Tennessee Valley Audiology - Knoxville's Blog for Better Hearing

In the Loop

2/14/2018

Patty and I recently attended a meeting of the Hearing Loss Association of America, Knoxville Chapter. The feature speaker was Juliette Sterkens, Au.D., an advocate for Looping America. Today's hearing aids have many features which help you to hear speech more clearly, minimize background noise and connect to other devices. One system used in public meeting places, theaters, churches etc. is the hearing loop. The hearing loop is a system which takes advantage of the T-coil in your hearing aid. The loop system is basically a magnetic field which is emitted through a wire which provides a signal for your hearing aid. With the hearing loop you do not have background noise to contend with so you can hear the speaker better. The Looping of America project is trying to encourage more facilities to offer loop systems. Since attending this meeting we have looped our demonstration room at Tennessee Valley Audiology to allow people to see the benefits of a hearing loop. Once they experience the benefit, they may encourage the spreading of hearing loops. This is a grass roots campaign to bring about the looping of America, one loop at a time.

link to the Hearing Loss Association of America: http://www.hearingloss.org/

Holidays Mean Family Gatherings- Tips for better hearing.

11/29/2017

The scenario typically goes like this: You have a hearing loss. You get hearing aids. You are expected to magically hear everything regardless of how people talk to you. When you do not respond appropriately or even at all, people ask, "Do you have your hearing aids in"? People forget that communication is not just your hearing, but rather their speech and your hearing. It is imperative that people be good communication partners, meaning speak carefully and directly to you, and you attentively listen.

If everybody practiced good communication, the world would be a better place. As we get more familiar with people we take short cuts. We talk from another room or start talking to someone before they are ready to listen. We would be better communication partners if we talked to someone as if we were not familiar with them. Poor communication can lead to needless conflict. Remember to practice good communication when speaking to others this holiday season. Both you and your communication partner will benefit. Merry Christmas!

Not Understanding Speech? Auditory Training Can Help!

11/14/2017

The expression "What's new is old" is true when talking about auditory training. I find myself talking to patients more and more about adding auditory training to their rehab effort. Auditory training is a fairly old concept going back to post World War II era when veterans were first diagnosed with hearing loss. It was routine to go through a period of training to try to help improve how well you could understand speech. People would benefit from this training, but he problem was that once the veteran left the VA hospital facility, it was difficult to get them to go back for therapy. This problem has continued and until recently, very few audiology clinics even offered this service. It was time consuming and expensive. Auditory training is rarely covered by insurance.

Thankfully, with the advent of the personal computer auditory training can be a home based treatment so that daily work can be done at little to no cost. Treatment programs are offered online and through down loadable programs. The most commonly used program today is the L.A.C.E. program offered through Neurotone. This program has been soundly researched (no pun intended). They report 30-40% improvement in word understanding in background noise. This can make a significant difference for many people. LACE costs around $100.

Another program is the Angel Sound program which is a free download. Angel sound was developed for cochlear implant users but offers a lot to individuals with hearing loss who wear hearing aids. Angel sound is a large program and can seem daunting if you are not guided in how to use it properly. In our clinic we offer to set up a training program for a nominal fee.

Another program we are investigating is the clEAR program. This program lets you incorporate a significant other's voice into the training exercises. This training is approximately $150 for 3 months. We are not ready to recommend this program as of yet, but we will let you know.

Widex Beyond Made for iPhone Hearing Aid

4/19/2017

Widex has a new made for iPhone hearing aid called the BEYOND. This is one of the most sophisticated hearing aids on the market. It features a universal automatic listening program which has 9 independent programs including quiet with speech, quiet without speech, music, party with speech, party without speech, transportation with speech, transportation without speech, urban (city street) with speech and urban without speech. The Beyond samples the sound around you and adjusts to the optimum listening settings according to the type of listening environment you are in.

