GN ReSound Hearing Aids believes that no two people have exactly the same type of hearing loss. Small, comfortable and powerful, our hearing aids are sophisticated pieces of digital technology that can be tuned to suit your unique hearing needs.

3 main types of hearing aid devices

•Behind-the-ear (BTE)
•Remote Microphone Technology (RMT)
•Custom in-the-ear models (ITE)

with a big variety of choices of models.

be by ReSound
dot² by ReSound
ReSound Live
ReSound Essence
ReSound Sparx
ReSound Azure
ReSound X-plore
ReSound Ziga
dot by ReSound
Legacy products

To cater to each individual needs.

Recently just found out about Unitron hearing aids, and the price is almost the range of Phonak hearing aids and Rexton Revo hearing aids.

Unitron creates world-class hearing solutions for people with hearing loss. Unitron hearing instruments offers its products through reputable, licensed hearing healthcare professionals and distributors, whose specialized training and expertise are critical to successful use of hearing instruments.

Below are some of the range of products they carry.

Latitude 16
Latitude 8
Latitude 4
Fuse
Passport
Shift
360
Next
Yuu
Moxi Styles
Moda & Moda II
Indigo
Element 16
Element 8
Element 4
Conversa.NT
Unison
Breeze
Conventional
Accessories

Are you waiting for hearing aid sales before you decide to change your old hearing aid or get a hearing aid for the first time? I can understand that the prices of hearing aids can sometimes be very high and it is possibly not covered under certain health insurance plans, but if you need it you really should try ways and means to get it.

Getting the right hearing aid for you, requires you to get a check up with your audiologist who can do checks on your type of hearing loss and what kind of "improvement" you need for your hearing. So it is best that you get help from your local hearing solution company to help you with choosing the right type of hearing aid for you.

Of course there are always different price range for your individual budget, so let your audiologist know your budget too.

GN ReSound Ziga is the one of the latest hearing instrument from ReSound. There's a ReSound Ziga model for any ear and preference. From tiny completely-in-the-canal (CIC) models to discreet and highly sophisticated behind-the-ear (BTE) instruments, you'll find ReSound Ziga provides an excellent answer to your hearing needs.

ReSound Ziga comes in a whole rainbow of colours and textures - so you can be sure that there will be one to suit your own personal style.

ReSound Ziga offers a range of advanced features in a great value-for-money package. The key features are:

• Adaptive Directionality provides great speech understanding in noise by reducing surrounding sounds and noise from the rear
• SoftSwitching™ automatically switches between omni-directional and directional modes
• 9-band Warp™ compression provides great sound quality based on fast processing and accurate resolution
• NoiseTracker™ delivers efficient reduction of noise while preserving the speech signal
• Dual Stabilizer™ II DFS eliminates feedback and provides significantly more usable gain with virtually no artifacts
• Open fitting capabilities with Thin Tube, FlexVent, and StepVent for maximum comfort and cosmetics
• Intelligent rechargeable solution for mini-BTE and BTE models
• Bluetooth® wireless headset option for mini BTE models
• Integrated Microphone Matching™ across all frequencies for increased precision of the directionality system
• Latest generation chip platform with low power consumption
• Datalogging stores usage data for efficient and individualized follow-up
• 2 flexible environmental programmes plus telecoil and DAI options in most models
• Available in CIC, MC, ITC, ITE, mini BTE, BTE, and power BTE in a variety of colours

Taken from http://www.resoundziga.com/about-ziga-features/about-ziga-key-feature.htm

Buying hearing aids online can be beneficial if you do your research and understand who and where your device is coming from. Since the internet is so easy to operate a fraudulent business you must be certain what you are getting your hearing aid from.

There will also be many hearing aids for sale that are available from people all over world. This alone sets you up with a more than prominent chance of finding the right hearing improvement device to suit you.

However, all this being said you must also realize that even if you do find hearing aids on sale over the internet you will need to make sure the company is reputable and legitimate. This can of course be accomplished with more research. Never underestimate the power of research and the knowledge it can give you.

Even though there are many websites that operate under false pretenses you should not be swayed from this resourceful outlet. You will never be forced to give your money to anyone selling hearing aids online and because of this you can always do your homework to make sure you are not being scammed.

There are many people who suffer from loss of hearing in some form or another. Most have different underlying conditions that are causing it or have caused a lack of hearing. This means that finding the right hearing aid price is not always as cut-and-dry as we would like.

A good hearing aid price basically revolves around how well it helps you hear. Some are made better than others, some have advance digital technology, and others use the best of the basics with simple speaker and receiver systems.

