Your Voice on a Tape Recorder (or through a Hearing Aid)
Did you ever hear your voice on a recording or through a hearing aid? Bet you didn’t like it. You most likely thought it didn’t sound anything like you. In fact, in a study of subjects listening to recordings of their own voice, along with recordings of 19 unfamiliar voice recordings, only 38% of subjects recognized their own voice.
Whether you liked or hated the sound of your voice on a recording that is the “real” sound of your voice. That is the voice others hear when you speak. It is not however, the voice you hear. The sound waves, created when we talk, create vibrations in our vocal cords, the vibrations of our vocal cords, soft tissue, and bones in our head. This makes us sound richer and deeper to ourselves.
WHAT’S NORMAL? How Your Voice Sounds With a Hearing Aid
Nearly everyone that puts on a hearing aid for the first time hates the sound of their voice. After putting on the hearing aids, every audiologist hears, “Ewww, I hate my own voice.” “I sound hollow and like an echo.” “I sound like I’m in a tunnel.” “I sound so raspy.”
The response of every audiologist is, “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.” That is true. The majority of hearing aid users do quickly get used to, and accept, the sound of their own voice.
“Normal” is what you’re used to. You’re used to hearing yourself with a hearing deficit at many of the pitches of speech. Your hearing changed gradually over 15 to 20 years. You didn’t notice that, little by little, your voice changed subtly along with it. Suddenly, in one minute, you’re hearing all of the pitches that took 20 years to lose.
It’s shocking. You don’t like it. No one likes it. But really, you do get used to the sound of your voice through hearing aids. Your “new” voice becomes your “new” normal. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen overnight
THE GOOD NEWS. Hearing Aids Deliver
Faster Adaptation and more immediate relief are on their way. By understanding, and then manipulating, the intricacies and dynamics of sound, hearing aid manufacturers have gone to great lengths to reduce the shock of hearing a new you.
Technology really is amazing (when your computer works).
If we seem a little smarter about new hearing technologies next time you come in, here’s why.
Hearing Health Center audiologists learn about new hearing technologies through committed continuing education
Several times a year, we close all five offices and everyone gets together for an intense, idea-filled day of Continuing Education. Friday, August 23, was one of those days—with a full program of expert speakers, demonstrations and hands-on experience with the newest of the new in Audiology.
“We’re in an industry with technical and treatment advances happening continuously and our patients depend on us to be on the cutting-edge of progress at all times,” said Director of Operations Marsela Kole, who was the Event Chairperson.
The “next generation” hearing aids from the world’s leading manufacturers garnered profound interest. They provide benefits to wearers that go far beyond hearing quality and clarity that have exceeded all expectations. Patients who have worn hearing aids for years will discover processing power far beyond anything they’ve experienced, letting them understand speech effortlessly in noisy settings—with unwanted sounds suppressed.
Features of this new hearing technology include many vital functions for health, safety and information never before associated with hearing aids. The revolutionary devices include ones that monitor brain and body activity, can actually sense if the wearer has fallen and automatically send out alerts to three pre-selected contacts. Others can be serviced via an app, avoiding an office visit, and stream telephone, TV, music and messages directly into the patients’ ears.
Marsela Kole said “These days are always a good chance for the teams from each of the offices to get together, compare notes and participate together in group activities. There’s always some fun to be had.”
Over 100,000 people will descend on Chicago’s Grant Park for Lollapalooza this year. The annual festival is already wreaking havoc on traffic, and is sure to kill millions of tiny hair cells in the ears that respond to sound. Many attendees will go home with permanent hearing damage.
In previous years, the level of the music was measured anywhere from 115 to 135 decibels. “At that level,” said Dr.
Ronna Fisher, AuD audiologist, “permanent damage can occur in two minutes.”
“Once it’s gone…it’s gone,” says Fisher. “You will never hear the music, or anything else, clearly again.”
Do not be a martyr…or stupid.
The music is too loud if:
- You experience any buzzing/ringing/noises (tinnitus) in your ears
- Sounds, voices, hearing, is muffled when you leave
- If you have to yell to be heard, it is too loud.
