Since Earth Day is this weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to remind everyone to dispose of their hearing aid batteries properly. Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. When incinerated, certain metals might be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.

Batteries may produce the following potential problems or hazards:

• Pollute the lakes and streams as the metals vaporize into the air when burned.
• Contribute to heavy metals that potentially may leach from solid waste landfills.
• Expose the environment and water to lead and acid.
• Contain strong corrosive acids.
• May cause burns or danger to eyes and skin.

The most appropriate way to dispose of your button hearing aid batteries is to bring them to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site. The city of Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert have hazardous waste collection events periodically. Check with your local government office for details. Until then….keep them out of the trash and landfills.

Just a reminder that all of the hearing aid batteries we sell at the office are mercury free and better for the environment (except for size 675). During your birthday month, you can purchase one carton for $35 and get a second free, which is about a year’s supply of hearing aid batteries.

There’s a mobile application to help you figure out or do just about anything these days, and helping you with your hearing loss or adjust your hearing aids is no exception.  Starkey has just released some very useful tools in helping educate and adjust hearing aids.  Not all of these applications are for consumers, so make sure you ask Dr. Jessee if you’d like to work with these new tools the next time you’re in the office for a Hearing Aid Check or routine hearing exam.

Wi Series App for the iPad

This application provides and introduction to the new Wi Series product line. It provides videos and interactive audio comparisons to engage and educate hearing care professionals and hearing loss sufferers about new methods for hearing in historically difficult situations.

Lifestyle Solutions App for the iPad

This application allows you to describe your individual hearing lifestyle to help select the hearing aid product(s) best suited to your needs. It includes overviews of the product features and functionality, along with descriptions of the available styles that are easy to view and compare.

Sound Check App for the iPhone

This is a hearing screening application that allows anyone to quickly evaluate your hearing to determine if it is within normal limits or approaching the range of potential hearing loss. Screening results are automatically saved to track changes over time or to discuss further with Dr. Jessee. Sound Check includes learning materials and links to websites with detailed information on hearing loss and how to get help.

T2 Remote for iPhone or iPad

This is the first mobile application that allows users to control their hearing aids with a simple touch on their iPhone or iPad, adjusting the hearing aid memory or volume to the desired setting.

Contact our office today at 480-497-0780 to schedule an appointment with Dr.Jessee to discuss these and other new useful tools for managing your hearing loss.

Most hearing aids are very durable and can offer many years of service with the help of some simple cleaning and maintenance tips.

There are a few things to keep in mind when caring for your hearing aids.

1. Always make sure your hands and fingers are clean and dry when handling your hearing aids.

2. Water and solvent cleaning agents can damage the computer circuitry.  You can use a specific cleaning agent, like Audiologist’s Choice spray to help clean ear molds and ear buds.  When using the spray, make sure you spray a cloth first and then wipe the hearing aid.  Never spray your hearing aids directly when any liquid.

 

3. It’s important that you clean your hearing aids daily to help improve their performance and prevent repairs. It’s always best to use a soft, dry cloth to clean your hearing aid and/or a brush to remove wax buildup. You should brush your hearing aids morning and night to help maintain them.

4. Most repairs are due to wax or body oil buildup.  Hearing aid dryers are helpful at drying wax and oil so they can easily be removed with a brush.

 

5. Hearing aids, like most people, don’t like extreme temperatures.  Don’t leave your hearing aids in direct sunlight.

 

6. You should do your best to prevent moisture from getting into your hearing aids.  It’s best to avoid saunas, steam baths, vaporizers or showers when wearing your hearing aids. Do your best to protect your hearing aids during rain and snow, although most new models are water resistant.  If your hearing aids do get wet, remove the batteries, open the battery door and place them in a hearing aid dryer or leave them in the air to dry at room temperature.  Never use a hair dryer or oven to “dry” hearing aids.

7. If you see wax buildup inside an opening in your hearing aid or ear mold it’s best to bring it into the office for a professional cleaning.  Don’t risk damaging your hearing aid by sticking an object into your hearing aid.  Always use just a soft cloth or brush to remove debris.

 

8. Earmold tubing can harden and discolor with age.  When this occurs, the tubing can be changed in the office.  Please call us at 480-497-0780 to ensure the appropriate staff is available to assist you.

 

9. It’s also best to avoid contact with hair spray or make up.  The fine particles and easily cause debris to build up and cause the hearing aid to malfunction.  Try to remove your hearing aids before using any personal care items.

 

Your hearing aids should be professionally cleaned and your programming checked every 3 to 6 months to ensure optimal performance.  If you’re interested in purchasing a hearing aid dryer, they retail for $49 and are available during normal business hours.  Audiologist’s Choice spray retails for $8 a bottle.

If the volume drops and you’ve changed the batteries, make sure you contact our office for a professional cleaning and an appointment with Dr. Jessee, if needed.  Your hearing is important and we want you to hearing as well as you can with your hearing aids.

Making the investment in you is for some, a difficult choice to make.  Being told that you need hearing aids is never easy and taking that leap for the first time can take a while because we don’t want to be perceived as old or senile. Let’s face it; hearing aids don’t have the greatest reputation.  To the contrary, getting help with your hearing sooner rather than later preserves your processing ability and helps maintain your quality of life and actually keeps you younger longer!

I’ve pulled together a few quotes from our satisfied patients as to why they love their hearing aids.  Schedule an appointment today so that you can be included in our Love Club….those Good Sound Audiology patients that love their hearing aids!

“Good Sound Audiology was a very good thing for me. Since my first visit I was able to hear so much better. I work with the public and missed so much of what was said. I now do not nod and smile like I understand. The very best thing is now I can talk with my grandchildren and actually hear what they are telling me.”

