Hearing Aids Basics 101 - Pt. I

We’re still surprised how many people have outdated ideas about what hearing aids are like. It’s common for patients to come in expecting large, uncomfortable devices that distort sounds or make everything seem tinny or artificial. In fact, one of the first things many of our patients say is, “I can’t believe how natural everything sounds!” Or they might remark on how comfortable they are to wear. We love pleasantly surprising people!

We all have certain preferences and aversions for sensory input, including sounds. Yet for some of us, those aversions can be practically debilitating. If a given sound sensitivity triggers such negative reactions that it starts limiting your or a loved one's quality of life, it may be a condition known as misophonia. Fortunately, advances in audiology have made the detection and treatment of misophonia available to the general public. Even better, treatment for misophonia is often as simple as booking an appointment and discussing your concerns with a qualified hearing professional.  What Is Misophonia? Misophonia is a condition in which aural stimuli cause usually strong, sometimes overwhelming, emotions and physical reactions. Physical symptoms of misophonia, if present, can manifest as autonomic bodily processes or reactive behaviors. Treatment for misophonia depends on the strength and extent of its symptoms, but even more severe cases can be managed effectively under the care of a trained and experienced clinician. While estimates vary, misophonia's marked decrease in sound tolerance is more common in women and may affect one in five people over their lives. Symptoms and Causes of Misophonia Misphonia symptoms often begin as certain unwanted emotions, most commonly: Anxiety Anger Fear Annoyance/irritation Frustration For those with misophonia, these emotions are often much more pronounced than for their peers, who feel the same sound/stimulus is only mildly unpleasant (or even pay it no mind). On the contrary, misophonia can become very disruptive to normal daily activity, limiting one's ability to freely engage in certain activities. Those with misophonia usually learn to avoid triggering sounds, and all that's associated with it. Left untreated, misophonia can lead to physical symptoms, ranging from reduced self-control to physical reactions, including: Sweating Goosebumps Increased heart rate or blood pressure A feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest Angry outbursts (both physical or verbal) Note that the physical symptoms of misophonia are akin to certain self-protection (aka "fight or flight") instincts the body induces when it senses danger. Just as the emotional symptoms listed above may give rise to autonomic physical processes, the latter sometimes leads to increased behavioral tendencies, ranging anywhere from aversive to violent behaviors. Diagnosis and Tests Even if the worst physical symptoms don't manifest, failure to process or prevent the main underlying factors behind misophonia can lead to chronic stress, as well as reduced immunity and life satisfaction. The first step is to receive a professional diagnosis and determine just how pronounced an individual's symptoms are. An audiologist will provide a series of tests to determine which type of sound frequencies the patient has developed a heightened sensitivity to. We will take your concerns to heart as we compare the test results with the personal background that led up to the onset of misophonia. Management and Treatment Just as the symptoms of misophonia are highly individuated, so too is the treatment. With a formal diagnosis, your audiologist can then prescribe a custom-curated list of coping skills and formal therapies to prevent misophonia from controlling your life. Doing so can help anyone take control of their reactive symptoms, whether experienced as marked annoyance and frustration on through to difficulty with felt, palpable impulse control. All the more, professional treatment can render once-debilitating sound triggers into an afterthought, with little to no effect on their psyche or body. When to Seek Help from Your Healthcare Provider If certain sound sensitivities are growing out of control, you could benefit tremendously from a short appointment at our clinic. Our audiology experts will listen to the specific causes and backstory behind your experience with misophonia and conduct a few simple tests to determine what physical and "psychoacoustic" (the psychological aspect of hearing) phenomena may be contributing to your particular symptoms. We'll then be well on our way to crafting an individualized treatment plan to help you manage overwhelming sound sensitivities in your life. Contact us to request an appointment, and stop misophonia from controlling your life. Image Source: New Africa /Shutterstock

Discover how Phonak hearing aids improve hearing, relieve tinnitus, and enhance communication. Learn how Phonak’s technology supports better hearing and quality of life.