Tips to Protect Whatever Hearing You Have Left
- Try to position yourself away from the speakers (where the sound is loudest)
- Wear earplugs. Almost any kind will protect your ears if you get them in correctly. For frequent concertgoers, get custom, high fidelity earplugs (available at any Audiology office). They will fit your ears perfectly and let you hear the music and the singer while decreasing harmful sounds.
- Take a break. Ears that get a break have time to recover and do not suffer as much damage.
- Drinking and smoking make you less sensitive to sound (ever get into your car in the morning and the radio is blasting from the night before?). Pay attention.
If you still have ringing/buzzing,etc, and voices still sound muffled and unclear, after 48 hours, you need professional help. Now. Call your local Doctor of Audiology, Primary Physician, or ENT specialist.
Every Voice is Too Precious to Miss: Going Above and Beyond
A Patient Care Story
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At Hearing Health Center, going the extra mile is part of our mission statement. We strive to bring our patients the best care in every way we can; it’s written into our foundation. That’s why Dr. Robert Risley made a home visit recently after he had seen all of his patients for the day.
Let’s say this patient’s name is Sarah. Sarah is homebound in an apartment and lives with a care giver. Since her hearing aids are no longer strong enough for her hearing needs, Sarah relies on written notes for her caregiver and subtitles on the television to stay engaged with what is happening around her. Her daughter does not live locally, making assisting her mother a near-impossible task.
The circumstances surrounding our health do not define us. That’s why Dr. Risley brought his portable audiometer in hopes of being able to improve Sarah’s quality of living. We do not realize the divide hearing loss wedges between us and our loved ones. Old hobbies become a challenge, routine life feels much more fast-paced and confusing. Hearing loss is gradual; the average American waits seven years before seeking help. Do yourself and your loved ones the biggest favor and stop in for a hearing check-up. You’ll be glad you did.
I recently came across a story by Alan Felman, a 30 year old writer for Medical News Today. I want to share it with you because it expresses so many of the emotions and behaviors I felt and exhibited before getting my hearing aids…and after.
“The big kicker with gradual-onset hearing loss is that you are not aware of how it’s changing you until the physical symptoms have become moderate to severe,” said Adam.
Hearing ability diminishes so slowly that you don’t realize that one day the sound of the turn signal disappeared. You no longer hear the key in the lock or the footsteps behind you. The “sounds of life” that keep us in touch with our environment, that soothe, reassure, and alert us, are gone.
Then there are the misunderstandings, mistakes, embarrassment. Your hearing is crucial for understanding the world around you. When your ability to hear and understand the spoken word diminishes, so too does your enjoyment of the things you love doing, the people you love being with and your ability to achieve closeness and bond with others. It is a frustrating and isolating feeling to be with those whom you hold dear only to feel left out because you do not understand the conversation and cannot participate in sharing.
Adam writes, “Communication is a huge part of navigating every stage of your life. If any element of communication is lacking, it can have a significant impact on the way our personality develops, and the methods you use to connect with the outside world.”
Even though your friends are probably understanding, and although subtitles exist to significantly improve the viewing experience for people who cannot hear as well as others, it can still be hard to ignore the underlying feeling of being ‘different’ and stigmatized.
“I developed subtle, invisible coping mechanisms to anchor my social interactions. For example, I cycle between a set of 10-15 stock phrases that I wheel out based on the tone of voice and the context.”
“Absolutely!”
“100 percent!”
“I can fully understand that!”
“Tell me about it!”
None of these seems out of place in a conversation. However, once they become a substitute for genuine responses and coherent conversational flow, they develop into a cornerstone of shame and awkwardness in daily encounters. Especially when they are the wrong response.
Socializing becomes too much of a risk. Every pang of guilt or embarrassment after saying “what?” or “huh?” might lead to another night when you don’t risk going out to socialize. You end up distancing softly spoken colleagues, friends, and even family members, simply because the effort it takes to process their speech can become draining.