Some NHS agencies will offer the rental of something like BTE hearing aids for a free trial period for you to test. Behind the ear (BTE) devices are more common due to the allowance of real sound being heard due to it not blocking your ear canal. Finding events such as these can be found on the Web or at your local doctor's office.

Some companies are even starting to make digital BTE hearing aids that are revolutionizing these magnificent devices. The ability to help people hear that are suffering from an underlying condition beyond their control is something that is very under looked and companies like Oticon, Phonak, Widex and GN Resound Ziga are doing a great job fighting this issue with amazing technology.

You will not always get the best hearing aid price for the device you are in need of. This will depend on your underlying condition and how bad your case actually is. The best way to determine this is to go to a local hearing impaired device retailer and ask them to perform a hearing test.

After this test the retailer can make recommendations as to what would be best for your situation. Looking at the results will decipher if something like ITE or BTE hearing aids would benefit you.

One of the best things you can do is to visit a local hearing aid retailer or a audiologist to get a hearing test done. Once you know the results of this test you will be able to assess the situation better.

Comparing a hearing aid price to one another is not going to help you find the best resolution. You will need to search for the proper hearing aid and then start to see who is the most competitive. There are many ways to go about obtaining one whether in a retail store, on the Internet, or from the NHS. Using common sense and a little research will get you the best option available for your ears and your wallet.

Finding the best hearing aid that suits you is probably a better way of asking what's the best hearing aid available. There are many types of hearing loss and at the same time many different degrees of hearing loss, so there is only a way to find out what is the best hearing aid for yourself, which is to visit an audiologist.

After a hearing test, an audiologist will be able to find out what kind of hearing loss and the degree of hearing loss that you have. Only then will he be able to recommend you a few types of hearing aids that will suit you best.

Choosing a hearing aid can be a long process. Because your hearing is so important and because hearing aids are expensive--you want to make sure you get the right one. So take your time on that. However most of the time, hearing aids dispensers will give you a trial period for you to use it for a period of time, to make sure that the hearing aid that you choosen is good for you.

Having said that, there is no same best hearing aids that will suit everyone. You will need to check out with your audiologist. Make your appointment today!

Rayovac hearing aid batteries are said to be the longest lasting batteries for most suitable hearing aids. Rayovac zinc air hearing aid batteries will offer higher operating voltage without sacrificing long life. This battery allows severe hearing-impaired people to have long operating hours on most of the high-tech digital or programmable aids.

A list of what sizes Rayovac does for hearing aid batteries.

i) Size 10 (or 230)
ii) Size 312
iii) Size 13
iv) Size 675


Rayovac has got a range of hearing aid batteries:

Rayovac ProLine Advanced
Rayovac Cochlear Plus (Rayovac Cochlear Advanced)
Rayovac Extreme Performance
Rayovac ProLine Mercury Free

Exactly who invented the hearing aid first, that leads to today's modern small hearing aid devices. Who is the inventor of the hearing aid?

After doing much research, we found out that it could be Alfonzo Miltmore who first came up with Akoulathon, an electric hearing aid which reach production in 1898. In 1900, Hutchison and Kelley then helped improved on the existing patent hearing aid and made the hearing aid more reliable and smaller in scale.

And the rest is history. But on About.com, it is stated that Dr Miller Reese Hutchinson, is actually the first one to invent the electrical hearing aid in 1902. The Acousticon Hearing Aid was what he invented.

So it is hard to say who is the first. I say the one with the patent approved first.

Some of our readers have been asking us to find some trendy and funky hearing aids that are available in the market now, so we went out to find a couple.

Siemens Vibe hearing aid has got bluetooth enabled function and it looks so unique that it does not even look like a hearing aid. Wearing it, your ear canal is left open, for greater comfort. It’s the first one that fits securely into the crest of the ear. And there’s nothing behind your ear. So Vibe won’t interfere with your eyeglasses or other devices. In fact, Vibe’s fit is so natural, you’ll forget it’s there.

Oticon Delta hearing aid is one of the few that allows users to pick the shells of the device. From zebra skin to mother of pearl colour, it is definitely one of the top choice to the adventurous wearers. I heard some people are actually choosing the colors according to their hair colors.

Widex Passion hearing aid is also offering many color range for customers to choose from. One main advantages of Widex Passion is, it is the world’s smallest Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing instrument - it is so small and discreet that it seems virtually invisible. Choose a stylish color to match your character.

Hope this helps make your life a little more colorful!

A Widex CROS hearing aid is very useful for those who experience hearing loss asymmetrically. CROS stands for Contralateral Routing Of Signals – which enables a better hearing and localisation of sound in noisy environments.

