How Do I Know When It’s Time to Upgrade My Hearing Aid?

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Accepting it’s time to get a hearing aid can be difficult, but what do you do when your hearing aid isn’t working properly anymore? Sometimes loss of hearing is so subtle that you don’t notice the signs until they’re extreme. Like all technology, hearing aids require updates. Technology improves over time. Innovations become more ground-breaking. The fit becomes more comfortable. 

 

Hearing aids are not what they were ten years ago, and the same will be true ten years from now. Hearing aids can last up to 7 years, but some models start to show their age in as few as three years. For this reason, it’s important to remain in regular contact with your audiologist and work closely with your hearing care provider to ensure that your device is working correctly. 

 

There are a few signs to keep in mind as your hearing aid ages:

 

Loss of Hearing

Hearing loss is degenerative, and as such, it gets worse over time. If you notice you’re struggling to hear more often than you were when you first adjusted to your hearing aid, it may be time to consider a visit to your hearing care provider. 

Lifestyle Changes

If you’ve had any lifestyle changes since your last hearing aid adjustment, you may have noticed a difference in performance. Quieter lifestyles and louder lifestyles have different hearing aid requirements. If you have new grandkids around or you’ve started a more demanding job, you might want to consider reaching out to a hearing specialist for the necessary adjustments and upgrades. 

Industry Innovations

Hearing aid technology improves with time. New features can be rolled out as frequently as every year, and it’s possible that the new features will enhance your hearing and your quality of life. Modern hearing aids can seamlessly pair with your technology, such as your computer, TV, and other audio devices.  

 

Like all modern technology, innovations are getting bigger and better every day. Take charge of your hearing health and reach out to your hearing care provider to discuss the latest options in hearing aids. 

How Hearing Aids Can Remedy the Adverse Effects of Hearing Loss in Adults

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When an individual experiences hearing loss, the disability is frequently thought of only in terms of the lack of auditory awareness. Yet, when someone suffers from hearing loss, the negative effects often impact all aspects of their life. When someone is unable to properly hear the environment around them, situational awareness suffers significantly, causing a decline in other functional abilities as well. These declines are not just centered around the individual, but also in the perception of that individual’s capabilities when dealing with others in a solitary or interpersonal setting.

Here we discuss several of the adverse effects of hearing impairment in adults — and how modern hearing aid technology can grant individuals a fulfilling, well-rounded lifestyle.

Reduced Opportunities for Professional and Personal Development Due to Hearing Decline

Being able to attend class or perform functions at work depends highly on the ability of the individual to hear instructions and adequately communicate with others, whether they are classmates or coworkers. A decline in hearing ability negatively impacts an individual’s ability to properly receive pertinent information in an academic or professional setting. This incumbrance can lead to decreased work and school performance resulting in fewer educational and professional opportunities. Equally important are the significant social and economic impacts that are caused on an individual that has a physical limitation affecting their ability to learn and work.

Hearing Aids and Enhanced Communication

Hearing aids equip students and professionals alike with the ability to absorb information easily and effectively communicate in-person with their peers, instructors, supervisors, and other pertinent personnel.

Social Isolation as a Result of Reduced Hearing Function

When someone suffers from hearing loss, they miss important parts of auditory information sent to them via speech, music, and the environment. This inability to listen to their surroundings often leads to confusion. When this happens, the individual suffering from hearing loss often withdraws from social functions. They are also likely to experience reduced access to services in their communities. This begins the downward spiral of social isolation. The individual no longer wishes to participate in confusing communal activities and receives less information about services that may benefit them.

Hearing Aids and Increased Situational Awareness

However, when an individual suffering from hearing loss is provided a fuller, more refined auditory spectrum with hearing aids, they can confidently and comfortably immerse themselves in any indoor or outdoor environment.