It is the only made-for-iPhone hearing aid whose app uses the swipe function. The swipe function gives quick and easy navigation using intuitive commands. With the Beyond app you can customize your hearing aids so that you can enjoy full brilliant sound in all situations. For example, you can use the Sound Mixer function on the app to create a custom setting for a specific situation. If the situation is one you do commonly, you can make it a program which you can access on your app whenever you are in that situation. The Beyond app is customizable allowing you to adjust various sound settings and listening programs to suit your individual listening needs. You can even attach a specific image or name to the template so that you can easily recognize the setting on your app. You can even set a Geo tag for your program so that the hearing aids automatically go to the desired program when you are at the location.

The Widex Beyond app allows you to use your phone to:
Adjust the volume of hearing aids Mute the hearing aids Set the directional focus (good when you need to hear the kids in the back seat) Geo tag programs for specific places Adjust the sound with the 3-band equalizer Have an instruction manual and trouble-shooting guide on your phone.

Widex states that the sound quality of Beyond when streaming is better than any other hearing aid. They also boast the lowest battery consumption. The Widex Beyond is compatible with the entire line up of their wireless (Dex) devices. The Beyond has a telecoil which helps you to hear in looped auditoriums, churches and theaters. Call us today at (865) 688-8700 to find out more about Widex Beyond.

Widex Beyond made for iPhone hearing aid.

Oticon Opn iPhone Hearing Aid

4/6/2017

Oticon Opn hearing aids. Oticon’s latest hearing aid is the Opn. The Opn is a hearing device that lets you hear all the way around. The technology in the Opn allows you to listen to multiple speakers in noisy environments, focus on what’s important to you, and switch attention if you want to. Until now, traditional hearing aids haven’t been able to process sound fast enough to help you hear all the way around you. They would focus just on the speech directly in front of you, and suppress everything else. This would help you hear the person you were looking at, but not much else. It wasn’t perfect, but was the best that hearing aids have been able to do. Some people referred to this as tunnel hearing. No more tunnel hearing with Oticon Opn. Opn is Oticon’s biggest technical breakthrough ever. Its processor chip is 50 times faster than anything Oticon has ever built. That’s fast enough to help you hear in all directions, the way you were born to hear.

When Opn opens up your hearing to a full 360 degrees, a lot of good things happen. Opn adjusts and balances all the sounds around you, not just the ones directly in front of you. Opn separates speech from noise and lets you focus on what’s important. And because Opn works in harmony with your brain to process sounds exceptionally fast, you get 30% better speech understanding, 20% less listening fatigue, and you’ll remember 20% more of your conversations compared to the Oticon Alta 2 Pro, Oticon’s previous best hearing aid. Couple that to the Oticon Opn app which lets you control your hearing aids with your iPhone. You can discreetly and easily adjust the volume of your hearing aids with your phone. There is a find your aid feature which will help you to find your aid if it is ever lost. The Oticon Opn aid is the first internet aid. With the use of IFFT technology you can control other devices. For example, when you close your battery door to turn on your hearing aid, it can cause the lights to come on and start the coffee pot. This can also be set to send an email to a significant other telling them that your battery needs to be replaced. This is particularly helpful for young children and some seniors.
Oticon Opn comes in 3 technology levels making this available at most any budget. Oticon Opn is an awesome technological advance in better hearing. Schedule an appointment for a demo fitting to see how Opn can help open up a whole new world of better hearing.

Call (865) 688-8700 for an appointment.