A CROS hearing aid is very useful to its wearer, especially when they have reduced or no hearing function in one ear and a normal hearing function in the other ear, and where a traditional hearing aid is not useful. This type of hearing aid allows the wearer to hear the sounds from both sides of the head.

In the Widex CROS hearing aid system, there is a large physical distance between the CROS adaptor microphone and the receiver – with each located on either side of the head, therefore, providing a very robust feedback system.

There is a microphone located in the Behind-the-ear (BTE) CROS adaptor, which picks up the sound. The sound is then routed to the amplifier and receiver in the hearing aid which is positioned at the normal hearing functioning ear. In this ear, an open ear mould is used to allow only natural sound to directly enter. A battery which powers the CROS adaptor is positioned by the open ear mould, in the hearing aid on the ear with normal functional hearing.

It is important to get the CROS hearing aid fitted properly, as it should amplify and transfer the sound from the ear with no hearing to the ear with normal hearing function.

It is also important to note that with the CROS hearing aid, the ear with the normal hearing will be able to detect sounds in all directions. The wearer will have to get used to wearing the CROS hearing aid and train their good functioning ear in order to differentiate between the sound and localisation of sound coming from the CROS adaptor and the natural, non-amplified sound entering the good functional ear.

Some of Audibel’s BTE (behind the ear) Virtue hearing aids are now so advanced that they are very easy to use, adaptable to any environment, hands-free and automatic.
An example is the Virtue 16 hearing aid which incorporates the new nonoscience technology BluWave SP. With this advanced technology it allows the user to have a better and clear hearing experience, with benefits including voice indicators, for example, to remind you if the battery is low, audible appointment reminders. It also has a self checking function where you can conduct home diagnostic tests to check the function of the microphone, circuit and receiver – simply by opening and closing the battery door a few times. With a various range of colours, the Audibel virtue hearing aid can suit everyone’s taste.

Other standard features of the Virtue 16 series include the Active feedback intercept which effectively erases feedback so that the user hears clearly; a better and natural quality in sound due to a system in the hearing aid detecting and classifying different listening environments automatically; a directional speech detector, which can prove most beneficial even in the most nosiest environments and a system to log all the data so that the hearing aid can be fine-tuned and tracked to meet the users’ specific needs.

The Virtue 12 is another Audibel hearing aid, whereby it too, has a very effective feedback erasure system and directional speech detector. It also has the ability to be able to detect and classify sounds in different environments automatically.
Others in the Virtue Series include the Virtue 8 and Virtue 4 which features an automatic telephone response.

An online hearing test is available via various websites. However, it must be borne in mind that it is not a diagnostic test and it is always better to get your hearing tested by a qualified audiologist. This is because they will have the appropriate skills and specialized equipment to conduct the tests and evaluate the results. In addition, the audiologist will be able to accurately diagnose, recommend and provide information on the most appropriate treatment or decisions regarding hearing aids.

Some online hearing tests will require you to conduct a questionnaire about daily situations, to determine the amount of problems you may experience due to hearing loss. These questionnaires are often used when listening tests for soft tones cannot be conducted. It must be noted that these tests are only used as screening tools and are not a substitute for professional advice.

Other online hearing tests will require you to hear tones with a wide range of frequencies, ranging from 20 Hz to 16,000 Hz. The human ear is able to detect frequencies from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and speech normally occurs between 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz. When the tone is heard through the headphones, you will normally have to press a button and the results recorded.

Headphones used should be of good quality and the best choices are closed-type headphones, as this can reduce outside noise. However, if you have ear-bud headphones, then wearing ear-muffs may help. This type of hearing test should be conducted in a quiet environment to minimize background noise; however, testing away from professional clinics, this may sometimes prove to be difficult.

It is always important to perform an aural volume calibration by a person with good hearing and if during any time of the online hearing test, you feel uncomfortable or the volume is too high, stop the test immediately. It must also be noted that due to the nature of the calibration, this online hearing test is not as accurate as those performed professionally by an audiologist.

Starkey hearing aids use the nFusion technology and can be found in more than 24 countries around the world. This technology uses the power and speed of nanotechnology to enhance the listening experience when using the Starkey hearing aid. These include improved clear sound quality with feedback elimination; automatic activation and adaptation to the listening needs of the patient.

The Starkey Destiny hearing aid family of products uses this nFusion technology and is available in the following series: 1600, 1200, 800 and 400.

