2 | Senior Living Summer 2019
SENIOR LIVING | MEDICAL DEVICES
Hearing Better for a Happier Life
According to the
National Institute on
Deafness and Other
Communication
Disorders, about one
in three people
between the ages of
65 and 74 have
hearing loss and
nearly half of those
older than 75 have
difficulty hearing.
If you are experiencing a
decline in how you hear, it may
be time to invest in a hearing
aid. There are several consider-
ations you should make before
committing to a certain model.
Make sure to get your doctor’s
opinion on the option that is
most efficient in your situation.
Here are some factors to
consider before you begin
shopping.
KEY FEATURES
Hearing devices typically
consist of four basic compo-
nents: a microphone, a proces-
sor, a receiver and a power
source. The microphone recog-
nizes the sounds you hear and
transfers them to the proces-
sor.
Those sounds are enhanced
by the processor, which then
amplifies them to your ear
canal via the receiver, or speak-
er. The system is powered by a
power source, or battery.
While most operate the
© ADOBE STOCK
same, you can find units with
other high-tech features. Here
are some to look for.
• Automatic gain control
picks up on soft sounds while
maintaining loud noises at
comfortable levels.
• A feedback manager is
helpful to minimize annoying
whistling, while boosting
amplification.
• Noise reduction is great for
reducing background noise so
you can concentrate on speech
intelligibility.
SET REASONABLE
EXPECTATIONS
A hearing aid won’t com-
pletely restore your hearing, so
it’s important to understand
what you should expect.
Most users experience a bet-
ter quality of life by picking up
on sounds they couldn’t hear
in the past and enjoying con-
versations without asking
someone to repeat themselves.
You also should allow your-
self time to adjust to the new
type of hearing experience.
There may be a short period
before you feel comfortable
with your new earpiece and its
capabilities.
ASSISTIVE
LISTENING DEVICE
In addition to a hearing aid,
take advantage of assistive lis-
tening devices that can make
an aid more effective. Installing
wireless systems or neck loops
in rooms in which you have
difficulty hearing can make the
sounds more prevalent to
someone with a hearing aid.
Before making a purchase,
check with your insurance pol-
icy to see if they help cover the
cost. Some high-end models
can be expensive.