Hearing Instruments in Austin, TX
What Are The Effects of Hearing Loss?
Studies have shown that untreated hearing loss can affect your overall health. Hearing loss can be indicative of a larger health issue. Many diseases can produce hearing loss. Inner ear viral inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and brain tumors are just a few examples. Left undiagnosed, these conditions can worsen over time.
A person’s job performance, income potential, and ability to learn in a changing work environment are all issues commonly associated with hearing loss. Co-workers’ perception of the person with hearing loss can suffer as they mistake hearing loss for a lack of ability or knowledge.
Communication is critical to social interaction. Studies have shown that people with hearing loss can become socially withdrawn and depressed. Recent studies also reveal that hearing aid use, especially early, reduces the risk of dementia by over 60%.
- Indicative of more serious health problems
- Difficulty maintaining a job
- Trouble communicating effectively
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What Is a Hearing Instrument?
A hearing instrument is a device that can be worn in or behind the ear to improve hearing. This device allows people with some degree of hearing loss to be more engaged and in tune with their surrounding environment.
A hearing instrument comes in five levels of sophistication: Premium, Mid-Level, Entry-Level, Basic, and Essential. These technologies are available at different price points. Enhanced digital, programmable, self-regulating hearing instruments with Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone control, and direct iPhone connectivity are examples of the technology available today.
The right level of technology and cosmetic features is a personal choice and depends on your type of hearing loss and eardrum condition. A detailed evaluation by one of our physicians and our audiologist, Kathleen Monet Young, AuD, CCC-A, is necessary to help determine the best option for your needs and inform you of all your available options.
Who Is a Candidate for a Hearing Instrument?
Patients with hearing loss can have difficulty communicating with friends, family, and coworkers. They can benefit from modern hearing instruments, even if their hearing loss is mild. If you or your family have become frustrated by your difficulty understanding conversations, it is worth having a thorough evaluation of your ears and hearing to determine the cause and explore your treatment options.
The right level of hearing aid technology and cosmetic design is a personal choice and depends on your specific type of hearing loss and ear condition. Our physicians will provide a thorough evaluation, explain all your options, and recommend the hearing solution best suited to your needs and lifestyle.
What Are The Benefits of Hearing Instruments?
Besides improved hearing, one of the benefits many patients notice is an enhanced ability to communicate with their loved ones. This improvement in understanding can strengthen personal relationships. Because hearing instruments allow you to be part of the conversation, you will no longer have a tendency to withdraw from social situations.
In addition, hearing instruments can reduce frustration with yourself and others. You will no longer have to ask people to repeat themselves or need the TV volume turned up, allowing you to feel more comfortable in your personal life. Hearing aids may also help reduce ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and improve memory.
- Improved relationships
- Better quality of life
- Less stress in social situations
How Do Hearing Instruments Work?
Hearing instruments have several components. First, sound is picked up and partially filtered by multiple microphones. The sound is then converted into an electrical current, which is subsequently converted into a digital signal. That signal is sent to a computer chip that is typically more powerful than the chips found in many laptop computers. The chip analyzes the signal to determine whether it contains speech, background noise, and the direction from which the noise is coming. The signal is then compared to more than 12 million sound samples to determine the best output for you to hear. Finally, the signal is converted back into an electrical signal and sent to a speaker. All of this takes place without you noticing any delay between what you want to hear and when you actually perceive the speech signal. Today’s hearing instrument technology is truly remarkable.
What Are The Different Types of Hearing Instruments?
Hearing instruments can be styled and worn in three ways: in the ear, in the ear canal, and behind the ear.
In The Ear
The hearing instrument is placed in the “conchal bowl”, the indentation in our ear that surrounds the ear canal.
In The Canal
The hearing instrument fits snugly in the ear canal. The instrument is custom-made to fit the size and shape of your ear canal.
Behind-the-Ear
This is the most common style of hearing instrument. A hearing instrument is placed behind the ear. The hearing instrument is connected to a small, clear tube that sits in the ear canal to deliver the amplified sound waves. These devices are very popular as the separation of the hearing instrument from the amplified sound waves provides a superior and clearer sound with less feedback.
Hearing instruments can also be either analog or digital.
Digital Hearing Instruments
These instruments convert sound waves into a digital code, which is amplified and then converted back into sound waves. This process creates superior, clearer, and more natural sound.
Analog Hearing Instruments
These hearing instruments convert sound waves into electrical signals that are then amplified into sound. As technology has advanced, most patients are opting for digital hearing instruments, but analogue hearing instruments are typically less expensive.
What Is the Typical Hearing Instrument Selection Process?