The key features of these Starkey brand hearing aids are:
- Active feedback intercepts which eliminates whistling and feedback noises.
- Automatic adjustment of the Starkey hearing aid from one environment to another
- Directional speech detection to provide speech clarity in different environments
- Automatically switches to telephone settings in the presence of a telephone signal
- Range of colours and styles to suit the needs of the wearer (BTE, OTE, RIC, ITE, ITC)
- Sleek, small, discreet and more ergonomic
- Programmable reminders and alerts
- Data logging to track the performance of Starkey hearing products and to perform ongoing analysis and adjustments

Starkey hearing aid prices will vary and it usually depends on the amount of research and development that the hearing aid has undergone, as well as the quality of the hearing aid components. Hearing aids should not be seen as just some plastic that encompasses the latest technology, it’s the investment in your quality of life. When considering Starkey brand hearing aid prices or any other brands, you need to consider your priorities and expectations to decide how much to spend.

You will need to check with your hearing professional during your consultation, whether the costs include other services such as the hearing test, ear mould impressions, fitting and follow-up appointments, Starkey hearing aid batteries, warranties before making a decision.

Ear candles are said to be a natural, safe, non-invasive and simple way of removing excess wax and debris from the inside of the ear. Although ear wax candles are not scientifically proven to recover hearing loss nor cure any specific ear diseases, many people claim that it helps to remove excess wax, improve hearing loss, helps balance and equilibrium symptoms in vertigo, relieve sinus pressure and earache. The use of ear candles should never be used in people who have had recent ear surgery; ear cysts; ear drains; injury or damage to the ear drum and tumors of the ear drum. It is recommended that if you have any certain health problems, to contact your medical physician first.

This procedure of using ear candles is called ear coning, whereby a long tapered beeswax and soy blend candle is narrow enough to be gently inserted into the ear canal and the end is lit. The candle would normally be inserted through a paper plate to protect the face from any spilt wax. The burning flame is said to create a gentle vacuum to promote blood circulation, removal of toxins and wax.

Ear coning can be done on regular basis depending on the amount of ear wax you have. Those with excess ear wax may need to go every week for a few weeks, and those with little ear wax may only need to go a few times a year.

It should be noted that for good quality beeswax candles, there should be little or no spillage of the wax. Ear coning should never hurt, but as the candle burns you will feel warmth in the ear canal and maybe some crackling noises. Ear wax candles can be dangerous and should never be conducted alone, as there may be a risk of skin burns due to the hot wax and may drip into the ear, obstructing the ear canal or even damaging the ear drum.

There are many Widex hearing aids to choose from and the product chosen will depend on many factors, examples which include the type and degree of the hearing loss and affordability.

The Widex hearing aid product range includes:

1) Widex Inteo:
- Premier digital Widex hearing aids
- Small, discrete and easy to operate
- Integrates Signal Processing (ISP) which has high processing and communication levels.
- Multi-directional feedback cancelling system
- Has a 15-channel adaptive directional microphone system
- Able to bring high pitched sounds that you cannot hear to a lower pitch range to help you hear
- Detects and enhances speech, regardless of the environment noise and location of the person who is talking
- Automatic

2) Widex Aikia:
- High-level ISP digital Widex hearing aids
- Exceptional performance in sound quality even in noisy environments
- More detailed hearing and has dynamic integrator system
- Multi-directional feedback cancelling system
- More flexible hearing as it enhances sound from a distance and allows soft sounds to become more audible
- 10-channel
- Sound is able to be more focussed, regardless of its direction
- Automatic
- Open-fit models are available

3) Widex Diva (also known as Widex Senso Diva):
- High-level digital Widex hearing aids
- Automatically adjusts to the user’s surroundings to give clear speech and noise reduction
- Soft sounds are more audible
- 15 channels
- Consumption of battery power is lower in relation to the hearing aid complexity
- Has dual microphone technology with digital signal processing techniques enabling the hearing aid to locate the source of the noise and adjust its microphone to reduce the noise
- Feedback cancelling system
- Great for music lovers as there is a special music programme which preserves the full acoustic music dimension

4) Widex Flash:
- A mid-level, lower priced range of Widex hearing aids with flash ISP technology
- Automatic
- Dynamic integrator
- 5 Channels and 5 bands
- Automatically adjusts to the user’s surroundings to give clear speech and noise reduction
- Flash locator system with adaptive dual microphone technology
- Flash feedback cancelling system
- Customised listening programmes

5) Widex Vita (also known as Widex Senso Vita):
- Advance mid-level digital Widex hearing aids
- Uses an omnidirectional microphone as well as a directional microphone - Combi-Mic Technology
- Uses the SoundShape system to automatically adjust the sounds to be more comfortable and amplified
- Reduces noise and optimises speech sounds
- Stabilizes sound
- Has four listening programmes which include for quiet environments, noisy environments, when you want to use the telephone and when you want to use the telephone and still be able to hear surrounding sounds.