Emotional Distress Caused by Hearing Impairment

Reduced social opportunities and isolation due to hearing impairment can lead to a distressed emotional state. Depression and anxiety become ever more present as the individual attempts to navigate their environment with a reduced sense of hearing. Decreased social participation, as well as reduced educational and professional opportunities, can lead to a significant increase in feelings of hopelessness. Denial can also play a factor as an individual comes to grips with the reality they may need a hearing device’s assistance to overcome their physical limitation. All of these emotions contribute to a distressed state that adversely affects the physical and mental well-being of the individual.

Hearing Aids and Bolstered Self-Esteem

Hearing aid solutions are just that — solutions. Feelings of hopelessness and emotional distress can be curbed by the ability to hear clearly, helping people overcome an individualistic sense of perpetual discouragement.

Begin Living Again with Discount Daily Hearing

At Discount Daily Hearing, we strive to provide high-quality and affordable options to improve your hearing. We are dedicated to offering cost-effective solutions to people who wish to regain their sense of hearing and enjoy their lives again. We offer a wide range of hearing aids from leading manufacturers such as Siemens-Signia, Phonak, ReSound, Widex, and more!

What’s the Connection Between Hearing Loss and Dementia?

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As researchers continue to examine a range of health problems that affect older Americans, a picture is beginning to emerge linking hearing loss to dementia. Hearing loss affects nearly 50 million Americans, with the most significant demographic being those in their 70s. For many years, hearing loss was considered a normal part of the overall aging process, yet recent studies have begun to show hearing loss plays a significant role in mental health decline.

 

Here we will discuss some of the new research that is now linking hearing loss with dementia:

 

 

Severity of Hearing Loss Directly Linked to Cognitive Decline

Research now shows that depending on the severity of the hearing loss an individual experiences may be directly related to the chances of developing dementia. Meaning, the more significant someone’s hearing loss, the greater chance they are to experience dementia and cognitive decline symptoms. 

 

Here are some startling figures outlining the connection:

 

  • A normal hearing range is 0-25 db. People with mild hearing loss (25-45 db) are at double the risk of developing dementia as those who have not experienced hearing loss.
  • Individuals with moderate hearing loss (45-65 db) are three times more likely to experience cognitive decline.
  • Those with severe hearing loss (65-85 db) or profound hearing loss (85+ db) are as much as five times more likely to suffer from dementia.
  • Early research indicates that with every 10-decibel increase in one’s ability to hear, the additional risk of developing dementia rises by 20%. For older adults over the age of 60, 36% of the risk for cognitive decline is directly related to hearing impairment.

 

Physiology and Comorbidity

The first possible link between hearing loss and dementia may be a physiological pathway contributing to hearing loss and dementia. This would be something along the lines of high blood pressure. Yet, current research uses statistical modeling to consider such factors that could be linked to both conditions. Thus, most often, the physiological consequences of a common cause are not regarded as plausible by many studying cognitive decline and hearing loss.

 

Increased Strain on Cognitive Capabilities

Another possible explanation for the link between cognitive capabilities and hearing loss is the additional strain placed on the brain when attempting to compensate for reduced hearing ability. Some researchers have said this makes sense as resources used for retaining memory and problem solving may be diverted to overcome hearing loss. Over time, this process could contribute to a decline in brain resilience.

 

Further research is being conducted to examine this potential cause and effect relationship between hearing loss and dementia to discover how these mechanisms within the brain interact with one another.

 

Physical Alteration in Brain Structure

Another factor to consider is that the loss of hearing contributes to changes in the physical structure of the brain. These changes alter the brain’s ability to process information correctly and contribute to cognitive impairment. Some studies involving the medical imaging of the brain have shown that seniors with hearing loss have reduced gray matter in portions of their brains that handle sound and speech recognition. There is still a significant amount of speculation regarding the impact of reduced cellular structure within the brain and its relation to both hearing loss and dementia.

 

Social Isolation

Finally, the social isolation caused by the lack of hearing may play a role in cognitive decline. Having hearing loss tends to isolate an individual from others for many reasons. The inability to hear friends and family when they speak means one would be less likely to participate in social events, both big and small. Additionally, social isolation has already been shown to play a significant role in cognitive impairment.

