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types of earmolds

Types of Earmolds

Types of Custom Earmolds Did you know, most hearing clinics do more than just hearing aids! There are several types of earmolds with uses outside of hearing aid care. Custom earmolds are all made with the same technique, but the specifications of the final product allow for various purposes. Let's check it out! Earmolds Hearing aid molds The obvious one is for hearing aids. Based on a person's hearing loss, custom earmolds can provide a better fit and sound quality. They can limit feedback (that annoying squealing sound) and for some people just make them more comfortable. Like anything custom, these can be made in a variety of styles based on client needs. Noise protection The orange foam earplugs from the hardware store do an okay job protecting your hearing. These are recommended for basic yard work and small amounts of noise exposure. Yet, customs can do so much more. In environments with extremely loud noise or long periods of loud noise, protecting your hearing is crucial as noise exposure (CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS) is the second leading cause of hearing loss. Custom protection molds have a better fit and we can also account for a larger reduction in attenuation (noise dampening). Meaning you can have molds that cut almost all the sound or others that cut a lot of it, but the filter allows you to hear people talk. For anyone working in a factory, around big machinery, or in other noisy environments, these are the way to go. Sleep plugs/Swim...

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parts of a hearing aid

How do Hearing Aids Work

How Hearing Aids Work Hearing aids have become incredibly small pieces of digital technology. Even these little devices can improve the quality of communication for many people with hearing loss. So, how do hearing aids work? Well, let's find out! While most hearing aids have the same basic components, some will have modifications based on the wearers' needs. Here is a basic overview of how the most common hearing aids work. Basic Hearing Aid Components As mentioned, all hearing aids have the same 4 basic components: microphones, an amplifier, a receiver, and a battery. Microphones - The microphones take in the sound and turn it into electrical signals Amplifier - The amplifier increases the strength of the signal to your prescription A Receiver or Speaker - The receiver or speaker takes that signal delivers a louder sound to your ears Battery - The battery, disposable or rechargeable, powers the whole process Sounds simple, right? But a lot happens in those 4 little parts in addition to some other components that can be involved. Other Components While these other components don't necessarily change the process for how the sound enters your ear, they can manipulate how you experience the sound. Domes or Custom molds - at the end of the receiver there is always a little rubber dome or a custom mold. Based on the size, shape, and style of the dome or mold, it will change how the sound enters your ear. Wax filters - another part of the receiver, most...

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guessing game

Stages of Guessing

The 4 Stages of Guessing We've all experienced guessing during a conversation. You're in a crowded room and it's loud, your attention was on something else for a moment, the person talking turned their head, etc. and a piece of information was missed, so you guess. However, when you add hearing loss to the equation, guessing becomes more of a common occurrence. Guessing happens in stages and these can be a slow progression. When we start guessing more than 50% of the time is when it becomes a problem. So, let's look a the stages of guessing. Stage 1: Guessing Correctly At this stage, you might be guessing a few words here and there and getting them right. Soft sounds like 'z,' 'v,' and 'p' may be becoming harder to hear. This one I think almost everyone has experienced. Some sounds when heard sound very similar, but we can usually glean enough from the context of the conversation to guess the word correctly. With a mild hearing loss, some sounds may be harder to hear, but you can typically follow the conversation with very little problem. Stage 2: Guessing Incorrectly Are you guessing at what people are saying most of the time but guessing part of the word correctly or guessing a similar word? At this stage, more sounds are becoming difficult to hear like 'j,' 'm,' 'd,' and 'b.' This is because all of the sounds made in the English language fall into a very specific pattern of where we...

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middle ear bones

Middle Ear Bones… They’re small!

