5 Steps to hearing aids

The first and hardest step for many is the first one, making an appointment for a hearing test. Research has shown it takes people 7 to 10 years to do something about their hearing loss. Of course, while you are getting used to the idea that you may have some hearing loss, you are missing conversations and connections with people every day.

Adapting to hearing loss by changing the way you live your life

When you have hearing loss, the people around you adjust to your hearing loss so they can communicate with you. Friends and family learn they need to speak louder so, they do not have to repeat themselves. As time goes by, they may choose not to share incidental comments. You may start to make different decisions on how you will use your time (like avoiding social situations and communicating less). Hearing loss impacts the way you live your life. There is also a lot of new research showing other long-term effects of hearing loss when it is left untreated.

Diagram showing the process an approximate timeline for the life cycle of a pair of hearing aids

Step 1: Book a time to see us

Having a hearing test

The first easy step is to have a hearing test. The hearing test will give you a clearer idea about your type and degree of hearing loss and how this is affecting the way you live your life. For example; your hearing test may explain why you can hear some sounds as well as everyone else; but you can’t follow the conversation when it is noisy. At this point, we will also suggest your options for help with your hearing, and if we need to refer you to a medical specialist, we will look at this point.

The next question is “Do you need hearing aids?”. Your audiologist will let you know if your hearing is in the range where hearing aids will help and your family may also have an opinion on you getting help with your hearing. However, it is essential that once you decide to get hearing aids that you are taking this step for yourself. It is true that other people in your life are probably affected by your hearing loss. However, it is better for everyone if getting hearing aids is your choice.

Step 2: Hearing Assessment & Discussion

A full diagnostic hearing test will clarify your hearing levels and help identify possible causes of your hearing loss.

Explaining the hearing test

The cause of hearing loss can be:

• conductive – A blockage reduces sound from passing through the outer or middle ear causing hearing loss
• sensorineural – where the cochlear is not able to detect all the sounds
• an auditory processing disorder (APD) – where the brain cannot process the sound that is detected by your ears.

Your Audiologist will discuss your test results. If there is hearing loss, we will let you know why it is affecting your ability to understand people speaking; even though you can hear some sounds easily. At this point, we will refer you on to any other professionals, for further assessment or management, if needed.

If you are interested, we will tell you a bit about hearing aids and possible options that might suit you. You can even have a listen through some hearing aids.

Step 3: Needs Assessment

Once you have decided to learn more about hearing aids, we will go through your needs assessment process. We will ask you questions about your lifestyle and hearing challenges. From here, we can decide on the hearing aid features and level of technology that suits you best. At this point, we create a list of situations where you would like to hear and communicate better. When choosing hearing aids for you, we take into account your:

• Hearing loss and other physical factors
• Lifestyle and your hearing needs
• Preferences, i.e. what the hearing aid will look like or specific functionality
• Funding and budget – you may be eligible for funding from a government agency

Finding out about your hearing needs

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Grant Waldrom – Orewa

I initially went to Maree because I wanted an independent audiologist to assess my hearing. From the first visit, I had total confidence in her as I went through this journey to be able to regain my hearing. I was never pressured to purchase any particular brand, nor was I pressured to purchase aids that were beyond what I needed. As a result, I am very happy with the aids that I now use, and with the follow up I received and will continue to receive.

Maree and Anna were a delight to deal with, and I thoroughly recommend Auckland Hearing.

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Your hearing aid trial

Once you have decided to trial hearing aids, the process usually takes four to six weeks. The eight-week trial period allows you to be confident that you hear well with your hearing aids in various listening environments. Depending on your type and degree of hearing loss, it takes a few days to a few weeks to adjust to hearing sound again. Eight weeks is plenty of time for you to go through the adaptation process and get used to your new hearing aids.

Hearing aids are always paid for in full before taking them home. If you decide that hearing aids are not for you, you can hand them back within the eight-week time frame. If you do, you will be refunded the cost of the hearing aids minus the deposit (which covers some of the time we spent with you). We also have the option of changing to other hearing aids at this time if needed.

