I do when others in the house have the TV sound turned up to a level too high for me? Ask them to go for a hearing test. Am I eligible for free aids under ACC/ War Pensions rules? The specialist should be able to advise on this matter. How much will hearing Aids cost? Can I get help with paying for them? Costs, including fitting fees vary. Aids cost between $600 to $3000 each. There is a basic Government subsidy for each aid ($198), other assistance is also available from various sources.
If you are over the age of 65 the basic subsidy rises to $500 per aid. If two hearing aids are required then the subsidy rises to $1,000.
Ask your professional who should be able to offer you further information on subsidies. How long will I have to wait for an appointment and to get an aid? This will vary considerably throughout the country. Hospital waiting lists are generally longer than for private practice.
Once a mould of your ears has been taken and aids chosen the waiting time is usually 3-5 weeks. How long should the batteries last? Impossible to say. It depends on your degree of loss. Severe loss needs higher volume of sound and takes more power from the battery. The length of time in use each day is another factor.
The cost of batteries is important. You will get the best and cheapest from your local branch of the Hearing Assn. What is an Audiologist? Audiologists are University graduates who have undertaken postgraduate studies in Audiology. On completion of University training, Audiologists seeking membership of the Professional Body in New Zealand (The New Zealand Audiological Society) must in addition to their University training, undergo supervised clinical practice and complete further examinations. Audiologists who are members of the New Zealand Audiological Society are able to use the letters "MNZAS" to designate their high level of training, and adherence to a strict code of ethics. What is an Audiometrist? Audiometrists currently receive most of their training in Australia. Many complete degree and Masters courses.
Some work in the Public Health Service, and others in private practice. Their professional body is the Academy of NZ Audiometrists Inc.
An Audiometrist is qualified to provide full services of testing hearing and recommending and fitting of hearing aids. What is a Hearing Therapist? A Hearing Therapist is trained in a National Diploma in Hearing Therapy and employed to provide re-habilitation services for those over 16 years of age.
Under the current Ministry of Health contract administered by LIFE Unlimited, this includes hearing testing, education, counselling and support. Many work from Hearing Association premises. Who are Hearing Advisors? Hearing Advisors have undergone an intensive short course. Their main focus is on Occupational Health Issues. Are Hearing Aids funded to those carrying out Voluntary work? Yes, under certain circumstances. Refer to the April 2004 item on the "News" page for more information.
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