Bones of the Middle Ear Did you know, the smallest bones in the human body are in the Middle Ear! It's true! These 3 little bones, collectively know as the ossicles, are the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes. Also know as the Hammer, Anvil, and Stirrup based on how they look. Middle Ear Fun Facts I don't know about you, but I like random fun facts, so here are a few about the middle ear! These bones are the smallest in the human body! They are small enough all 3 can fit on a dime. You can see the Malleus (Hammer) on the eardrum when looking into someone's ear. If damaged, these bones can now be surgically replaced! Talk about a tiny replacement part! They can vibrate as much as 20,000 times per second. The ear bones are the only ones that do not continue to grow after birth. Without these small bones, you would have moderate to severe hearing loss. You can have arthritis of the middle ear. It's true! This is called Otosclerosis, a hardening of the bones. Amazing how something so small can have such a large impact on our hearing. See Them In Motion To see how the ear works and how the middle ear bones move, check out the video below. Middle Ear from 0:22 to 0:47 Youtube: https://youtu.be/eQEaiZ2j9oc Do you know any other fun facts about the middle ear bones? Or the ear in general? Leave them in the comments below. For more fun facts, check...

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first pair and new pair of hearing aids

When to Replace Hearing Aids

When to Replace Hearing Aids Hearing aids in 2021 are pretty sophisticated. It's amazing how technology continues to improve each year from the processing speed, Bluetooth capabilities, etc. ... the possibilities are endless! However, just like any technological device, hearing aids do occasionally break down and need to be repaired or replaced. So when do you know it's time to replace your hearing aids? Hearing aids are meant for daily use, similar to our cellphones for example. With that daily wear and tear, they get exposed to dirt, dust, and moisture in our environment. But just like cellphones, with that daily use and changes to technology there are a number of reasons it may need to be replaced; most of the time for functionality. Based on best practices, here is the typical lifespan of a hearing aid in order for it to work at its best for you. The Hearing Aid Lifespan Typically, the lifespan of a hearing aid averages about 5 years with regular care and maintenance. Have we seen hearing aids that are older than that, absolutely! But we know that within that 5 years they've been exposed to a lot of wear, the technology has changed significantly, and repairs can be more costly as parts aren't as readily available. For some clients that have 3rd party coverage, like Workers Compensation (WSIB) or Ontario Disability (ODSP), it is also their standard to replace hearing aids every 5 years. If you are coming up on that 5-year mark, consider the...

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human lifespan

Hearing Tests through the Lifespan

Hearing Tests Through Life While most people don't think about getting a hearing test until into adulthood, there are various kinds of hearing tests that can be done throughout the lifespan. Some of these tests weren't as common until recent years. Beginning in 1995 by the World Health Organization, at least the first test, is standard for all infants. Although you may not get tested until you're an adult, here are the variety of hearing tests that can happen throughout your life. Infant Hearing Tests As stated above, infant hearing screenings are now pretty standard practice in most countries. The goal of infant hearing screenings is to identify infants with hearing loss within 3 months of birth and to put intervention/amplification in place by at least 6 months of age. Typically these tests are done at the hospital, occasionally right after birth, or through other community organizations. With this protocol in place, these children are identified early and intervention is put in place as soon as possible. Why is this important? It is known that children who are hard of hearing or deaf typically have delayed speech development and other delays to emotional and social development. In Ontario alone, approximately 4 of every 1000 babies are born deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally, babies that are born premature, with low birth weight, born with infections, etc. are at a higher risk. With early intervention, there is less risk to these delays. How are Infants Tested? During an infant hearing screening, measurements...

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several causes of hearing loss

6 Causes of Hearing Loss

6 Causes of Hearing Loss When we think about hearing loss, most people equate hearing loss with aging. However, natural aging is not the only cause of hearing loss.  While aging accounts for a large percentage of hearing loss in adults, there are other factors to consider as well. Here are the 6 most common causes of hearing loss. Loud Noise Exposure Other than aging, exposure to loud noise is the 2nd leading cause of hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). This type of exposure can occur after one incident of extremely loud noise. For example, having a shotgun go off beside your ear with no hearing protection, sitting beside the speaker at a loud concert, etc. Secondarily, it could be from daily exposure to louder than average noise; for many that work in the trades, this is a common occurrence. This could be driving a semi-truck, working in a factory, construction, etc. Although most workplaces now post the noise exposure within their facilities and require workers to wear ear protection if there are loud levels, this was not a common practice until the 1970s and 1980s. If you've worked in noise and have subsequent hearing loss, you may be eligible to apply for coverage through Workers Compensation (WSIB). Click HERE for more information on this process. Heredity Our genetics are fascinating and strange things. While we can predict some things based on genetics, others we can't. Some combinations of parents' genetics can contribute to childhood deafness, abnormalities of...