6) Widex Bravissimo:
- Lower cost, basic digital Widex hearing aids with high quality
- Available in omnidirectional and directional microphones
- Automatic
- Sound stabilizer
- Noise reduction system
- 3-channel
- Automatic feedback managing to reduce feedback
- Long battery life with a beeping tone to warn you when the battery is low

7) Widex Bravo:
- Lower cost, basic digital Widex hearing aids with high quality
- Particularly suitable for use in relatively quiet environments, where the user is not regularly exposed to difficult hearing conditions.
- Consumes very low battery power
- 2-channel
- Noise reduction and clear speech reproduction system
- Indicates when the battery is low

8) Widex Elan:
- Open fit Widex hearing aids
- Available in the following ranges: Widex Inteo, Widex Aikia, Widex Divo, Widex Vita and Widex Bravissimo

Siemens Prisma hearing aids (also known as Prisma 2K) are especially designed for infants and children, as hearing loss affects about 3 in every 1,000 babies born. It is very small, light weight, automatic, designed to adapt to the infant’s ear and easy for parents to operate. There is a childproof battery compartment and volume control that can be programmed by the audiologist.

Once the hearing loss diagnosis is confirmed, fitting of these Siemens Prisma hearing aids can occur in the infant. The small and light weight ear mould sits securely in the auditory canal, with the infant’s natural shape of the pinna retained. If the ear mould slips out of the infant’s ear, whistling is avoided because Siemens Prisma hearing aids have two adaptive feedback mechanism filters to prevent this. This helps reduce frustration for the infant and even parents. In addition, to avoid whistling and feedback when positioning the hearing aid in the ear, when you close the battery case, the hearing aid automatically activates after about 10 seconds.

Siemens Prisma hearing aids also have a speech sensitive signal which works to amplify the speech and reduce unwanted noise.

As the child develops and their hearing needs change, the Siemens Prisma hearing aids can be re-programmed to adapt to the child’s needs.

Oticon NoWax is an earwax protection system. The reason for this is because one of the most common causes of servicing and repairing hearing aids is due to earwax clogging the Oticon hearing aid. Hence, that is why Oticon hearing aids generally come with the Oticon NoWax, to reduce the number of earwax-related servicing and repairs, and to provide the user with hassle free performance.

Oticon NoWax is easy and safe to use, and is ideal for those with limited dexterity. A used filter can never be reused and reinserted as there is only one way to use the removal tool. In addition, for those with poor eyesight, there is an indicator to inform you of the new filter.

The Oticon NoWax is environmentally friendly and the whole system (filter, shell, and tool) can be thrown away with normal household waste.

To use the Oticon NoWax, you will need to follow the directions below:

1) Remove the tool from the shell.
2) The tool has two arms – one with a new wax filter, the other with a removal tool
3) Push the removal tool into the existing wax filter in the hearing aid to remove it
4) Push the new wax filter into the hearing aid
5) Throw the use tool into normal household waste.

Hearing aid battery ratings and questions are just some of the customer’s main concerns, as when you purchase hearing aid batteries this can sometimes be quite confusing! With the following hearing aid battery ratings and questions answered – we hope you have no more uncertainties.

Generally, a standard hearing aid battery will last between 5-14 days. This will depend on the hearing aid and battery type and how long the hearing aid is used daily. When you notice that the sound from the hearing aid is quieter than normal and/or distorted, it generally means that you need to change the battery. Some have a faint beeping sound when the battery tires. As this can happen all of a sudden, it is best to always carry a spare battery with you.

Hearing aid zinc batteries are powered by air. If there is not enough air travelling through the air vent holes, it may not work properly. Hence, when you remove the tab from the battery, it is advised that you wait for a minute to let the air get into the battery.

Some people who have hearing aids in both ears think that you need to change the battery in both ears when only one of them stops working because they want the voltage to be the same. You do not need to do this as the zinc battery is different to the alkaline battery. When the zinc battery goes bad, it will just stop as it has a flat discharge curve. The alkaline battery has a sloping discharge curve and goes bad slowly. The performance of the zinc battery should be similar regardless of where they are in the discharge cycle.

Some leave the battery door open when the hearing aid is off, as they think that it will improve the battery life. There is only slight improvement, meaning only minutes! So it is not vital!

To prolong your hearing aid and battery, it is generally recommended that you use a dry aid kit. This will help remove excess moisture. But results differ and it depends on a case by case basis. The dry aid for hearing aids and batteries are only beneficial if you are in a high humidity climate. If you live in a place where the summer is dry, for example, Arizona, the kit may shorten the life of the battery. Remember to wash your hands when you change your battery as grease and dirt can cause damage.