“I did not want a hearing aid because of problems people I know that have hearing that do not wear them. Mine work very well and I am glad I got them. I wear all day at work and at home also. Thank you Doctor Jessee.”

“I was amazed when I went to see Fiddler on the Roof.  I was able to hear everything and it was wonderful.  My hearing isn’t as good as it was when I was young, but it’s definitely better than it’s been in a long time.”  -Spencer H., Mesa, AZ

If you’d like to visit our Success Stories link, then you can check out all of the great comments and photos from those patients that love their hearing aids!

Hearing aids, although a necessary purchase, is often put off because of financial concerns.  With few insurance companies covering all or even some of the cost, it can be a daunting proposition to come up with thousands of dollars for hearing aids.

I’ve compiled a list of resources I found online as well as information provided to me from the NIDCD or the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders.  The NIDCD is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).   NIH—the nation’s medical research agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of resources, but there are a few.  Don’t forget to ask about financing plans and interest free payment plans that might also help.  The good news is that most insurance companies, including Medicare usually pay for your complete hearing evaluation once per year.

ARIZONA:

Community Hearing Aid Program

http://communityhearingaidprogram.org/index.html

623-748-8814

 

Children’s Rehabilitative Services (only for children ages 0-21)

602-542-1860

 

Sertoma Club

http://www.sertoma.org/Page.aspx?pid=335

 

FEDERAL: Department of Veterans Affairs (202-745-8578).  If you are a veteran, go to your local VA hospital since most hearing loss can be attributed to your time in the service even if it wasn’t documented when you were discharged. For the Phoenix Metro area:

Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center 602-222-6550 or 1-888-214-7264

 

NATIONAL: Hear Now (800-648-4327)

Internet: www.sotheworldmayhear.org OR

http://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/hear-now.php

 

Lions Affordable Hearing Aid Project

www.lionsear.org Type “Affordable Hearing Aid” in the search box  OR:

http://www.lcif.org/EN/our-programs/humanitarian-efforts/hearing/index.php

You need to apply for the AHA program through a specific lions club, but the application and information is available at the above link.

 

Audient Alliance (1-877-283-4368)

Internet: www.audientalliance.org

 

STATE RESOURCES:

Community Information and Referral Network

602-263-8856

 

Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

1400 West Washington Street

Room 126

Phoenix, AZ  85007

Exec. Director: Sherri L. Collins

602-364-0990 T

602-542-3323 V

800-352-8161 T/V in AZ

602-542-3380 FAX

Email: acdhh@acdhh.state.az.us

Website: www.acdhh.org

I’m sitting down with a gentleman named Tom Ferber to discuss his experience as a patient of Dr. Jessee and one of our first Starkey Wi Series fittings.  Follow along in the coming weeks where we discuss his journey with Good Sound Audiology.

One month follow up.  Tom has been wearing his new hearing aid for the last month.

 

GSA: Have you been able to get your Surflink box to connect to your TV and how is the sound?

 

Tom: It took us a little more time and effort than just “connecting it to our TV”, as when we had our house built, we had a Home Theater System (the 7 speakers and all wiring) installed as an option. After moving in and getting settled, we contracted for the construction of a Media Center, which placed all of the various audio/video devices in a consolidated area out-of-sight and provided a nicely backlit display area behind and around our TV. We tried many things to get Surflink to work, to no avail. The final connection that worked was almost too simple. The Surflink streams straight from the audio output of our DirecTV receiver box with the RCA cable that is supplied with the Surflink.

 

GSA: How are you doing and are you happy with your hearing aid?

 

Tom: Overall things are going well. It appears that I will be a learning mode for a while as I reeducate myself to ‘listen’. . . . something that seems to have atrophied with the time spent with my hearing loss being unassisted. I am now active as a member of my local HOA Board of Directors, and I need to be able to clearly understand what is being discussed at our monthly meetings. It feels good to be part of what is going on around me once again. I doubt I have the words to clearly express just how happy I am with my hearing aid.

 

GSA: What were your expectations and how well did we meet them?

 

Tom: As much as I dislike making your job sound easy (which I know it is NOT), my expectations were easy for you to surpass. I came to GSA in the mindset of what I knew about hearing assists from 25 years ago, and thought that I knew the severity of my hearing loss meant that not much could be done. Besides having hearing loss, I also have a genetic inheritance of early hearing loss in one ear, so I am now ‘monaural’. Dr. Jessee explained my audiology results clearly, and made me aware that even though what hearing capability that I do have is basically only in one ear, that too would diminish further if nothing was done to save it. Needless to say, that got my attention. We talked about the Starkey Wi system, and when I tried it in the office I was amazed! This was the technology I had always hoped for. Following the demonstration, I quite honestly forgot the device was even in my ear canal.

 

GSA: What would you say to a friend who was thinking of investing in the Wi but wasn’t sure?

 

Tom: I need to be careful not to make this sound too much like an orchestrated commercial, but I would (and have) told a few friends about the Wi system, and have offered to let them hear the clarity and improvement to their hearing through my hearing aid if that is what they need to give them a push. Should that not be to their liking, I am certainly going to recommend them to make an appointment at GSA and “hear for themselves”. Hopefully they too can be as amazed and satisfied as I am.

 

We’ll post again with my conversation with Mr. Ferber at his 6 month follow up appointment.  If you have any questions for Mr. Ferber, ask away.  We’ll make sure he answers them.  Stay tuned.  If you’d like to learn more about the Wi series, you can find it at www.goodsoundaudiology.com/wi-series

In this issue: Dr. Jessee highlights the Wi Series, hearing aid dryers and office news.

Download Spring 2011 Newsletter