Types of Hearing Aids

When it comes to choosing a hearing aid, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. The first, of course, is the severity of your hearing loss. The next is the design and style of the hearing aid, and then you need to choose whether you want an analogue or digital hearing aid.

It may seem overwhelming, but when you speak to your Darroch Hearing audiologist, he or she will be able to give you sound advice and guidance as which will suit not only your ears but also your pocket:

1. Analogue hearing aids process sound by amplifying electronic signals whereas digital hearing aids use small computer chips to process sounds.

2. The first type of hearing aid that you get is the traditional ‘behind the ear’(BTE) design. This consists of a housing that sits behind the ear with an amplifying tube running across the front of the ear to the receiver seated inside the ear.

3. The ‘receiver in the ear’(RITE) design is smaller than the BTE and easier to manage. More of its parts are situated inside the ear.

4. ‘In theear’ (ITE) hearing aids fit completely in the ear and are less visible than the BTE and RITE. Unfortunately, these tend to need more maintenance than other hearing aids.

5. ‘Completely inthe canal’(CIC) hearing aids are also situated entirely in the ear, but are smaller than the ITE. These are not suitable for those who have severe hearing loss or even if you get ear infections regularly.

The choice is yours,but we will gladly help you make the best-informed decision for your hearing loss as well as cosmetic needs. Just talk to your audiologist when you come in for your check-up.

The Original article Published at Darroch Hearing Blog

Hearing Aid Damage: The 4 Most Common Causes

Darroch Hearing Clinics offer hearing aid repairs whether you have purchased your devices from us or not. You can drop off your hearing aids at one of our clinics or send them to us via post. We are more than happy to arrange for repairs on nearly all brands of hearing aids.
Over the years, we have seen just about everything. From time to time we run across a hearing aid that is not repairable, but most of the time repairs are possible. For your general knowledge, the four most common causes of hearing aid damage are:

• Excessive Build-Up of Earwax – Earwax doesn’t generally cause irreparable damage to a hearing aid, but it can significantly reduce performance. A good cleaning is usually all it takes to rectify the issue.

• Temperature Exposure – Digital hearing aids are sensitive to temperature extremes due to the electronic components inside. If a hearing aid is exposed to extreme cold or heat for a prolonged period, internal electronics can be damaged.

• Exposure to Moisture – Hearing aids can be damaged by excessive exposure to moisture. More often than not, permanent damage of this type is the result of being out in a soaking rain or forgetting to take hearing aids out before bathing or swimming. Damage caused by perspiration and humidity can usually be fixed.

• Physical Damage – Physical damage includes things such as dropping a hearing aid from a standing position. If a hearing aid suffers impact damage, it’s usually a matter of one of the electronic components needing replacement.

If your hearing aids are not working properly, just let us know. We will do what we can to fix them.
Contact us today on using our contact form or calling 0141 345 2036.

What Is a Digital Hearing Aid?

You may have noticed while browsing our website that we carry digital hearing aids. But do you know what they are? Do you know how a digital hearing aid differs from an older, analogue hearing aid? If not, we would like the opportunity to offer an explanation.

A digital hearing aid receives sound waves and, through computer technology, translates those sound waves into digital information that can be modified in any number of ways. Usually, the digital information is amplified before being passed on to the hearing aid’s speaker system. The advantage of digitisation is that it allows for amplification without any resulting distortion.

An analogue hearing aid processes sound waves as-is. In other words, there is no digital conversion. Sound waves are simply amplified by using an electronic device that increases the amplitude of the sound wave. While this technology was exciting in its day, it is no longer the best option in the 21^st century. Amplification with an analogue hearing aid leads to distortion and other problems.

If you are suffering any kind of hearing loss, you might benefit from a digital hearing aids. The only way to know for sure would be to have a hearing test conducted by a professional. We invite you to contact us to take advantage of our free hearing test offer. If our test reveals a problem that could be helped with a digital hearing aid, we will be more than happy to walk you through all your options.

Digital hearing aids have helped make hearing loss less of a problem than it used to be. Hopefully, future technologies will make how we treat hearing loss even better than it is now.

If you’re looking for some advice or help on your or a loved one’s hearing, call me today on 0141 345 2036.

Getting through the Festivities with Hearing Loss

 The festive season can be a stressful time of year for people suffering from hearing loss. Between all the social gatherings and religious services, not being able to hear can put a real damper on things. Unfortunately, hearing loss can be just as hard on family members as it is the person who actually suffers from it.

If you will be entertaining a family member or two with hearing problems in Glasgow this holiday season, here are some tips that will help you make the best of your gatherings:

• Face your loved one directly when speaking to him or her. Not only does this direct sound waves toward this person, but it also affords the opportunity to see your facial expressions and read your lips. 
• If you can, find a quiet and well-lit area to have your conversation. The less background noise, the easier it will be to talk. Adequate lighting will also help with facial expressions and lip reading. 
• Avoid shouting if your loved one can’t hear you. Shouting only distorts your words and annoys everyone else around you. 
• If your loved one doesn’t understand what you’re saying, try rephrasing your sentence. Don’t simply repeat it word-for-word. Sometimes people with hearing loss can identify some words but not others.
• Don’t simply drop the conversation because you’re having trouble communicating. This only serves to make your loved one feel ashamed, isolated, and uninterested in social interaction.  

Hearing loss can add unnecessary stress to the festive season. However, if you are willing to make an effort to accommodate your loved ones in conversation and other activities, things will be better for everyone.

If you’re looking for some advice or help on anything to with hearing, hearing test or hearing aids, call me today on 0141 345 2036.