Hearing aid battery ratings are difficult, as battery life will depend upon how much energy is needed to run the hearing aid, how many hours of the day the hearing aid is used. Generally, the smaller the battery, the shorter its life – once it is installed in the hearing aid. Bigger batteries are usually used in hearing aids that require more power to operate. Also, the person’s lifestyle, who uses the hearing aid, may contribute to the battery life. If they are often in quiet surroundings, the battery life may be longer compared to a person who is often in a noisy environment. So you can not determine the best hearing aid batteries!

Hearing aid battery sizes are standardised and colour coded for easy remembering.
Size 5: RED
Size 10 (or 230): YELLOW
Size 13: ORANGE
Size 312: BROWN
Size 675: BLUE

Bluetooth capable hearing aids allow communication with other people wirelessly, helping people to hear better, hear more comfortably and conveniently. This is ever more important in today’s fast-paced society as there is a growing use of modern technology which includes mobile phones and video conferencing.

The advantages of Bluetooth capable hearing aid is the convenience and ease when you want to speak to someone on your mobile phone, without compromising clarity.
With this in mind, many companies now develop hearing aids with bluetooth. Below are some examples.

1) Phonak Smartlink

With the use of hearing aids with Bluetooth technology in the Phonak Smartlink all incoming calls are automatically directed to the hearing aid, providing your mobile phone is switched on – this will continue to function even if the Phonak Smartlink is switched on or off. However, the mobile phone must be within 2-3 metres range of the Phonak Smartlink and you need to use your mobile phone if you are dialling out.

With the Phonak FM systems, you can listen to music without worrying because there is priority to incoming calls. The automatic decrease of the audio signal allows the person to hear their mobile phone ring clearly.

2) Oticon Epoq

The device Oticon Epoq Streamer is worn on the body and allows signals from your mobile phone to be streamed wirelessly into the Oticon hearing aids. If you have two hearing aids, the sound will be directed to both the ears without having to coordinate their actions. The device can also be used as a remote control to adjust the volume of the hearing aid.

The Epoq Oticon Streamer uses Bluetooth technology and is compatible with most Bluetooth enabled sound sources on the market – these include mobile phones, mp3, and computers.

3) Acuris Siemens Hearing Aids

The Acuris Siemens hearing aid uses the e2e wireless technology, which allows total automatic wireless synchronization, especially when two siemens hearing aids are worn. Also, the one-touch control allows changes in the listening programme or volume to occur at the same time for both of the hearing aids.

4) Bernafon Xtreme

The Bernafon Xtreme is compatible with the ELI ear-level Bluetooth receiver and a universal direct-audio-input adaptor to allow you to use your Bluetooth capable mobile phone hands-free.

The Rexton Revo hearing aid is the latest product from Rexton. The receiver-in-the-canal Rexton Revo hearing aid is extremely small, cosmetically appealing and is located comfortably and discreetly behind the ear.

This Rexton Revo hearing aid is rechargeable and can be used after only charging for 5 hours. The optional Revo charger, which uses galvanic charging, is automatic, easy to use and has a function to dry and remove excess water moisture from the Rexton hearing aids. In addition, you can still use the regular size 13 batteries.

With features which automatically manage speech and noise, the Rexton Revo is able to reduce background noise levels and enhance speech – as it can separately analyse both noise and speech. With the Rexton Revo Plus, there is the option of connecting via a wireless network and use of a remote control, offering improved balance and a more accurate localisation of sound.

Another feature of the Rexton Revo hearing aid is that it contains multiple layers offering high protection against water, dirt and oil. Therefore, less moisture and perspiration enters the hearing aid and the reliability and life of the hearing aid is improved.

Other atuomatic features include the use of an automatic and an adaptive directional microphone; a reduction in wind noise; automatic feedback cancellation which reduces and eliminates feedbacks and avoid artifacts.

Phonak hearing aids or the Phonak hearing system are produced by the Phonak Group, which is a Switzerland company with its headquarters located in a small town called Staefa, 30 km east of Zurich. They have distributors located in many countries, which offers the Phonak hearing aid and its communications to adults and children in more than 70 countries.

The company’s development and specialisation of high-tech digital hearing systems and global distribution of these hearing systems have led to many awards. In addition, the company have educated people about the importance of hearing, the affects of hearing loss on the individual and what help is available by creating the global initiative ‘Hear the World’.

It has musical ambassador’s Plácido Domingo and the Vienna Philharmonic and Phonak Hearing Systems is the official supplier of the winner of the 32nd America’s Cup Alinghi. Phonak now provides the Alinghi with its on-board communication systems.

