With so many customized features available, a programmed hearing devices provide untold benefits to the wearer, dependent on the specific degree of hearing loss, comfort level and other personal considerations. This is why you must have your hearing aid programmed to your ears rather than enlist a one-size fits all approach, which could be detrimental to your hearing health. This process is performed by a certified audiologist. Let’s take a more in-depth look.
What Factors can be Adjusted?
One of the many factors of adjustment is the reduction of background noise. Audiologists take many components into consideration when they program your hearing aid, prompting them to adjust anything from volume, frequency and intensity levels, to compression ratios, maximum output of power and noise reduction. They can also incorporate microphone usage. For example, doctors can tweak a setting that’s just too sensitive to noise so the user feels the most comfortable.
Programming Hearing Aids
A state of the art hearing aid, with the ability to be customized to the individual, must incorporate real ear measurements, as well as visual mapping and environmental simulations. Real-ear probe microphones, which pick on the sounds that are hitting the eardrum, assists the doctor in more accurately programming the device. Visible speech mapping (VSM) shows how various sounds of speech hit the eardrum and process sound, a state of the art alternative to traditional measurements. The hearing aids of today are able to help with noise reduction and feedback reduction algorithms. You’ll find that several doctors use a surround sound system in order to simulate real noise from the outside environment and make adjustments based on feedback in real time. This surround sound system approach, while it can simulate crowd noises and help the doctor adjust noise reduction factors, is valuable too because it offers unparalleled troubleshooting capabilities. Your doctor should have access to the right hardware, software and cables to connect to the hearing aid so the programming process can be a success. While some people actually know how to program their own hearing aids, this can be an expensive way to go about it. Plus, you could be doing yourself a disserve if you attempt it yourself. See a professional instead.
Processing Time
Programming depends on various subjective preferences thanks to a thorough hearing evaluation. Adjustments often happen on an ongoing basis as the user troubleshoots preferences in the real world. Older hearing devices were pretty easy to operate and adjust, typically with just a screwdriver. Now you’re able to personalize hundreds of elements within digital hearing aids to match the hearing needs of the individual. You wouldn’t just buy a mattress or a car without trying it out first, right? The same goes with hearing aids of all kinds. Users may return to the office with suggestions on what they would like to incorporate. The brain can’t immediately adjust to the new sounds emitted by the device, so more time is needed to evaluate different listening situations. Digital hearing aids are the best option for hearing impaired users today, thanks to this innovative approach.
Call Today’s Hearing at (281) 578-7500 for more information or to schedule an appointment.