iPhone Hearing Aids have come of age

2/27/2017

Over the last few years hearing aids have been advancing significantly. Some of the improvements include better speech clarity, better hearing in noisy environments and connectivity. Connectivity means how the hearing instruments interact with other devices such as your cell phone, television, whole room listening systems and other people via a companion or remote microphone. For most hearing aids connectivity means using an intermediary device called a streamer to receive the signal from the other source, i.e. TV, cell phone, etc., which would in turn wirelessly stream the signal to the hearing aids. This system had many advantages over simply wearing hearing aids alone. For example when using your cell phone, you would hear the signal in both ears which provided much better hearing on the phone. Listening to the TV was also easier and more clear as the factors of distance and room acoustics were removed allowing you to hear the TV comfortably and clearly while your spouse could listen at any volume that they chose.
IPhone hearing aids are made by several companies, Oticon, Widex, GN Resound and Starkey. Each will be detailed in a subsequent posting. In general, iPhone hearing aids do all that was mentioned above without the intermediary streamer. TV and cell phones stream wirelessly directly to the hearing aids. In addition, iPhone hearing aids have apps which help you to control all of this. Each company’s hearing aids interact differently with the iPhone and each will be discussed. Watch for the next posting in this series!

How to Perform a Hearing Aid Listening Check.

12/29/2016

"How can I tell if my parent's (or child's) hearing aids are working properly? There are a few simple checks you can perform to determine this.

Quick Test- Turn on the hearing aid. Wait 2-4 seconds and cup the aid in your hand. You should hear a whistle. Depending on the degree of hearing loss and type of hearing aid, the whistle could be faint or loud. If you hear the whistle (feedback), the battery is not dead. If no whistle,
- Check the battery with battery tester/meter. Hearing aid batteries should read 1.4-1.45 Volts. If the voltage is good, check for wax or debris stopping up the aid speaker or microphones.
- Remove the wax guard and repeat the quick test. If the aid now whistles, replace the wax guard with a fresh one.
Performing a listening check. You should familiarize yourself with how your loved one's hearing aid sounds when working properly. Place the listening tube on or around the sound opening and listening to the aid. You should use a wide range of sounds from low pitch to high pitch to be sure the aids sound clear and are working properly.
- Say things like one, two, three to judge volume. Then say sounds that cover the frequency spectrum from low pitch to high pitch.
  - Low pitch- moo moo
  - Middle range- la la
  - High range- si si
  - Then hard sibilants- ch ch
- If the microphones are stopped up, you will hear a sound like air rushing and little else.
- It is important that you do these checks when the hearing aids are working properly so that you familiarize yourself with how they sound. You must remember that the aids will not sound like you are used to hearing. How it sounds depends on the prescription in the aid. Also, listening through the two foot listening tube changes the acoustic properties of the sound. The important thing is that the sound is consistent. That way you know when the hearing aids are not working properly.

With a little practice you will master these simple techniques and feel comfortable doing them. A Listening Tube is a very handy tool to have to be sure that hearing aids are working properly! Listening Tubes are available in our web store: www.tvahearingproducts.com.

Oticon Opens Up a Brand New World of Sound with the Opn Line of Hearing Aids

12/22/2016

Oticon's goal is bringing life-changing quality sound to the people with hearing loss because they know that sound matters most when it comes to developing quality hearing solutions. With the expanded Opn family of hearing aids people with hearing loss are geting unsurpassed improvement in sound quality, ease of listening, and better recall. In a recent survey of audiologists conducted by Hearing Tracker and the UBS Evidence Lab, Oticon earned the highest marks for patient satisfaction and overall popularity. This was attributed to the sound quality of their newest BrainHearing™ solution, Oticon Opn™.

The survey results reflect the overwhelmingly positive feedback that Oticon has received from hearing care professionals around the world. Call us if you would like to try the Opn and open up a new world through better hearing.

New Patient Office Visit: Here Is How Get The Most From It by Anita Case

11/30/2016

New Patient Office Visit

To get the best out of your “new patient” visit, start preparing in advance. Being prepared for your doctor’s appointment will ensure a more productive visit and increase the potential for a more effective outcome. Familiarize yourself with how your insurance works and what is and is not covered. Be prepared to pay your expected patient out-of-pocket when you arrive for your appointment. Call ahead of time to confirm your appointment. If you have requested your medical records from another medical provider to be forwarded to your new doctor, call the new doctor’s office a few days before your appointment to insure their office has received your records. If a physician referral is required for this doctor’s visit, verify that the referral is completed prior to your appointment. Failure to have your referral in place could cause you to have to reschedule your appointment. Make certain that all your patient information forms are completed prior to your appointment time, provided you obtained them in advance. Bring a list of your medications. Be sure to bring your insurance cards and a photo ID.