Hearing loss of individuals will vary; therefore, each hearing aid will be tailored to the person’s needs. Each Phonak hearing aids are distinguished by design and technology. Designs include:
-MicroStyle generation models, such as the microBTE (behind the ear,) which are small and light, and fit behind the ear.
-In the ear (ITE) models, which cover mild to medium hearing loss. Examples include Completely in the Canal (CIC), Mini-Canal in the Canal (ITC), Half Shell (ITC) and Full Shell (ITE).
-Behind the Ear (BTE) models which are worn behind the ear. These are suitable for all types of hearing loss and are especially useful in severe hearing loss.

Technology includes Phonak digital hearing aids, digitally programmable and analogue. Digital hearing aids are programmed via a computer and Phonak have many lines to cater for the individuals’ needs. These include the Exélia, Naída, Audéo, Savia Art, Savia/microSavia, Perseo, MicroPower, Eleva/microEleva, Valeo/miniValeo, Supero, eXtra, Una and MAXX.

Digitally programmable technology includes Astro, MicroZoom, Piconet2, SonoForte2, PowerZoom, NovoForte and the Analogue behind the ear technology includes the Classica, Picoforte3 and Superfront lines.

Other products include:
-iLink, which is a fully integrated wireless connected, small digital hearing instrument.
-eShell, which is an instrument shell made by laser to give a precise 3D model of your ear.
-FM systems which are wireless communication systems that allow clear understanding, when surroundings make hearing difficult (e.g. distance, loud environmental noises)

To check whether you are experiencing hearing problems, you can conduct its online questionnaire, hearing loss demos and hearing test. Or you can contact one of its hearing professionals worldwide.

Audibel hearing aids are made by a company based across America. There are over 1,000 Audibel Centres for Hearing Excellence and over 2,000 specially trained hearing professionals with the expertise to help and advise customers chose the best hearing aid for them.

The Audibel hearing aid is powered by a smart chip known as the nFusion technology and is available with Audibel’s Virtue series. The Audibel Virtue hearing aid uses the software Inspire OS and Audibel sequel programing, which learns and provides a more accurate fit. Therefore, allowing the user to adapt better to its surroundings and their hearing becomes clearer. The Virtue Audibel hearing aids were even featured on Paul Harvey’s radio station – America’s most listened to and most beloved radio personality.

The styles of hearing aids include behind the ear (BTE), on the ear (OTE), receiver in the canal (RIC), in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC) and completely in the canal (CIC).

Hearing loss in the early stages should be identified for effective treatment and rehabilitation. As a result, Audibel have developed questions for you to assess your symptoms, to determine whether you need to contact a hearing professional. You can download the Audibel’s Hearing Self-Evaluation brochure.

In addition, Audibel have developed a comprehensive online Hearing Loss Simulator. This helps you to understand how loss of hearing can affect speech comprehension and demonstrates the loss of hearing audio differences.

If you are unsure of whether you are suited for an Audibel hearing aid, or have any questions, you are advised to contact a hearing professional, who can determine which hearing aid is best suited to your needs and can tailor the outcome to best match your hearing profile.

Researching about hearing aid manufacturers and hearing aid supplies was a complete shock - as I did not realise that there were so many to choose from! That means finding dirt cheap hearing aids are going be hard! Rephrase - finding dirt cheap and effective hearing aids are going to be hard!! Look at the list I found!

Audex Assistive Listening Systems
Audibel
Audient Services, Inc.
Audina
Audio Controle
Audio Controle, Inc.
Audio Medical Devices Limited
Audiocontrole
Authorized Hearing Systems
AVR
Beltone
Beltone Electronics Corp.
Bernafon
Bernafon-Maico
Bosch
Communication Aid Manufacturers Association (CAMA)
Custom Earmold Labs
Danavox
Electone
Electro-Medical Instrument Co.
EMSEE labs
GN ReSound
Hansaton Hearing Systems
Implex
Knowles Electronics, LLC
Magnatone
Microsonic, Inc.
Micro-Tech
Ongbird
Oticon
Oticon Inc.
Phillips
Phonak
Phonak Hearing Systems
Phonic Ear
Precision Laboratories, Inc.
Qualitone
Rexton
Rion
Siemens
Siemens Hearing
Siemens Hearing Instruments
Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
Songbird Hearing Inc.
Sonic Innovations
Starkey
Symphonix
Telex
Transonik
United Hearing Systems
Unitron
Vanco Factory Direct Hearing Center
Widex
Williams Sound Corp.

I was hoping that I would be able to find some sort of consumer reviews on hearing aids, which list the best hearing aids.

Hopefully, with more research I will be able to have hearing aid comparisons so that I can have more knowledge to help decide which would be the most appropriate hearing aid for Mum and what other supplies and information will be beneficial - for example, dry aid for hearing aids, hearing aid battery ratings, where to find cheap hearing aid repair work, assistance with hearing aids cost. Wow, can't wait for Mum to have better hearing!