 

In Conclusion

More research is needed to clarify the association between hearing loss and dementia. Fortunately, many doctors are now working on additional studies to shed more light on this critical topic. However, studies show that the use of hearing aids reduces the risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia.

 

Contact Us to Buy Hearing Aids Online

At Discount Daily Hearing, we understand the importance of hearing what is going on around you. We are proud to provide high-quality hearing aids from leading brands, including Phonak, Siemens/Signia, ReSound, and more, that will help you regain control of your life and are priced to work within your budget.

Are Hearing Aids Tax Deductible?

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First things first — the good news is that hearing aids are tax-deductible, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind:

 

Hearing Aids Are Tax-Deductible If You Itemize Your Medical Expenses

If you want to take advantage of tax deductions for hearing aids, you will need to itemize your medical expenses carefully. 

 

Itemizing your medical expenses can be a tedious process of collecting and scanning receipts, among other things, so you might not decide to deduct your hearing aid expenses every year. If you spend more than 7.5% of your income on medical costs over a two-year period, you are eligible to deduct your medical costs from your insurance. 

 

In short, if you have paid a lot of medical bills this year, you may benefit from itemizing your hearing aid expenses and taking advantage of deductions. 

 

What Hearing Aid Expenses Can You Deduct From Your Taxes? 

 

 

You can deduct the following hearing-related medical expenses:

 

  • Hearing aids
  • Batteries
  • Maintenance costs 
  • Phone equipment to link your hearing devices to your phone
  • Televisions, hearing-related tv accessories, and repair costs
  • A guide dog and their related food, veterinary, and grooming expenses
  • Specialized smoke detectors, doorbells, and burglar alarms

 

Consult With a Tax Expert to Take Advantage of All Available Deductions. 

Taxes can get undoubtedly get overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. You can use the IRS form 1040 Schedule A to itemize your taxes, and you’ll need to make sure to hold onto all your receipts. Tax experts and certified accountants can help you figure out exactly which of your expenses qualify as medical expenses and the best methods for deductions. If you purchased hearing aids for a family member, the purchase only qualifies for deduction if you also claim that person as a dependent. 

 

 

Purchase Affordable Hearing Aids at Discount Daily Hearing

For more information about the latest and greatest in hearing aid technology, browse our full suite of products, including devices from Phonak, Signia, Widex, and ReSound, or contact our customer service team today!

Left Ear vs. Right Ear — How They Are Different

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For many, the concept of hearing rarely comes to mind because it’s “built-in.” For those with hearing disabilities, understanding how the body processes sound is crucial for making the necessary adjustments for better hearing. While both the left and right ear look identical on the outside, the left and right ear each process sounds in different ways.

 

How Do the Left and Right Ear Differ?

 

In general, your left ear responds best to emotion, music, and concepts related to intuition, whereas your right ear is more logical and responds best to speech. The difference between your left and right ears can be attributed to the difference between the two hemispheres of the brain. The left is the creative, intuitive, and emotionally attuned portion of the brain, whereas the right side of the brain is responsible for critical thinking and logical reasoning. 

 

How the Left and Right Ear Work Together

Human ears are on each side of the head; this is known as binaural hearing. Binaural hearing allows humans to figure out where sound is coming from, makes it possible to hear over long distances, and delivers a balanced sound that the brain then processes. Because of the way humans hear, it can be challenging for people to communicate if they’re struggling with the loss of hearing in one of their ears. 

 

How Hearing Aids Can Help

When one or both ears are developing hearing loss, hearing aids can help. Hearing aids help balance the sounds for your brain to better process the information it receives. Hearing aids can help individuals struggling with hearing loss enjoy music again and experience the full range of sounds they may be missing. 