Step 4: Hearing Aid Fitting Appointment

Our main goal at the fitting is to get you comfortable with the sound and management of your new hearing aids.  We will:

• Calculate the sound required and program your hearing aids specifically for your hearing loss.
• Do real-ear measures – use a small soft microphone to measure the sound in your ear canal.  Real-ear measures verify that the hearing aids have the right amplification to compensate for your hearing loss.
• Discuss the management of hearing aids, including, putting them in your ears, adjusting them, setting up remote control apps on your phone, cleaning and care and using the phone
• Talk to you about how it takes time to adjust to hearing sound again and the importance of wearing the hearing aids as much as you can.
• Book the follow-up appointment – in 1 or 2 weeks.

Hearing aid fitting – with real-ear measures

Follow up appointments

Follow up appointments allow us to check how you are going with the hearing aids and make adjustments, as required. Usually, people have got used to the initial settings of the hearing aids and are ready for a clearer sound. The number of follow up appointments required will vary for different clients.

Follow up appointments

Step 5: Finalising your hearing aids and ongoing care

Finalising means that you are happy with your hearing aids and have decided you want to keep them. We will not schedule another appointment at this time. However, you are welcome to contact us again if you have further questions or need adjustments to your hearing aids.

6 Months of appointments included

We include all the appointments up until 6 months in your initial fitting fees.  That way, we can make sure your hearing aids are working well for you.

Ongoing care of your hearing and hearing aids

Warranty repairs

It is worth having your hearing aids sent off for a check over before your warranty expires. We will contact you before your warranty expires, so you can bring your hearing aids in and we will send them off. In many cases, the hearing aids are replaced or repaired under warranty, giving you refurbished hearing aids moving forward.

Bi-annual hearing test and hearing aid adjustment appointments

We will send you an email each year, asking how you are going with your hearing aids. Every two years, we will recommend a bi-annual review. We recommend you have a hearing test and hearing aid adjustment every two years, or sooner if you notice a change in your hearing. At your hearing test and hearing aid adjustment appointment, we will test your hearing and adjust your hearing aids to your current hearing levels.

We will also check your hearing aids over and make sure they are working as they should. If your hearing aids are not working as expected, we will send them off for repair. These appointments ensure you continue to hear as well as possible with your hearing aids.

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Maree contacted me recently, and I went in for another check where she gave my hearing aids a tune-up to maintain their efficiency. With my slowly deteriorating hearing, I hadn’t noticed I didn’t hear as clearly as before. I was surprised at how much more I could hear once my hearing aids were adjusted. Excellent service indeed!

Max Ross- Auckland CBD

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Replacing your hearing aids

Traditionally hearing aids lasted about 4-5 years as they would be affected by wax, moisture, dust and dirt. Now, most hearing aids are covered by high tech coatings that make them much more resistant to moisture.

Hearing aid lifetime – It is not possible to tell how long these current aids will last but with proper care possibly 6-8 years. You will need regular hearing assessments and adjustments over that time to keep them working the best for you.

Insurance – Please list your hearing aids on your insurance policy just in case they get lost or something happens to them.

As an Auckland Hearing client, you will become part of our Auckland Hearing community. As long as you are interested, we will keep you up to date about the hearing world from hearing care to the latest hearing aids.

Please feel free to browse among the other articles about hearing loss and hearing aids.

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A bit about Auckland Hearing

Anna and Maree – At Auckland Hearing

Auckland Hearing is an independent hearing aid and audiology clinic set up by Maree O’Sullivan.  Maree
has worked in Audiology for nearly 25 years and started Auckland Hearing so she could focus on the needs of each client (rather than corporate profits).

We provide a full range of hearing services and work with all of the Ministry of Health approved hearing aid brands in New Zealand. This means we can fit the hearing aids that best suit your needs.

Call Anna to book your appointment with Maree now.

The post Getting Hearing Aids – What is the Process? appeared first on Auckland Hearing.

Size 10 batteries (yellow)

Yellow labelled size 10 hearing aid batteries are used in the smallest hearing aids including Invisible in the canal (IIC), completely in the canal (CIC) and the extra small behind the ear receiver in the canal (RIC) hearing aids styles.

They last between 3- 7 days depending on the degree of hearing loss and technology in the hearing aids.

Size 312 batteries (brown)

Brown labelled Size 312 hearing aid batteries are used in some receiver in the canal (RIC) and in the ear (ITE) hearing aids.

They last about 10 – 14 days depending on the level of amplification and functionality in the hearing aids. Using functions like streaming sound from devices like your phone has a high battery drain and shortens battery life.