“I have a lot to learn about life with hearing aids, but my first lesson was that no one close to me sees it as a negative life event. Everyone has been congratulating me as if I’ve just become a parent for the first time. I’ve realized that however self-conscious you might feel about wearing hearing aids, people only see it as a connection with the world, and this is huge.”
Adam’s hearing aids gave him back the intimate details of life: easily hearing and understanding those around him and whispering a joke to a friend helped him close the gap that hearing loss drives between individuals. Our need to socialize with others is innately human.
Adam says his new hearing aids are discreet, nearly invisible, yet powerful. Sometimes, to his underused ears, things sound a little too powerful. A packet of chips opening across the room, wheels of the stroller on the balcony above, even the “cacophony during bathroom breaks sounds like a National Geographic documentary.”
“There are unexpected changes, too. My experience of food has completely altered — the additional frequencies and sounds add a lightness of bite and extra crunch that I was previously unaware of.”
“My hearing no longer feels impaired — that is, until I remove the hearing aids. Those few moments in the day without them, such as going to the gym or grabbing a shower, are now pretty draining by comparison.
“I have a lot to learn about life with hearing aids, but my first lesson was that no one close to me sees it as a negative life event. Everyone has been congratulating me as if I’ve just become a parent for the first time. I’ve realized that however self-conscious you might feel about wearing hearing aids, people only see it as a connection with the world, and this is huge.”
Most hearing aid users know that their hearing health, treatment, and their hearing aids are crucial. In fact, they probably see their doctor of Audiology more often than any other health care provider. They understand that their hearing capacity and their ability to understand and process speech is critical for effective communication and enjoyment.
First time hearing aid wearers do not realize that hearing aids can require multiple adjustments to obtain the best settings and the right sound for them. Custom hearing aids, especially the tiny, invisible ones, are often re-made several times for fit and comfort. Hearing aids require maintenance, regular cleaning and sometimes repairs. Hearing aids reside in a wax- filled, sweaty, oily and moist environment all day and expected to perform optimally all the time.
Hearing levels, processing ability, and prescriptions change. Yearly monitoring, reprogramming, and fine- tuning of your hearing aids are critical to your ability to communicate.
You are not “done” after you get your hearing aids. Just like with your internist, dentist, and ophthalmologist, your hearing care is ongoing and forever.
BENEFITS vs. DISCOUNTS
- Benefit (definition) – An advantage or profit gained. A payment or gift.
- Discount (definition) – A deduction from the usual cost of something.
“Benefits are far more reliable than perks or discounts and cover more basic needs. Perks are like bonuses that companies offer to make their offer seem better than the competition.”
Many insurance Companies and Medicare supplement policies lure new members by offering “hearing aid benefits.”
Are they really offering you a “benefit?” NO! The insurance Company is actually offering a perk that doesn’t cost them a penny. You, the member, get a discount on hearing aids if you call the 800-number to a 3rd party broker. The 3rd party broker rakes in a fortune from the referrals.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
PROS
- You get a discount on the purchase of your hearing aids.
- You can sometimes get them from your provider of choice.
- You can save money upfront on the purchase of your hearing aids.
CONS
- You are not purchasing your hearing aids or hearing treatment from your provider.
- The broker pays your provider a set fee for your initial consultation, delivery and fitting your hearing aids, and one or two follow up visits, even one year.
- Restrictions and limitations – Number of visits or specified time are included in your purchase. Thereafter, you pay the provider every time you walk in the door for an office visit. Every 6-month cleaning, annual monitoring, in-office repair, fed-ex shipping and handling to the manufacturer, adjustment, reprogramming, and fine-tuning.
- All of the restrictions and limitations are included with your hearing aid purchase from your provider. One or two re-programming charges alone may exceed your initial savings.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING YOUR HEARING AIDS FROM A BROKER
Your insurance policy or supplement may have an agreement with any one of the numbers of 3rd party brokers of hearing aids. They all have different prices and limitations in the fine print.
We know them all. Before calling the 800 number and saying “yes,” call us and let us help you on your journey to better hearing.
Click here to schedule an appointment.