Empower yourself with knowledge. Do research so you have a better understanding of medical terms the doctor might use. Deciding ahead of time what you want to get out of the visit will help you organize your thoughts beforehand. Bring a list of your questions and concerns ranked by priority. This will help you optimize the appointment time. You might consider bringing a relative or friend that you trust with you to your appointment. Two sets of eyes and ears are better than one. They may think of questions that do not occur to you and help you recall something you may have missed. They might even take notes for you so that you are clear about the doctor’s advice and instructions. If you attend your appointment alone, it is still a good idea to take notes. Ask for written information, links to helpful web sites and any other instructions.
Medical conversations can get complicated. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand something. You may be embarrassed about not comprehending what your doctor is telling you. You may be nervous about possibly getting news that you do not want to hear. Speak up! Your doctor will not know you don’t understand unless you tell him/her. Honesty is critical to a successful visit. Holding back information or not being truthful could jeopardize your health. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion. Be assured that your conversations with your doctor are private and privileged.

Arrive a few minutes early for your appointment. Bring a sweater or light jacket with you in case the temperature in the doctor’s office is too cool for you. Wear comfortable clothing. If you are bringing a child, bring something to entertain them in the waiting room.

It is important that conversations about your health be a two way dialogue. Be sure that you are in agreement about your doctor’s recommended plan. More people are satisfied with their healthcare if they share the responsibility with their doctors. Your doctor is an expert in his/her area of medical care. You are the expert on yourself. A doctor’s appointment is not a one- time event; it is part of an ongoing relationship. Do your part to help your doctors do theirs.

Helpful tips when making an appointment with a new audiologist by Anita Case

11/30/2016

There are some things you should know prior to making a new patient appointment with an audiologist.

Finding an audiologist: To help you find an audiologist ask your physician or people you trust. Research the internet. Check your insurance plan for a list of providers. Make sure the audiologist is in network with your insurance plan.

Insurance: While checking with your insurance company, find out what hearing services are covered. You may call their phone number on the back of your insurance card as well as research their web site on the internet. Your insurance company can also tell you if you have a benefit that covers hearing aids. Be familiar with your out of pocket costs (copayments, deductibles, coinsurance) and be prepared to pay those costs at the time of your visit. Find out if your insurance requires a referral. Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans require a physician’s order/referral to see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation since audiologists are non-physician providers.

Information to schedule an appointment: Whether you are making the appointment for yourself or someone else, you will need to have some specific information on hand. You will need to let the scheduler know that you need a new patient appointment and the reason for the appointment. The appointment scheduler will need the patient’s full name as it appears on the insurance card, date of birth, complete mailing address, telephone number, email address if you have one, the name of the insurance company and the type of insurance plan. If you have been referred by another healthcare provider, the scheduler will need their full name and contact information. You also need to tell them how you heard about the audiologist you are scheduling with if you were not referred by a physician. If you have had any hearing evaluations in the past, especially the recent past, it is helpful to bring copies of those test results with you or have them forwarded prior to your visit.

Other information: Ask if you can obtain the audiologist’s patient information forms prior to your appointment. This will allow you to gather all the information you need prior to your appointment. The audiologist’s office can mail the forms to you or you may be directed to their web site for the forms. You will need to provide personal and family health history, descriptions of symptoms you may be having, a list of any hospitalizations and your list of medications. Being prepared with all this information will save time for you and the audiology staff at the time of your visit. If you are an adult child who has power of attorney for a parent, that documentation will need to be provided. Any documentation for child custody or guardianship would need to be provided as well.

Planning ahead for your appointment will allow your first visit go much more smoothly. It will insure that you have plenty of time for discussion about your hearing and all your options for hearing help.

Scheduling an appointment with an audiologist