Hearing Aids

With the current level of digital signal processing in hearing aids any configuration of hearing loss can be helped. Of more importance than the audiogram is the hearing impaired person’s own report of how their hearing loss is impinging on their lifestyle. In some occupations such as the judiciary, psychotherapy, court reporting, operating theatres, etc., hearing people under stress who are communicating poorly, can place extreme demands on hearing and hearing aids may be prescribed and used effectively even with a mild loss.

For an elderly person living on their own who can increase the volume on their television u

ntil someone complains, they may put off asking for help until their loss is more advanced. Families are often more aware of hearing problems than the hearing impaired person are themselves. If someone in your family has a hearing problem you need to be aware that hearing loss can be extremely isolating and can mean that they may start opting out of their normal commitments. Particularly with elderly people, this can be bad for their mental well being as they limit more and more social contacts.

New hearing aids have impressive features including digital noise cancellation, enabling comfortable communication in noisy environments. With a hearing loss of any degree, hearing in poor acoustic environments when there is also some background noise makes concentration almost impossible. Multi channel digital noise suppression uses algorithms that recognise the presence of noise even though it is embedded in speech and reduces the gain in the relevant channels. The degree of noise reduction can also be varied as sometimes hearing noise may be a requirement.

Some hearing aids also have multiple program capabilities. This can mean that one hearing aid can operate like up to four different hearing aids simply by pressing a button. The possibilities are endless, but most manufacturers with multiply program hearing aids have stopped at three or four programs. Often these are programmed for group situations, noisy environments, music and telephone. For patients with reduced dexterity automatically adjusting hearing aids with no tiny volume wheels are available. Others may have a remote control, some in the face of their wristwatch!

Hearing aids these days are highly advanced computers with the capability to help everyone including normal hearing personnel in noisy adverse conditions.

Communication Issues

Hearing well is an integral part of a quality lifestyle. So often in today's busy world, hearing loss with its social and educational ramifications is overlooked.

At Western Hearing Services, we believe in thorough assessment and that is why all our centres include state of the art equipment such as DPOAE machines. This equipment measures hair cell damage in the cochlea. Our highly trained audiologists provide patients with information they need to make informed decisions about hearing protection and hearing aids when required.