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ear candles

Ear Candling

Ear Candling and Wax Ear Candling, I'm sure we've all heard about it or have done it at some point in time [definitely more popular in the early 2000s]. Candling has been advertised as a natural home remedy to remove ear wax similar to ear drops and Q-tips. But does it actually work? Is it safe? What are Ear Candles? Ear candles are just that, candles. These hollow candles have been advertised as 'cure-alls' for things like wax blockages and earaches. I definitely remember my mom using these on me as a child for earaches after swimming. As the candle burns down it's supposed to draw the wax out of your ear. At the end, you can cut them open and there is usually some pretty gross-looking stuff inside that was supposedly pulled from the ear. The question remains, is the candle actually pulling wax out of the ear? The Reality of Ear Candling As an effective way to remove wax, according to research ear candling isn't up to par with clinical approaches such as water irrigation. Although the warmth of the candle can provide some temporary relief from pain; like putting heat on a sore muscle. The concern with ear candling is 3 fold: 1. it doesn't really remove wax 2. the chance that wax or other material will fall into the ear and 3. the heat can dry out the ear canal. Although it may look like wax is being removed from the ear, the laws of physics cause...

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Sweating

Hearing Aids and Sweat

Hearing Aids, Sweat, and Moisture Ah, summer, the heat is great, but sweat... well maybe not so much, especially if you wear hearing aids. Like any form of technology, moisture is not a friend of electronics. Yet sweat isn't' really something you can control all the time. So how do you protect your hearing aids from sweat? In addition to having your hearing health clinic clean and maintain your hearing aids on a regular basis, there are several at-home moisture kits that are effective in keeping your hearing aids dry. Let's check them out... In-Home Drying Kits Rice - in a pinch, rice isn't a bad option. Just like when your phone gets a little wet, popping your hearing aids in a bag of rice is better than nothing! Dri Aid Kit Dri Aid is one of the most common in-home driers. Depending on the brand, they come with silica or clay beads that absorb the moisture. Some can even be reactivated once they've absorbed all they can by putting the bead in the oven. They are great for regular maintenance of your hearing aids and for those who sweat a fair amount.   Dry Lux The Dry Lux is the next step up from a jar drier. The Dry Lux uses UV-C light to both dry and disinfect your hearing aids.       Ear Gear For an additional layer of protection, Ear Gear may be a great choice for you. These microfiber sleeves fit over your behind the ear...

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Applying for WSIB Hearing Aids

WSIB Hearing Aids Do you or have you worked in noise? If you were exposed to high levels of noise that resulted in 'noise-induced' hearing loss, you may be entitled to hearing aids through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). For those that have worked in factories, around big machinery, driven large trucks, etc. there is a lot of noise in your environment. If you think your hearing has been affected by work-related noise, here are 3 steps to applying for WSIB covered hearing aids. Steps to Apply Get a hearing test - this lets us know if you display 'noise-induced' hearing loss and is part of the application process Fill out the WSIB application - the application will include information about your work history Wait for decision - once we send in the application it can take anywhere from 6-months to 1 year to get a decision from the adjudicator, but worth the wait for sure. And that's it, those are the steps for applying for WSIB hearing aids! We'll take care of all the paperwork for you. If approved... If WSIB approves your claim, you are entitled to several things. Obviously, they will pay for your hearing aids; which they will replace for you every 5 years for the rest of your life. Additionally, any appointments and supplies for the hearing aids will also be covered. This includes program adjustments, annual hearing tests, hearing aid cleanings, batteries, etc.   While there is a wait if you got hurt...

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