For more information about our hearing aid solutions, including supplies from Phonak, Siemens/Signia, Widex, and ReSound, contact our team today.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss

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Are you concerned you or a loved one is facing hearing problems? Hearing loss symptoms depend on the hearing loss one has, as well as the severity. For example, someone with mild hearing loss in both ears experiences sound differently than a person with profound hearing loss in one ear.

 

What Are the General Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

There are several indicators adults may not be hearing as well as they used to. Those facing hearing loss may experience one or a few of the following scenarios:

 

  • Friends and family say you turn the television at an exceptionally loud volume
  • You struggle to understand speech, particularly in noisy environments or against background noise
  • You are frequently unsure where sound is coming from, known as localization
  • A sense that you can hear but cannot understand
  • Avoidance of specific social settings or withdrawal from conversations

 

Hearing loss is defined as one of three types: Conductive (involving outer or middle ear), sensorineural (involving inner ear), and mixed (a combination of the two).

 

Hearing Loss from Inner Ear or Nerve Damage

The most widespread type of hearing loss is sensorineural, caused by damage to the delicate hair cells in the inner ear or nerve pathways that deliver sound to the brain. Roughly 90% of those with hearing loss have sensorineural hearing loss, and it has a wide range of causes.

Sensorineural hearing loss is typically gradual. Both how loudly and how clearly you perceive sound are affected. Those with sensorineural hearing loss may also experience a phenomenon regarded as recruitment, which causes loud sounds to be uncomfortable to listen to, such as fireworks or live music. Some may struggle to hear low-pitched and high-pitched sounds, while others may struggle with one range. Additionally, one ear may hear better than the other.

 

Symptoms of high-frequency hearing loss

Among the most common types of sensorineural hearing loss is high-frequency hearing loss. Many who have presbycusis, an age-related hearing loss, develop this. It results in the impacted ability to hear birds chirping, beeping sounds, children’s voices, and certain consonant sounds.

 

Symptoms of Conductive Hearing Loss

Around 10% of those with hearing loss have what’s called conductive hearing loss, meaning their outer or middle ear is not working normally. Causes can range from severe earwax blockage to head trauma.

When it occurs in adults, conductive hearing loss tends to develop faster than sensorineural hearing loss, and depending on the cause, may be reversible. Symptoms are similar to that of general hearing loss symptoms, only at a more rapid rate. Pain, pressure, and even a strange odor in your ears are other signifiers of a condition that leads to conductive hearing loss.

 

Prominent Risk Factors

 

Do You Have Difficulty Hearing? Harness the Power of Our Hearing Aids!

If you suspect hearing loss in yourself or someone close to you, rest assured Discount Daily Hearing has state-of-the-art hearing aids from leading manufacturers in stock that don’t just help restore the ability to hear but equip wearers with a newfound confidence to lead a full life. For additional information about our hearing aid styles or financing options, reach out to our team today!

Telemedicine and Hearing Aids: How Modern Technology Makes Hearing Care More Convenient and Accessible Than Ever

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The COVID-19 pandemic has, in many ways, changed the world forever. During lockdown orders, essential and non-essential businesses alike had to make immediate adjustments to continue serving their clientele without jeopardizing the quality of their services. The hearing care industry is no exception. The pandemic made many individuals, especially high-risk senior citizens, hesitant about keeping their regular appointments out of fear of exposure to the virus. After many months spent reworking business strategies, many hearing care providers have pivoted to offer telemedicine as part of their services. 

Telemedicine allows patients to conveniently schedule and keep appointments without worrying about disrupting their routine. 

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth is a HIPAA compliant form of healthcare that allows patients to log into a secure video portal where they can connect with experienced hearing care providers remotely. With this healthcare service delivery model, patients can receive care anywhere they have access to an internet connection. 

One of the most significant advantages of telehealth is its accessibility, especially in the context of hearing loss. When it comes to in-person care, patients suffering from hearing loss may avoid treatment due to insecurity, or they may struggle to hear effectively during face-to-face interactions. Telemedicine allows these individuals to access treatment without emotional and physical barriers. 