Size 13 Batteries (Orange)

Orange labelled Size 13 hearing aid batteries are used in some receiver in the canal (RIC), behind the ear (BTE) and in the ear (ITE) hearing aids.

They last around 10 – 14 days depending on the level of amplification and functionality in the hearing aids. Using functions like streaming sound from devices like your phone has a high battery drain and shortens battery life.

Size 675 batteries (blue)

Blue labelled Size 675 hearing aid batteries are used in hearing aids that require a lot of power including bone conduction hearing aids (BAHA) and cochlear implants (CI).

They last about 10 – 14 days depending on the level of amplification and functionality in the hearing aids, BAHA or CI.

Streaming is now available in some CIs and this will increase the battery drain.

Types of batteries

Zinc-air batteries

Disposable zinc-air batteries are the most common type of hearing aid batteries. They have a sticker on them that covers small holes in the top of the battery. Once you pull the sticker off air gets into the battery and it begins to work. Zinc-air batteries usually last between 5 and 14 days depending on the battery size.

Once the sticker is pulled off the battery will continue to drain even if the hearing aids are not being used.

Zinc-air hearing aid battery tips

• Stick the battery sticker onto your calendar when you change your battery, it will let you know when you should expect to change the battery again.
• Only pull the stickers off when you are ready to use them
• Increase your hearing aids battery life by leaving the battery on the table for 1-5 mins after pulling off the sticker. This allows more air into the holes in the top of the battery.

Rechargeable Silver-zinc batteries and nickel – metal hydride batteries

Rechargeable silver-zinc and nickel-metal hydride batteries generally last 10 to 14 hours (a day) before needing to be recharged – usually over night. The batteries look similar to zinc-air batteries but they do not have the holes to let air in.

An advantage of both Rechargeable Silver-zinc batteries and nickel – metal hydride batteries is that if the batteries run out, the same size disposable zinc-airbatteries can be used This might be helpful if they run out during the day or if you go on holiday and do not want to take a charger with you.

Rechargeable silver-zinc and nickel-metal hydride batteries last about a year and then need replacing. When you get your hearing aids at Auckland Hearing we notify you annually when it is time to renew your rechargeable batteries.

Lithium – ion rechargeable batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are sealed within the hearing aid and are only removable by the hearing aid manufacturer. They are expected to last for 5 to 6 years, potentially the life of the hearing aid.

For the batteries to be replaced the whole hearing aid has to go into the manufacturer for a service.

The advantages of rechargeable batteries

• Many people choose rechargeable batteries as they are easy to manage. You just need to put them in the charger each night.
• With rechargeable batteries, there is no need to open fiddly battery doors or remember when the batteries need to be replaced.
• Rechargeable batteries are also better for the environment as you are not adding so many batteries to the landfill.

Buying your hearing aid batteries

It does not matter what branding is on your batteries, often hearing aid batteries are re-branded by a hearing clinic or a manufacturer. Clinics that fit hearing aids may be a better choice than other retailers, as they know the importance of good quality batteries. At Auckland Hearing we sell batteries by the card or at a discount by the box.

Hearing aid battery expiry date

Check the expiry date on the back of the battery pack. The expiry date on the back fo the packet should be at least a year away. Expired batteries not only have a shorter life, they may secrete a corrosive white power into the battery compartment of your hearing aids.

It is best to buy your hearing aid batteries from a retailer that sells a lot of batteries, so they have not been sitting on the shelf for a long time.

Recycling your hearing aid batteries

Auckland Hearing has a hearing aid battery recycling program. Please bring in your used batteries as we will make sure they are disposed of safely.

We send our used hearing aid batteries to UpCycle who hold EPA approved battery export permits. The batteries are exported to South Korea for processing, where they get stripped off and chemicals are extracted for recycling.

The post Hearing aid batteries – types, sizes & recycling appeared first on Auckland Hearing.

When you finalised you hearing aids your Audiologist sent in a battery request form for your ACC hearing aid batteries. ACC knows the size and type of batteries you need. The quantity of batteries you are expected to need is also on file and they are allocated to you each 6 months or so.

ACC hearing aid battery order options:

Or for any other questions about ordering your ACC hearing aid batteries or more information about your hearing loss claim contact the ACC Hearing Loss team on 0800 101 996.

The post ACC hearing aid batteries – how to order batteries for ACC funded hearing aids appeared first on Auckland Hearing.