Archive for August, 2009

There’s a great article in last week’s New York Daily News that talks about how iPods and loud music are causing hearing damage — and younger people are exposed to this problem much earlier.

As a Dr. Ellen Finkelstein, a board certified audiologist quoted in the article, notes, how long young people are exposed to loud noises from cell phones and iPods plays a big part in hearing damage. Not just the decibel level is to blame here.

Over 85 decibels, sounds are considered dangerous, and those exposed may suffer permanent hearing loss over time. Though it may be hard to imagine how loud 85 decibels is, it’s a fact that the new iPods are capable of producing sounds as loud as 130 decibels. That’s quite a bit more than 85, and, as the article points out, the battery allows people to listen continuously — much longer than Walkmans allowed.

Dr. Finkelstein also mentions in the article that they “usually see hearing loss initially in the higher frequency ranges.”

So what to do about hearing damage and hearing loss from loud music and iPods? For some, the simple advice may be tough to follow: if it’s too loud, turn it down.

Do You Have Hearing Damage?

If you suspect or know that you have hearing damage, Hearing Aid Express is proud to offer free hearing evaluations. There is no obligation to buy hearing aids with this offer. And if you have any questions about hearing loss or hearing aids, our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you.

We carry an impressive selection of hearing aids at our stores, which are conveniently located in Austin, Dallas and Houston. From Starkey hearing aids to Unitron hearing aids, to ReSound hearing aids, we will likely have something for you. We also now feature a new tinnitus treatment.

Stop by one of our hearing aid stores, or contact us online.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus affects 50 million people in the United States, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Of the 50 million people with tinnitus, two million are unable to function on a “normal,” day-to-day basis because it is so seriously debilitating.

It’s common for people to refer to tinnitus as “ringing in the ears,” as that accurately describes what sufferers experience. Though some describe the sound as beeping, crickets, locusts, roaring, clicking or ticking. Tinnitus may be experienced in both ears or just one ear.

According to Wikipedia, many famous people have suffered from tinnitus: Joan of Arc, Ludwig van Beethoven, William Shatner, Vincent van Gogh, Steve Martin and Barbara Streisand are a few.

Some causes of tinnitus include exposure to loud noises, ear infections and hearing impairment. No doubt, tinnitus is a very serious problem and can negatively affect a person’s life. We’re happy to say there is treatment available.

Tinnitus Treatment at Hearing Aid Express

There’s a new tinnitus treatment, and it’s available only at Hearing Aid Express. In our market areas, we’re proud to now exclusively offer a new Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) product that is clinically proven. Featuring an intelligent sound generator that produces individually customized sounds that are tailored to your unique needs, this tinnitus treatment automatically adapts to different listening situations. For tinnitus suffers, this treatment can provide relief.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is an alternative to other treatments like Neuromonics, maskers and biofeedback. This tinnitus treatment is for people with tinnitus, and whether they suffer from hearing loss does not matter for the treatment.

If you’re in Austin, Houston or Dallas, please stop by one of our Hearing Aid Express locations to find out more about our exclusive new tinnitus treatment. You can also contact us online or call one of our hearing aid stores. We’ll be happy to assist you with any questions.

There was a really great article in the Creston News Advertiser yesterday about helping loved ones deal with hearing loss. The writer notes that when a loved one isn’t willing to help himself, helping them is one of the most painful challenges for a family to deal with. When the problem involves hearing loss, denial can prevent a person from getting the help they need.

The article also points out the fact that hearing loss affects people of all ages. With loud music and other loud noises capable of causing hearing loss, this is especially true. And when a loved one suffers from hearing loss, their denial might result in them asking people to repeat themselves and speak more loudly. Essentially, this means that loved ones are acting as that person’s ears. Dr. Sergei Kochkin from the Better Hearing Institute is quoted in the article regarding this, saying that doing this for a loved one does not help them. Instead, it “encourages unconstructive codependent relationships” and you will be “enabling the hearing loss to have a negative impact on many aspects of your loved one’s quality of life, including job performance.”

No doubt, helping loved ones deal with hearing loss is a serious matter that requires patience and understanding, and working to bring the person to terms with their hearing loss so that they will get treatment for it. In the article, Dr. Richard Carmen from the Better Hearing Institute has some advice for this matter. He stresses that acting as your loved one’s ears is “counter-productive,” as they have no reason to seek treatment if you’re doing the work for them. He suggests instead that people involve their entire family in the effort to help their loved one hear again — family members can explain in a “calm, loving voice without condemnation” that they won’t be raising their voices or repeating themselves anymore.

Additionally, he advises that when your loved one asks someone to speak louder or repeat themself, to use a signal word like “Hearing Helper” as a way to alert that person that they are relying on another person to be their ears. This action, he says, will help your loved one realize just how many times they have to ask for assistance. The hope is that they will realize they need to get treatment.

Help with Hearing Loss

Hearing aids can help with hearing loss. If you or a loved one is suffering from hearing loss, feel free to contact Hearing Aid Express to find out more information about how hearing aids may be able to help you. We have convenient locations in Austin, Dallas and Houston. We can also be reached through our contact form.

We’re proud to present several new models of Starkey S Series hearing aids now offered here at Hearing Aid Express! All about better life through better hearing, Starkey hearing aids come with a “worry-free warranty.” Additionally, they come with a commitment to superior customer service. Starkey hearing aids are known for being quality products that can improve lives.

Starkey S Series Hearing Aids

Outstanding performance, comfort and personalization is what you get with Starkey S Series hearing aids. These products are engineered to deliver high-resolution sound with seamless, smooth transitions between loud and quiet environments. Starkey S Series hearing aids are also three times more powerful, with multi-core processing for virtually no whistling. Telephone capability and better hearing in noise are two more impressive features. Below are the new Starkey hearing aids now offered here.

Starkey S-11 Hearing Aid

The Starkey S-11 hearing aid has drive architecture that delivers a comfortable, clear sound. Enjoy seamless transitions between quiet and loud environments. Say goodbye to whistling — this hearing aid features a PureWave Feedback Eliminator. This model is a top-tier hearing aid at our store.

Starkey S-9 Hearing Aid

The Starkey S-9 hearing aid adjusts automatically so watching television and listening to music is simple and comfortable. Like the S-11, this hearing aid features drive architecture and PureWave Feedback Eliminator. This is also a top-tier hearing aid at our store.

Starkey S-7 Hearing Aid

A mid-tier hearing aid at our store, the Starkey S-7 offers an exceptional feedback management system, comfort, drive architecture and InVision Directionality so you can hear what’s important.

Starkey S-5 Hearing Aid

Another mid-tier hearing aid offered at our store is the Starkey S-5. This model offers similar features to the other Starkey S Series models and is also high quality.

If you’d like to experience the advanced features of these Starkey S Series hearing aids, call or come to the nearest Hearing Aid Express office. Feel free to contact us.