Telemedicine is available to new patients and returning patients alike, but it can be an exceptionally streamlined experience if the patient has an established relationship with their hearing care specialists. Telemedicine allows patients to receive diagnostic evaluations and interact with their doctor in a personal way. Telemedicine is especially advantageous for people in rural areas and people with mobility challenges. 

Hearing care providers can calibrate hearing aids remotely

While telehealth certainly has broad-spectrum benefits, it would be remiss not to highlight the applications specifically for calibrating hearing aids. If you’re a busy person, high-risk for viral infection, or live far from your hearing care specialist, it can be incredibly inconvenient to make time twice a year to adjust your hearing aids. 

As technology advances, hearing care providers have evolved to meet the growing needs of their patients by offering remote hearing aid calibration. Telemedicine is especially convenient for new patients or people who have recently been fitted with new hearing aids because these can require frequent adjustments until the proper settings are found. Previously, this process involved several in-person in-office visits, but now, it can be done in a few minutes from the comfort of your own home. 

During a remote appointment, your hearing care provider will use secure web-based software to make real-time adjustments to your hearing aids as needed. If there is an issue, you’ll know immediately and be able to report it to your hearing care provider. 

How to Prepare for Your Telehealth Appointment

There are ways to prepare for your telehealth appointment with your hearing care provider to ensure its success. Below you’ll find some tips for making the most of your telehealth appointments:

 

  • Telehealth software is not universal and every office will have their own way of conducting telehealth appointments. If your hearing aid is smartphone enabled, your telehealth appointment will be conducted through your smartphone’s app. Charge your device ahead of your appointment to make sure you are ready at the designated time and don’t experience undue technical difficulties. 
  • Ensure you have a reliable WiFi speed. Most hearing aid apps require a speed of 10 Mbps to operate without interruption.
  • If you are having trouble hearing your provider during the call, advocate for yourself. You can ask them to look directly at the camera or stop covering their mouth.
  • Some telehealth appointment software offers the ability to caption audio on the call. If this is an option, utilize it. 

Not all telehealth software is created equally, so even if you have previously used telehealth software, it’s a good idea to ask for detailed instructions about your provider’s unique software. This simple step will allow you to feel more confident in the quality of your care and your ability to access it. 

What to Expect for the Future

Right now, the imperative for telemedicine is convenience. Moving forward, patients can expect more and more hearing care providers to take advantage of telemedicine as the laws evolve around it. 

With accessibility in mind, the growing trend of telemedicine may also bring down the costs of hearing equipment. With improved access to care, many caregivers have reported that the ability to remotely service devices and keep an open line of communication has increased their patients’ quality of life, mood, and enjoyment of other activities. 

For more information about our telehealth options, including the ability to remotely calibrate and service hearing devices, don’t hesitate to review our customer services, resources, and hearing aids options. 

The Benefits of Bluetooth Hearing Aids

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Say goodbye to the outdated hearing aids of the past and say hello to Bluetooth! No longer do you have to remove your hearing aid to listen to music or talk on your phone; it can all be done with one device, thanks to Bluetooth. Hearing aid technology has developed significantly in the past decade, allowing those who need hearing devices to maintain their independence and better connect to the world. Let’s dive into some of the essential benefits of Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

 

 

 

Excellent Sound Quality

When they first hit the market, hearing aids were often associated with screechy and loud sounds that would bother many users. When you use Bluetooth hearing aids, you will experience the best sound quality available. Bluetooth has crystal clear signals that will elevate your listening experience while canceling out any possible interference.

 

Hands-Free Experience

Do you ever find yourself having to take off your hearing aid to talk on the phone? With Bluetooth-enabled devices, your wireless hearing aid acts as a phone headset. Enjoy clear phone calls without having to worry if you will miss anything from not hearing. You will also be able to hear background noise around you while on your phone call. 