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and have the same level of hearing loss. Also, because the symptoms can be quite vague, many people do not realise that they are losing their hearing. This can be very difficult to notice especially amongst young children.

People in their early stages of hearing loss may notice the following:

• Difficulty in hearing conversations, especially if there is background noise
• Frequently asking people to repeat what they have said
• Misunderstanding what people say
• Turning the TV or radio volume to high
• Talking loudly
• Noticing that other people may be mumbling during a conversation
• Difficulty in noticing faint sounds, e.g. birds in the backgrounds
• Mispronouncing words
• Agreeing/nodding during conversation when you’re not sure what has been said
• Reading people’s lips to try and determine what they are saying
• Tinnitus - ringing in the ears

We often say to each other that we can not hear! But, hearing loss can be quite dangerous and can affect many aspects of your life, as safety and productivity is impaired. If left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to various other complications such as depression, frustration, social isolation, loss of confidence and independence.

Hearing loss is the decreased ability to hear and can happen suddenly or gradually. Depending on a few factors, such as the cause, hearing loss can be permanent, temporary, mild or severe.

The term hearing loss is quite a general term, as there are different levels and types of hearing loss in different people. The hearing impairment of each individual will be unique and some people learn to adjust well to slow down the hearing loss. For others, some do not even realise that they are losing their hearing, especially if they work in noisy environments.

As we grow older, the sensory hair cells (which detect the vibrations), located on the cochlea of the inner ear, gradually begin to die. This coincides with deterioration in the hearing. In addition, exposing our ears to loud noises distort and damage the sensory hair cells, which results in the loss of transmission of incoming sounds to the brain, therefore, leading to permanent loss of hearing.

I don’t really know how our ears actually work – so I had to research it so that I could tell Mum. Here is a brief summary of how the ears function.
Our ears are made up of three sections called the outer ear, middle and inner ear, with each section serving its own purpose in the detection and interpretation of sound.

Sounds reach our ears as sound waves and the function of the outer ear is to concentrate the sound waves by channelling it via the pinna (or auricle). This acts like a funnel to amplify the sound and direct the sound waves into the ear canal, then to the ear drum.

The ear canal and middle ear are separated by the oval shaped ear drum, which is made up of a very thin, semi-transparent membrane, approximately 1cm in diameter. When sound waves hit the ear drum, it vibrates and transfers these vibrations on to three small bones in the middle ear called ossicles. These three bones are called hammer (malleus), anvil (incus) and stirrup (stapes). The middle ear section is filled with air and almost sealed, as a result to equalise the internal pressure with the outside, the Eustachian tube exists and is connected to the throat, to drain fluid.

As the three small bones vibrate, they amplify the vibrations into the inner ear to arrive at a coiled structure called the cochlea, which is lined with hair cells. Fluid in the cochlea begins to move and the vibrations are picked up by the sensory hair cells. These then send electrical signals via the auditory nerve to the brain, which then interprets them as sound.

For many years my Mum had suffered from gradual loss of hearing in one ear. She complained of pain at first and at that she could hear echoing and sounds like a train running along its tracks. At that time the doctor could not do very much to help her as she was told that her ear drum was damaged, nor did he give her any direction to seek more specialist help, so nothing much was done about the ear, except to take some tablets, in which my Mum insists did nothing to help. In addition, the thought of specialist fees being expensive, deterred my Mum from asking any more questions as she thought that she could not afford it. As time passed, Mum's hearing progressively got worse.

Recently, I came across an advertisement about hearing aids in the local newspaper and was surprised. I usually associate hearing aids with the elderly; devices which are honey-brown in colour, relatively chunky and very obvious. This was a big misconception and I was very ignorant!

These hearing aids in the advertisement ranged in different sizes, styles, colours and shapes. So many differences; behind the ear, completely in the canal, analogue, digital, cochlear implants, bone anchored implants, middle ear implant devices and much more. I could feel myself getting excited as I began to read and digest the information of the advertisement.

After discussing it with Mum, I proceeded to book a consultation with the company, in the advertisement, to discuss the options of whether it would be advisable to purchase a hearing aid for Mum. In addition, the consultation would help us determine whether we could afford it, as the questions that Mum kept asking were all money related, "What is the best hearing aid for the money we have? Do cheap hearing aids exist? Are there any reduced cost hearing aids? Is there any assistance with hearing aids cost?"

During the meantime, whilst waiting for our scheduled appointment date - I intend to update myself on this area. Just in case of any questions I may want to ask!