The hearing instrument selection process begins with a comprehensive hearing test. After the results are analyzed by our audiologist, a dedicated hearing instrument evaluation is scheduled. During this visit, you can discuss the improvements you hope to achieve with your hearing instruments, as well as your lifestyle and budget. After purchasing hearing instruments from Sinus & Snoring Specialists, our team will be available to make adjustments and answer your questions along the way.
How Are Hearing Aids Placed?
To begin, we perform a detailed hearing evaluation conducted by our audiologist, Kathleen Monet Young, AuD, CCC-A, to identify the type and degree of hearing loss. This evaluation is performed in our state-of-the-art soundproof booth using an audiometer and specialized headphones.
If hearing loss is identified, you will be evaluated by one of our physicians to determine whether medical or surgical treatment could correct your hearing loss.
If hearing aids are the right treatment option for you, our audiologist will recommend scheduling a hearing aid evaluation. During this appointment, he will review the latest hearing aid technology, available styles, levels of technology, fit options, and visibility. He will also consider the situations in which you need amplification the most, your activity level, your manual dexterity, cost considerations, insurance coverage, and other relevant factors. This critical step helps ensure a successful fitting with the hearing instruments that best meet your needs.
How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?
Hearing aids will typically last for 5–6 years if used properly and cleaned regularly.
Schedule a Consultation
Sinus & Snoring Specialists is a full-service ENT medical practice that can serve all of your hearing and hearing instrument needs in one convenient location. If you are suffering from hearing loss, hearing aids might be the right option for you. Call (512) 601-0303 to schedule a consultation at our office in Austin, TX.
Austin, TX Hearing Aid – FAQ
Will hearing aids restore my hearing to normal?
No. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing or reverse inner-ear damage. Instead, they amplify and process sound to make speech and other important sounds easier to hear.
With proper fitting and regular use, hearing aids can substantially improve communication and awareness of everyday sounds.
Do I need one hearing aid or two?
It depends on your hearing loss. If hearing loss affects both ears, we often recommend two hearing aids. Using amplification in both ears can provide a more balanced listening experience and may make it easier to understand speech and determine where sounds are coming from.
Patients with hearing loss in only one ear or significantly different hearing between the ears may need a different approach.
How long does it take to adjust to hearing aids?
Adjustment varies from person to person. If sounds have gradually become quieter over many years, hearing them again suddenly can initially feel unfamiliar.
Regular hearing aid use helps the brain adapt to amplified sound. Follow-up appointments also allow your audiologist to adjust your hearing aids based on how they perform in conversations, noisy environments, and other real-world situations.
Should I wear my hearing aids all day?
Usually, yes. Most patients benefit from wearing their hearing aids consistently during waking hours once they’re comfortable with them. Regular use helps the brain become accustomed to processing sounds that may have been difficult to hear for a long time.
Your audiologist may recommend gradually increasing wear time when you first receive your devices.
Can hearing aids be reprogrammed if my hearing changes?
Often, yes. Many modern digital hearing aids can be reprogrammed within their fitting range. If your hearing changes, an updated hearing test can help determine whether to adjust the settings.
Regular hearing evaluations matter because a noticeable change in hearing shouldn’t automatically be treated by simply increasing amplification.
Why do voices or everyday sounds seem unusually loud when I first get hearing aids?
Your brain may have adapted to reduced sound input before you began wearing hearing aids. Once those sounds become audible again, voices, household noises, or even your own voice may initially seem unusually prominent.
This often becomes more natural as you adjust. If certain sounds remain uncomfortable or distracting, your audiologist can evaluate the fit and programming.
Can earwax affect how well my hearing aids work?
Yes. Earwax can block sound entering or leaving a hearing aid and may contribute to reduced volume, feedback, or inconsistent performance.
Since excessive earwax can also cause hearing loss on its own, an ear examination can help determine whether the problem is related to the hearing aid, the ear canal, or both.
Why is it still difficult to hear in restaurants even with hearing aids?
Restaurants and other crowded environments are challenging because speech must compete with voices, music, dishes, and other background sounds.
Modern hearing aids use technologies such as directional microphones and digital sound processing to help improve speech understanding in these environments, but they cannot completely eliminate competing noise. Programming adjustments and communication strategies may further improve performance.
How often should my hearing aids be checked or adjusted?
Hearing aids should be evaluated periodically to confirm they function properly and still match your hearing needs. Adjustments may also help if you notice changes in hearing, difficulty understanding speech, feedback, discomfort, or reduced device performance.
Follow-up care allows your specialist to fine-tune the devices rather than relying on the original settings indefinitely.