 

Compatible With Your Smartphone

 

Acting as a remote control, your smartphone can adjust your hearing aids whenever it’s needed. There is no more hassle with trying to operate the small buttons on your aids. You are able to control the volume, audio profiles, and settings on your electronic device with the touch of a button. 

 

Connects to Both Ears

Binaural hearing gives humans the ability to hear out of both ears. If you require two hearing aids, Bluetooth allows both of them to communicate with high-quality technology. When you hear a sound from one ear, Bluetooth sends the sound to the other ear. You will be able to hear phone calls from both ears and enjoy enhanced localization of sounds.

 

Personalization

Aside from wearers being able to make on-the-fly adjustments to their device’s volume and pitch, Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids let them create custom presets for particular environments such as restaurants, concerts, or large gatherings.

 

Hearing loss doesn’t have to be a scary thing with Bluetooth hearing aids. With the ability to stream audio, watch TV shows, and make phone calls while giving you perfect hearing, there is no better option for your ears. 

 

Don’t miss out on the sounds of life with your old hearing aid! Talk to a hearing specialist at Discount Daily Hearing today for more information about our Bluetooth hearing aids, including the Signia Active Pro.

How Hearing Aids Can Help Manage Tinnitus

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Many people with tinnitus also experience hearing loss. It becomes harder to mask the tinnitus sound when this happens because it’s all they can focus on. Finding an effective treatment for the ringing, buzzing, or humming noise becomes a priority.

 

Fortunately, many people diagnosed with tinnitus and hearing loss have been able to find relief with the use of hearing aids. These little devices amplify external sounds while masking tinnitus symptoms. Let’s look at how exactly tinnitus can be managed with hearing aids.

 

 

 

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Ever wondered if your throbbing headache and stuffy nose were just a cold, or something more? You’re not alone. Millions of people worldwide grapple with sinus infections each year, but many are left questioning – are sinus infections contagious? And how can you prevent them? This comprehensive guide from Discount Daily Hearing will lay out all the facts, dispel myths, and arm you with the knowledge to navigate sinusitis like a pro.

 

Makes Other Sounds Louder

When you start to lose your hearing due to age, hearing damage, or trauma to the auditory system, the tinnitus sounds grow louder. The ringing becomes your annoying companion morning, noon, and night.

 

 

Hearing aids can help manage these irritating noises by making it easier to hear the external sounds around you. You can turn the volume up on your grandkids’ chatter, the crashing of the waterfall on your hike, or the soft melodies from your record player to draw focus away from the buzzing in your ears.

 

Improves Communication

It seems like a brick wall builds up around you when you can’t hear what others are saying. It leaves you feeling like you can’t properly engage with your coworkers, friends, and family. In your loneliness, it becomes harder to ignore the effects of your tinnitus, which isolates you even more.

 

Carrying on conversations is much easier when you have hearing aids that amplify the sounds around you. You’ll be able to enjoy stories from your friends and family without having to ask them to repeat themselves. By being more social, you’ll be distracted from your tinnitus. It also improves your feelings of stress, which can make tinnitus symptoms worse if not properly managed.

 

Stimulates the Auditory Receptors in Your Brain

Hearing loss can cause the auditory centers in your brain to atrophy or weaken over time. By wearing hearing aids, you’ll keep these audio receptors healthy because they’ll continue to have practice interpreting background noises. Over time, stimulating these auditory pathways can help minimize the symptoms of tinnitus.

 

Get Tinnitus Relief with Hearing Aids

Dealing with tinnitus or hearing loss on its own is challenging enough. If you’re struggling with both, it can seem like your situation is hopeless. The good news is that you can find relief from tinnitus symptoms and hearing loss with the use of hearing aids. Enjoy the enriching sounds of your family’s laughter, your friends’ conversations, and the birds chirping around you while masking the ringing noises in your ears.

Hearing Aid Must-Haves: Accessories to Enhance Your Hearing

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When you have some degree of hearing loss, hearing aids can be beneficial. But because you wear them every day, all day, they need to be cleaned and maintained on occasion to extend their usefulness. You may also find that you need a little extra assistance in certain situations, even with your hearing aids.