Protecting your hearing doesn’t mean skipping activities you love; learn how to get the most out of your concert experience.
Let’s face it: today’s world has become increasingly loud, yet people do not think about their ears when attending concerts. They may say, “I’m paying to hear the music, why would I plug my ears?” Well, there is plenty of research to suggest that loud noises damage your hearing, the most alarming is the fact that the average live concert clocks in at 100 decibels at the back of the venue. If you move closer to the stage, you not only are closer to the speakers but also the fans screaming all around you.
Your hearing health is integral to your overall well-being. While you could get away with using disposable foam earplugs that you buy in mass quantities of neon colors, there are earplugs that have been specifically engineered for music-goers. Rather than suffocate all noise reaching your ear, these earplugs use filters with a nearly flat frequency which dials back the volume rather than muting the audio. As you can expect, these plugs cost more than your bargain plugs you get at the drug store, but they are well worth the cost of hearing music without sacrificing your long term hearing health.
National Public Radio’s (NPR) Tiny Desk is an intimate concert series where artists play for an audience in a small, office-sized studio. The trick to these performances is that no musician plays louder than the singer can project their voice without amplification, ensuring a clear and balanced sound. Sound engineers are able to create this because the studio is a small space. However, when sound engineers need to balance a venue bigger than a typical office that balance goes out the window. As we know, the louder the sound is, distortion also increases. If you prefer to be close to the performance, being closer to the speakers inevitably can lead to hearing loss.
Hearing loss is an extremely common condition, especially as we age. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that prolonged exposure to sounds can damage the cells in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus. Any extended contact with noise of 85 decibels (sounds of heavy city traffic) can and will damage your hearing. Makes sense right?
If you or a loved one have experienced hearing loss, schedule a completely free appointment today.
To read full story, click here.
JUST AS TECHNOLOGY IN HEARING AIDS CHANGE, HEARING AID BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO CHANGING.
HERE IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER
TYPES OF BATTERIES
REGULAR, DISPOSABLE ZINC-AIR BATTERIES
Zinc-air hearing aid batteries are the traditional, pull-tab disposable batteries most frequently used in hearing aids. When the tab is pulled, the oxygen from the air oxidizes with the zinc in the battery and creates a charge.
ZINC-AIR BATTERIES
- Batteries are color-coded. Regardless of the manufacturer (Ray o vac, Duracell, Energizer, etc.), the color corresponding to the battery size is the same.
- All size 10 batteries (the smallest hearing aid battery) are yellow and last between 3-5 days.
- All size 312 batteries are brown and last between 5-8 days.
- All size 13 batteries are orange and last between 10-14 days.
- All size 675 batteries (rarely used today) are blue.
- After pulling the tab, you should wait 2-5 minutes before putting the battery in the hearing aid to allow time for oxygen to react with the zinc for the fullest charge and longest battery life.
RECHARGEABLE HEARING AID BATTERIES
Rechargeable hearing aids have been around for over 30 years, but they were never very popular because the charge did not last all day. Two new battery technologies in the last 18 months fixed that problem and rechargeable hearing aids are now all the rage. Every major manufacturer offers rechargeable hearing aid options.
LITHIUM- ION BATTERY TECHNOLOGY – all lithium-ion batteries (also used in computers, cell phones, even Tesla’s) are totally sealed (encased) in any device for safety reasons. They can be a fire hazard if mishandled or damaged.
PROS OF LITHIUM-ION RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Eliminates expense of disposable batteries.
- No hassle of changing batteries every 3-7 days.
- Last battery life. Lasts 4 to 5 years.
- Gets the longest usage with one charge – 30 hours per charge and/or 24 hours of continuous use with 5 hours of streaming.
- Better moisture protection- water and perspiration problems are greatly reduced.
CONS OF LITHIUM-ION RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- The hearing aids are slightly larger and heavier
- No access to the battery compartment. You cannot use regular, disposable, batteries in an emergency.
- You must take the charger with you on trips and vacations
- Power limitations – if you stream phone calls and music a lot, the charge may not last all day. Streaming uses a lot of power.