Hearing aids can improve your quality of life tremendously, but that's if they've been properly fitted -- and if you've received a model that works well with your specific type of hearing loss and your lifestyle. When you choose your hearing aids, you'll encounter a few companies that all offer good products. These four in particular are recommended by our audiologists. ReSound First up is ReSound, which has been helping people with hearing loss since 1943. About the manufacturer ReSound focuses on making sound more natural (the company calls this "organic hearing") while using the latest broadcast technology to bring you clearer sound and more efficient controls. The company also offers accessories that work with TVs to stream sound directly to the hearing aids. Benefits of ReSound ReSound's research and development focuses on making hearing aids as easy to control and as seamlessly integrated into your life as possible. Control the hearing aids via a smartphone app, and get ready to stream TV and radio right to your hearing aids when Auracast technology becomes available. Why We Recommend ReSound ReSound is adding Auracast to its Bluetooth-enabled Nexia hearing aids, which will enable you to receive TV and radio broadcasts directly to your hearing aids. The Nexia is suitable for mild to profound hearing loss. ReSound hearing aids also use Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, which preserves battery life and provides better sound. Oticon Next is Oticon, which has been around in one form or another since 1904. The company first used the Oticon name in 1946. About the manufacturer Oticon's roots lie in one Danish man's contract with an English hearing aid company to distribute hearing aids in Denmark. Over the decades, that contract grew into a full-fledged, family-owned hearing aid manufacturer with worldwide distribution. Benefits of Oticon Oticon's focus over the past several years has been on technology that allows for better connectivity along with sound technology that works to fill in gaps, rather than just amplify. Why We Recommend Oticon Oticon's hearing aid models have had internet and mobile phone connectivity for almost a decade. One of its latest models, the Intent, has AI-driven sensors that predict your hearing assistance needs in real time, adjusting to the situation you're in instead of giving you fixed amplification levels that may not work in every situation. The Intent is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss and also works with Auracast and Bluetooth LE technology. Phonak The third company on the list is Phonak, which has been around since 1947. About the manufacturer Phonak is a Swiss company that has consistently worked to improve its hearing aids in ways you never knew you needed, such as having the first water-resistant hearing aid housing for aids for severe hearing losses. Phonak is owned by Sonova, which also makes the Sennheiser brand of audio and recording accessories. Benefits of Phonak Phonak offers a very broad range of hearing aids and also produces the Roger wireless microphone. This helps hearing aid users overcome ambient noise -- no matter what their level of hearing loss -- so that speech is clearer even in very noisy situations. Why We Recommend Phonak Phonak's Naida Lumity is not only Bluetooth-enabled, but it also uses Phonak's SmartSpeech technology to zero in on speech as ambient noise levels change. Sensors locate the dominant speech in a room and direct microphones toward the sound, and the technology enhances speech cues to provide more information about what's being said. Starkey Last, but not least, is Starkey, an established U.S. company that's been in business since 1967. About the manufacturer Starkey started off as a hearing aid repair company in Minnesota. Over the years, the company has launched innovative programs for hearing education, battery recycling, and hearing aid testing. Benefits of Starkey The company has long been a leader in customer service, starting with fixed charges for repairs and adding trial periods and warranties, which were not typical at the time Starkey started offering them. The company was the first to design in-the-canal aids with its Tympanette model. It's also designed with advanced digital and programmable lines of hearing aids. Why We Recommend Starkey Starkey recently released the Edge AI hearing aid series that offers speech enhancement, rechargeable batteries, and Bluetooth LE technology. The Edge AI series works with all levels of hearing loss. Find the Right Hearing Aid for You The sheer number of hearing aid companies, let alone the sheer number of hearing aids, can be intimidating for anyone. Dr. Allen Rohe and Amy Rohe at the Tinnitus & Hearing Center of Arizona in the Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan region can help you find hearing aids that work best for you. Contact us to arrange for a consultation to discuss testing and fitting for your needs.  Image Souce: Janeberry /Shutterstock

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