 

This is where hearing aid accessories come in. Not only can they prolong the life of your hearing aids, but they can also allow you to have a better listening experience. Let’s look at the top must-have hearing aid accessories you can buy to get the most out of your hearing aids.

 

 

 

Cleaning Tools

All of our hearing aids come with a cleaning brush, domes, and wax guards — all of which are helpful with removing stubborn wax and dirt. It’s important to note that the type of wax guard you use will depend on the brand of hearing aid you have. For example, Phonak hearing aids should use their CeruShield disks, while Widex models should use the brand’s Nanocare wax guards.

 

Carrying Case

Because you can’t (and shouldn’t) always wear your hearing aids, you need to have a special carrying case to keep them safe when not in use. These cases can keep your hearing aids clean, and some are even waterproof, which is perfect when you’re traveling or going to the pool or beach.

 

Extra Source of Power

Whether you have rechargeable hearing aids or hearing aids with disposable batteries, it’s always a good idea to have an extra source of power handy. A good way to keep spare power on hand is by carrying around a portable charger. This way, you can charge dying hearing aids in a pinch, especially if you’re traveling and do not have access to a plug. The Phonak Power Pack can last up to seven days, and the charging pads for the Signia Styletto hearing aids or the Signia Active Charger and Portable Charger for AX make charging on the go easy and reduce the wear done to the hearing aid’s charging port.

 

It’s also a good idea to stash an extra charging cord in the car, your purse, or a bag. You never know when you may need to give your hearing aids a quick charge when you’re out and about.

 

Hearing Aid Dryers

Hearing aids are tiny little computers with many electronic processors that any amount of moisture can easily damage. Sweat, rain, and snow can all take a toll on your hearing aids. Luckily, there are ways to dehumidify hearing aid devices to prolong their lives.

 

Each hearing aid manufacturer has a rechargeable case that doubles as a little hearing aid dry box. For example, Widex has the PerfectDry Lux dryer that dries and cleans the hearing aids, while Signia has the Dry&Clean charger, and Phonak provides a Charge and Care case. Regardless of the hearing aid brand you have, you can keep them dry and operating at peak performance with an appropriately made dry box.

 

TV Assistive Listening Device

Suppose you’re having trouble catching everything that is said on your favorite TV show or news segment. In that case, the best option is not to turn up the volume until everyone in your house begins to complain but to set up a TV-specific assistive listening device. This type of device uses Bluetooth technology to allow you to stream audio directly to your hearing aids. This way, you can minimize background noise and personalize your TV-watching preferences without disturbing anyone else in the household.

 

No matter the hearing aid model you have, there’s likely a TV assistive listening device that is compatible. For example, there’s the Widex TV Play for the Widex Evoke 110 or the Signia Streamline TV Connector for the Signia Styletto Xperience. There’s also the TV Connector from Phonak. Whatever the hearing aid manufacturer has decided to call this device, they all do the same thing: allow you to hear every word and sound on the TV.

 

Companion Microphones

Being in a loud environment (such as a restaurant) or being far from the speaker (such as in a classroom) can be especially challenging for someone with hearing loss. Thankfully, hearing aid manufacturers recognized a need for additional assistance and created companion, or remote, microphones to improve speech understanding in situations where the speaker is hard to hear with just hearing aids.

 

The mic can be worn around the speaker’s neck or set on the table near the person (or people) speaking. The microphone, such as the Phonak Roger Mic, transmits the speaker’s voice directly to your hearing aids so regardless of what is happening around you, you can listen closely to the speaker.

 

Choosing Your Hearing Aid Accessories

Keeping your hearing aids working long after you get them requires taking care of them with the right tools. And ensuring you enjoy every moment involves having all the right hearing aid accessories. Choose all the ones that match your lifestyle and help you forget you’re even wearing hearing aids.