Oops! I’ve Had My Hearing Aids in All Day!

Hearing aids in 2017 have gotten so small and so advanced that it’s easy to forget you even have them in after you’ve had them for a while. This is a GOOD THING!

First, there are two very good reasons not take them out.

• With loss of hearing comes the loss of processing sound. Our ears are designed to send sound signals to our brain. When that’s diminished or stopped all together, the sound processing center of our brain isn’t stimulated properly anymore. Wearing your hearing aids regularly will allow adequate stimulation and maintain our brain’s ability to process sound.
• The more you wear them, the more natural sound becomes. Hearing loss is a long and gradual process typically over many years. Sometimes it’s so faint, there are certain sounds we didn’t even realize we miss anymore. Once you are fitted for and begin using your new hearing aids, your brain basically has to be “re-trained” on how to hear sounds. This, too, takes time, but the more you keep them in the more natural running water will sound. The more normal hands clapping will be. At first, it may sound excessively loud, but you’re simply adjusting to your new world.

As far as reasons to take them out? Well…besides using loud machinery (i.e. power tools, mower) or being submerged in water (swimming or bathing), you really shouldn’t.

It’s kind of like turning on the lights after you’ve been in a dark room for a while. The light hurts yours eyes at first, but then they slowly adjust until you see clearly. The same can be said for hearing aids. The more you wear them, the more accustomed you will become to hearing all the wonderful sounds this world has to offer. 

Smart Hearing Aids Are Changing the Hearing Industry

If you suffer from hearing loss, now is the time to invest in the latest technology for hearing aids. Like a flip phone’s revolution to a sleek smartphone, hearing aids are making leaps and bounds in the technology of hearing assistance. Did you know that smart hearing aid technology has hit the market and it is now possible to connect a smart hearing aid with your Android or iPhone?

New hearing aid technology can make a huge difference in anyone’s life. For example, Daymond John, star of the reality TV show Shark Tank, states that he listened to loud music in his early years and is now suffering from a hearing disability at age 43. Luckily, technological advancements in hearing aids have improved his daily life. In his interview with CNNMoney, Daymond John says, “You think of your grandparents wearing hearing aids – not me… But I’m talking to you through my hearing aids ... and you’d never really know I’m wearing something.”

Daymond John uses advanced hearing aids from Starkey Hearing Technologies that work with iOS devices to stream calls and listen to music all through his earpieces. John didn’t realize he had a real hearing problem until he went to a Starkey Hearing Foundation event and tried on a hearing device. He says, “… at the event, they invited everyone to try on a hearing device, and it was like night and day. I was suffering from tinnitus in one ear and something else was going on in the other.”

Like Daymond John, we see advancements from Starkey Hearing Technologies as the future of hearing aids. Starkey Hearing Technologies places an importance on research, science and innovative technology when creating cutting-edge hearing solutions. Better Hearing Systems of NorthWest Louisiana is proud to offer Starkey Hearing products including Muse and Halo 2. If you would like to schedule a FREE demonstration of the latest hearing aid technology, contact Better Hearing Systems today!

Protect Your Hearing During The Summer Months

Summer brings lots of celebrations--and with celebrations, come noise! Whether it’s Fourth of July fireworks, live music concerts, street parades with fire engines showing off their horns and sirens, motorcycling, or even simply using a power mower and leaf-blower in the yard, the sounds of summer can be loud. There is a connection between noise exposure and hearing loss, so please take a few simple steps to protect your hearing this summer.


The link between noise and hearing loss: 

Sound travels down the ear canal in waves. Loud noises can cause waves so forceful that they dislodge the tiny bones in the middle ear. If the waves pass through the middle ear and reach the inner ear, they can damage the tiny hair cells that carry sound all the way to the brain, where the sounds are interpreted. Unfortunately, once destroyed, these hair cells can’t repair themselves, and can no longer pass sounds along to the brain--resulting in permanent damage.

Noise levels are measured in decibels. Any sound over 85 decibels can result in hearing loss. For example, a passing motorcycle is roughly 90 decibels, and a firework exploding at close range is around 150 decibels. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can result from how loud the noise is, as well as the length of a person’s exposure to noise.

Noise-induced hearing loss can affect anyone, at any age. Children have a lower threshold for noise than adults, so it is even more important to protect their hearing during summer activities like watching fireworks or attending a festival with loud music.  

Types of hearing loss due to noise exposure:

There are three types of hearing loss that may result from noise exposure.

• Tinnitus: a temporary ringing or buzzing in the ears after exposure. Tinnitus sometimes, but not always, goes away by itself.
• Temporary changes in threshold: A small decrease in hearing that disappears, usually approximately 24-48 hours after the exposure occurs. Although the hearing distortion goes away, evidence suggests there may be long-term hearing damage.
• Permanent hearing damage: Unfortunately, the most severe noise damage can result in irreversible hearing loss, often from a ruptured eardrum or trauma to the delicate bones of the middle ear.

Tips to protect hearing:

• Stand as far away as possible from the source of the noise. For example, the further away you stand from exploding fireworks, the less trauma to the ears.
• If standing far away isn’t practical, or if the noise is loud even from afar, use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones to muffle the sound. 
• Shorten the length of time exposed to loud noise. 
• Keep children away from loud noise caused by lawn mowers, fireworks, firearms, lawn and farm machinery, stereo speakers, and concerts. 

If you or a loved one has experienced hearing loss after noise exposure, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing test with a qualified audiologist. The audiologist will help determine if the change in hearing is temporary or permanent.

At Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana, we offer comprehensive hearing tests for adults and school-aged children, as well as video otoscopy for detailed viewing of the ear canal. Visit our website to learn more, or call (318) 309-4727 to schedule your free hearing consultation.

What Is Tinnitus?

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders claims that roughly 10 percent of the adult population has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.  Tinnitus is not a disease but rather an auditory condition in which there is ringing or buzzing in the ears.  Although it is typically a ringing sound, tinnitus can also be hissing, clicking or whistling.  It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched, depending on external sounds.

The noises we expose ourselves to everyday can have an effect on our hearing if they are too loud.  Both loud and long-lasting noises can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss.  Because tinnitus originates in the inner ear, it often damages the sensory hair cells that are vital for hearing and balance.

One of the easiest ways to prevent tinnitus is avoiding excessive noise exposure.  A great way to lessen your risk is defending your ears with hearing protection like earplugs.  While you are in loud environments like concerts or health clubs, position yourself as far away from the source of sound as possible.  If you are listening to music with ear buds or headphones, adjust the volume to a low level.  The most important step you can take for your hearing is to make sure you limit your time in noisy environments and keep the volume down.

If you are experiencing ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling in your ears, you may be suffering from tinnitus.  There is no cure for tinnitus but treatment options are available to help people cope with the condition.  If you are in need of tinnitus treatment, contact Better Heating Systems for a consultation.  We offer both counseling and state-of-the-art hearing instruments that will help you cope with tinnitus.

To set up your appointment with Better Hearing Systems, give us a call at (318) 309-4727 and let us help you get back to your daily life!

Protecting Your Hearing at Concerts

With summer on the horizon, festival season is fast approaching. Music festivals are a fun, wonderful summertime tradition across the U.S., but did you know the noise levels around a stage can reach 110 decibels or more? That’s the near-equivalent of standing next to a jackhammer that’s drilling into concrete. In short: loud music can damage your hearing.

Many music-lovers and concert-goers are unaware of just how acute the dangers of high-volume music is to their hearing. If you’ve ever been to a concert, you’re probably familiar with the ringing that stays in your ears for the hours or even days following the show. This is usually a temporary issue, and the time taken to recover can vary from person to person. If the ringing doesn’t stop and normal hearing does not recover, then it is considered tinnitus - a symptom of noise-induced hearing loss caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in your inner ear. A person with tinnitus may experience ringing, clicking, or roaring in their ears for which there is currently no cure. Most individuals with tinnitus simply get used to the ringing sounds in their ear and learn to live with it over time. When it comes to tinnitus and hearing loss, prevention is key!

Without completely forgoing music festivals this year in the best interest of your ears, what can do to protect your hearing?

Use Earplugs!

If you’re an avid concert-goer, you’re most at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to the high volume and length of time you’re listening to it. If you go to multiple concerts, you up your chances of tinnitus simply by exposing your ears to the high decibels for long periods of time. The best thing you can do to protect your hearing while still enjoying the show is to wear earplugs. Musicians and DJs often wear earplugs themselves, so that’s all the more reason you should, too! The silicone and foam earplugs you can find easily at any drug store may not be your best bet, though. They often fit poorly and muffle sound. Instead, you can get special musicians earplugs that are custom-fit to your ear and will not distort sound quality. If you’re a music-enthusiast, they’re your best option to still enjoy loud music and concerts while protecting your hearing from damage. (If you don’t have earplugs but plan on attending a concert in the near future, try to stand at least 10 feet away from speakers and escape to a quieter area for breaks if you notice your ears are hurting.)

The best solution to hearing loss is prevention. Better Hearing Systems of NWLA can help! We offer the aforementioned musicians earplugs among other hearing accessories. If you’re unsure whether you may already be experiencing hearing loss, we also offer free hearing consultations and evaluations. Contact Better Hearing Systems before festival season is here, so you can enjoy with peace of mind (and ears) all the great music and shows summer has to offer!

Discover The Possibilities At Better Hearing Systems

Did you know hearing loss affects 1 in every 10 Americans? Located in Bossier City, Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana offers audiology services customized to each patient's individual needs. Our caring and trained professionals provide a suite of audiological services including prevention, diagnostic care, hearing aids and accessories, counseling, rehabilitation and personalized aftercare. We will guide through every step and will help you find the right hearing solution that best matches your lifestyle.

Take a look at our hearing services designed for a range of needs:

Hearing Evaluations

• Comprehensively diagnostic audiological evaluations and hearing tests for adults and school-aged children
• Video otoscopy for detailed viewing of your ear canal

Hearing Aids

• Full line of hearing aids, specializing in digital hearing aid technology
• Assistive listening devices
• Follow-up fine-tuning visit to ensure maximum benefits 

Hearing Accessories

• Premium batteries and other hearing aid accessories
• Custom ear molds for hearing aids, iPods, and MP3s
• Water protection earplugs

Additional Services

• Hearing aid repair services for all makes and models
• Hearing aid cleaning services
• Routine maintenance and cleaing
• Rehabilitation Services
• Counseling for hearing loss and Tinnitus
• Seminars for groups and organizations, including support groups

Led by licensed audiologist Sarah Smith, the staff at Better Hearing Systems of Northwest Louisiana is certified and trained to understand your hearing needs. We promise to provide outstanding customer care using cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art instuments that will enhance your hearing.

If you're ready to improve your hearing and get back to your daily life, visit www.betterhearingsystemsla.com or call 318-309-4727.