Hear, Here

By Dr. Dawn MacMillan, Audiologist 1. Realize that getting used to new hearing aids takes time. You probably didn’t lose your hearing overnight; you won’t adjust to new hearing aids overnight. Ask anyone who wears hearing aids and they’ll tell you their hearing aids probably didn’t sound “good” when they first put them on, they probably sounded “different”. Not necessarily ‘bad different’ but just different. Hearing aids may feel strange at first on your ears, especially if you wear glasses. Wearing glasses with hearing aids is ok! You may just not be used to having both glasses AND hearing aids behind your ears, don’t be alarmed if you need to wear them for a few days, or even weeks, before they become comfortable. When your Audiologist first puts your hearing aids in your ears, you may notice a big difference or no difference at all! This alarms some users but is normal. Depending on your level of hearing loss, you may have heard your audiologist in their quiet office eve...

We are finally beginning to experience some warm weather! I for one am so grateful. It's nice to be outside for a bit before the oppressive heat takes over. As we get outdoors for the family reunions, graduation parties, and more, here are nine tips to help you enjoy the festivities while living with hearing loss. 1.  Wear your hearing aids:   This seems obvious but you wouldn't believe the number of times we hear that people went to special events only to forget their hearing aids. Whatever you need to do to get out the door with your hearing aids on, do that. Make a list. Tie a string around your finger. Ask someone to remind you. Whatever it takes. Your hearing aids are merely tools, but you'll do better with them than without. You wouldn't attempt to build a house with a hammer and nails. Don't try to socialize without your hearing aids.  Experiment with a couple of different settings to find which is best for being outdoors. Most modern digital hearing aids ...

Over time, like any other piece of equipment used on a daily basis, hearing aids will break down and need to be replaced. While most hearing aids are built to last for several years, they will need to be replaced at some point. The better you take care of your investment, the longer it will last. But no pair of hearing aids will last forever.  At Coastal Audiology, we want you to get the most out of your investment but we also don't want you "throwing good money after bad." At some point, we have done all we can to extend the life of your hearing aids and it will be time to upgrade them. Here are some guidelines for when it may be time to so.   Your hearing loss changes Annual hearing exams are vital to determine if your hearing needs change, as well as for having your hearing aids fine-tuned to adjust for any changes. Your hearing test is your "prescription". It is how your Audiologist fine tunes your devices to match your hearing loss. While we at...

Though you wouldn't know it from the up and down temperatures we've experienced lately, it will be hot and humid before you know it! And then the kick-off of the summer travel season. Follow these simple tips to keep your hearing aids in tip-top shape while away from home. Don't use your hearing aids in environments where they may get wet, dirty, sticky. During summer vacation, you may find yourself enjoying swimming pools, sprinklers, saunas, and hot tubs. But those are no-no's for hearing aids. Avoid activities where your hearing aids may become wet from a dip in the pool, kids splashing, or the hot steam of a sauna or hot tub. Going on a cruise and signing up for off-ship excursions? Make sure to pack an extra case that you can use to safely tuck away your hearing aids temporarily until conditions improve. If you haven't done so already, now is a great time to invest in a dehumidifier that ca...

This is going to be a much more personal, passionate post than past blog entries. The issues discussed below are obstacles I face everyday as a Doctor of Audiology and they aren't solved by slapping a widget on someone's ear and yelling "next!". I hope you will stick with me through it and return frequently for other entries regarding hearing healthcare. I fit numerous sets of hearing aids each week. Most of them on new users who have never worn hearing aids before. I always encourage my patients to bring someone with them to this visit. I find people respond better when they have a familiar voice to hear first through their hearing aid versus MY voice that they may not be familiar with beyond our first visit at their hearing test and subsequent hearing aid evaluation. I find that most people do not bring a communication partner with them. Whether is is because their adult children don't live here or are at work and can't break away or because they are tr...

In the mid-late 1970's, the profession of Audiology went through a metamorphosis of sorts with regards to dispensing hearing aids. It was only thanks to a few brave, rebellious souls that permitted Audiologists to actually dispense hearing aids. Prior to that, hearing aid dispensers were the only ones allowed to fit hearing aids. Because of Audiology's early roots tied so closely to "speech correctionists" (now known as speech-language pathologists), the profession of Audiology has only recently started to separate itself from the field of speech pathology. Unfortunately for Audiology, it has been under the umbrella of Speech Pathology for so long, breaking free to pave the profession's own independent way has been difficult. This has not been easy.  Because hearing aid dispensers lumped the devices (i.e. the hearing aids) and the services to fit and maintain the hearing aids together as one price many, many years ago, that trend continued when Audiologists beg...

Earlier this week, I heard a story about a colleague who once worked in a hospital setting. They were citing an example of patient misunderstanding with regards to hearing aid instructions--use and care, insertion, removal, expectations vs. reality, the fact that the batteries go in the hearing aids; you don't swallow them!  As Audiologists, we see things like this every day. And part of the reason is because people who need hearing aids don't have hearing aids, people who have hearing aids won't wear their hearing aids as prescribed, or because the individual has already suffered the kind of cognitive decline that a pair of well-fit, well-worn hearing aids could've helped combat.  I don't know what became of this individual who once swallowed their "hearing pills", but I can say with confidence that swallowing hearing aid batteries does not  improve your hearing! Here are some tips to get the most out of your investment:  1) Don't put off having your ...