Call or visit one of our clinics:
Darlinghurst Centre
St Vincent's Hospital
Victoria St
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Ph: 1300 134 327
Fax: (02) 8382 3092
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4/5 Goldman Lane
(Between Knox St and Knox Lane)Double Bay NSW 2038
Ph: (02) 9327 3908
Fax: (02) 8382 3092
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Hearing and Balance Centre: 2011 Hearing Awareness Week - Hearing Aids Update - Bruce Kelsey
1. Hearing Aids: An Update
Bruce Kelsey
Audiologist/Director
Hearing & Balance Centre
Double Bay
2. To Recap -How do you
know you need an aid?
Your friends will happily tell you?
You will start misinterpreting what
people say. (The importance of pizzas in schools)
It will start effecting your work or social
life?
The hearing test – choose an audiologist
3. What is a hearing aid?
microphone – amplifier – speaker
Computer chip – “a computer on a silicon
chip” the heart of the digital device –
analyses the incoming sound to
differentiate between wanted and unwanted
signals. The expensive bit and what
differentiates manufacturers.
4. Types of hearing loss and style of
hearing aid. A general rule
High frequency Flat hearing loss
hearing loss (any style is ok)
5. So what’s new?
Invisible hearing aids
Lyric (Phonak)
24/7
Needs to be replaced every 3-4mths
Purchased by yearly subscription
6. Deep canal hearing aids
Smaller CICs that
fit in the second
bend
Starkey Soundlens
Siemens iMini
Sonic Innovations Groove
8. “Soundbite” ITM aid (Sonitus Medical)
Behind-the-ear device worn on the
dead ear transmits signals to the in-
the-mouth device, which creates
vibrations that send the signal to
the functioning cochlear.
9. CROS hearing systems - Phonak
Designed for people with one deaf
ear
Available in either BTE or ITC form,
they provide a much neater option
in the latest technology
10. Moisture
Nano-coating -an ultra-thin coat created in
a vacuum. Humidity or sweat form beads
and simply roll off.
Siemens Aquaris
waterproof to 1m
for 30 mins
12. Tinnitus and hearing aids
Widex Zen -Programs designed to provide
relaxation embedded within the aid
Fractals are infinitely
complex patterns that are
self-similar across different
scales.
13. Choosing a Provider
The Most Important Decision To
Make
Do some homework.
Many providers are shop fronts for
particular brands.
But as companies leapfrog each other with
new technology it may be better to go to
someone who can offer a choice so that
you will always be offered the best
technology and value at the time.
14. Manufacturers outlets
Audioclinic = Oticon
Connect Hearing= Phonak
Hearing Life = Sonic Innovations/Oticon
Active Hearing= Widex
Australian Hearing (Govt.)= Siemens contract
Many of the larger chains have contracts with
particular manufacturers
Many employ audiometrists not audiologists
Most work on commission (even Australian
Hearing)
15. Internet sales
Selling the product not the service
Return policy?
Repairs?
Warranty?
Product choice?
Support?
16. The Office of Hearing Services
A service for people on a social security or
veterans pension providing free hearing
assessment and free aids or a discount on
more expensive devices through eligible
providers. (Hearing and Balance Centre)
The free aids are very good, but go to
someone who can offer a choice.
17. Why aren’t hearing aids perfect?
The human ear wasn’t designed
to cope with noise. – Hair cell
damage
Healthy Damaged