- Your hearing aids are “out of commission” when they are being charged, and any problems with the battery require manufacturer repair.
SILVER ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
PROS OF SILVER ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Eliminates expense of disposable batteries. However, the cost of the hearing aid is slightly more expensive (They pretty much cancel each other out).
- No hassle of changing batteries every 3-7 days.
- 24 hours of continuous use with up to 5 hours of streaming.
- Flexibility – Because they are removable, the rechargeable battery can be replaced with regular, disposable hearing aid batteries in an emergency, you do not want to carry your charger with you and/or forget your charger at home.
- Silver-zinc is no- flammable, non- toxic and 100% recyclable.
- Silver-zinc is smaller than lithium-ion. Hearing aids are slightly smaller and lighter.
- Backwards Compatibility – Many manufacturer’s hearing aids can be changed or retrofit since the rechargeable component is in the battery door.
CONS OF SILVER-ZINC RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS
- Battery must be replaced once a year (replacement cost of rechargeable battery is about the same as purchasing disposable batteries)
- Power limitations – if you stream a lot of phone calls and music, the batteries may not last the full 24-hour day.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to rechargeable hearing aids. Both systems has its pros and cons. Just like with the style, technology, features and benefits of hearing aids, it is about what is right for you.
Your hearing care provider should be knowledgeable and familiar with every type of hearing aid available and know your lifestyle, hearing needs and you.
Everyone feels happier and more comfortable when they are recognized by their environment for their individuality, which is why Starbucks’ new location is so important.
This location is not just another coffee shop in Washington D.C. It may be another Starbucks, but the sign is spelled S-T-A-R-B-U-C-K-S in the hand symbols for American Sign Language (ASL).
The stores is run by 24 deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing employees and the store is designed towards accessibility and generating employment prospects for the deaf community.
In addition to the workers, the store has been specifically modeled to celebrate deaf culture. One wall is covered by a mural by Tiqiao Wang, a deaf artist who is a prominent member of the Gallaudet University faculty, which is just blocks away.
While exclusively employing staff who are all conversant in ASL, their focus on accessibility of technology and service is unparalleled. The store was modeled to maximize natural lighting and lines of sight, keeping in mind the needs of the hard-of-hearing.
Adam Novsam, a Starbucks utility analyst, was given a tour two nights before the store was set to open. As he walked down H Street to see the vibrant colors of the mural which celebrates deaf culture, he said, “The vibrancy moved me. It made me stop in my tracks. And it gave me tears.”
For the full story, click here.
Employees take an order at Starbucks first U.S. signing in D.C. (Joshua Trujillo/Starbucks)
Helen Keller said, “Blindness cuts us off from things, but the loss of the most vital stimulus – the sound of the voice – is much worse.” Remaining healthy has become a focus, even an obsession with Americans, particularly with baby boomers. Health issues do not happen in a vacuum; your body needs every sense for it to properly operate. Hearing health is of paramount importance to long term brain and heart health.
Prevention and early detection with regular heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, colon, liver, skin and every type of screening has become near-mandatory in today’s age. We want to live longer and make the most of our lives through remaining active which allows us to stay engaged with friends and loved ones, travel and partake in our favorite pastimes.
Yet we totally disregard our number one form of communication, engagement and way of maintaining relationships. We ignore our hearing. Doctors rarely screen for hearing disorders or even think to ask about a patient’s hearing health. Difficultly with hearing and understanding are rarely a problem, or evident, in quiet environments or when communicating face-to-face. “It’s not that bad” is what every audiologist has heard countless times.
All over the world, the one common element that brings happiness and joy is being with the people you care about and love. All over the world, sharing, laughing, telling stories and relating memories brings the greatest pleasure, warmth and feelings of love.
When your ability to hear and understand the spoken word diminishes, so do yours enjoyment of the things you love doing, the people you love being with and your ability to achieve happiness.
If that is not enough reason to get a hearing checkup immediately, the findings of every study in the last fifteen years should motivate you to run to your nearest audiologist.
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Au.D.
Founder & President
Hearing Health Center, Inc.