Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids in Calgary, AB
Hearing Loss
How Can You Tell If You Have Hearing Loss?
Do any of these apply to you?
- I have trouble understanding what people are saying.
- I often ask people to repeat themselves.
- I have trouble understanding conversations when there’s background noise, for example, at a restaurant or in a busy workplace.
- I avoid social situations because I have trouble following the conversation.
- I turn up the TV and radio to levels that others tell me is loud.
- I often have ringing in my ears.
- I hear in one ear better than the other.
- I’ve been told that I have a hearing problem.
If you answered yes to more than one of the above, you may have hearing loss. Don’t let communication problems like these keep you from enjoying life to the fullest. Call us now to schedule a hearing evaluation.
Talk to the experts.
What to Do About Hearing Loss
The latest available statistics show that 1 in 4 Canadians report difficulty hearing and hearing loss. As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, that number promises to increase dramatically.
Over 3 million Canadians of all ages experience hearing loss. Hearing loss can be caused by exposure to noise, diabetes or other factors, but most often it’s simply a result of aging.
While you can’t stop aging—yet—you can treat hearing loss. The good news is that most hearing loss is mild and treatable. There is no reason to tough it out or to be left out when you could easily be getting more out of life.
With the right hearing treatment plan and hearing aid, your quality of life will improve:
- Less listening effort
- Easier social interactions
- Less social isolation
- Improved confidence and independence
- Alleviates stress and depression
With treatment, you’ll be able to stay involved in all the activities you enjoy and life life to the fullest again
3
MILLION
Canadians experience hearing loss
Hearing Aids
Choosing Hearing Aids
Once you’ve had an evaluation we will work with you to find the best solution for your hearing loss. To understand your situation we will ask you a series of questions to determine your hearing loss and what whether or not you’re experiencing tinnitus and/or dizziness. Based on your results we may suggest hearing aids. This is generally when there is damage to the inner ear or nerves that run from the inner ear to the brain.
We have several options of hearing aids available. Our team will work with you to help you come to a decision about which hearing aids work best for you.
Hearing Aid Fitting
During a hearing aid fitting, we’ll program the device to meet your specific needs. We’ll give you instructions on how to put the hearing aids in your ears and remove them, how to change batteries and how to care for and clean the devices. We’ll also review how your lifestyle affects how hearing aids function, and how to get the most benefit from wearing your hearing aids.Wearing Hearing Aids
Hearing aids work extremely well when they’re fitted and adjusted to your liking. That’s why it’s important to come to us for professional services. Hearing aids should fit comfortably and appropriately amplify sound. Hearing aids can dramatically improve your hearing, but they don’t provide “perfect” hearing. A hearing aid is exactly what it says — it is an “aid” to help you hear better. Our expertise and your attitude are the keys to your better hearing. Hearing loss typically develops over many years. Becoming reacquainted with sounds while using hearing aids will take some practice. You brain will need time to adjust to the sounds your hearing aids help provide. You may need just a few days to adjust to your new hearing aids, but most of our patients take a few weeks or even several months. Try not to get frustrated. We’re here to help you through this process. In general, the greater the hearing loss and the longer it has been present, the more difficult it will be to transition to using hearing aids. Another reason to make an appointment to get your hearing tested — call us today!The Benefits of Wearing One Hearing Aid
There are a number of benefits to wearing one hearing aid instead of two. One benefit is that it can be more comfortable to wear only one hearing aid. Another benefit is that it can be more affordable to purchase only one hearing aid. Additionally, wearing one hearing aid can be less conspicuous than wearing two hearing aids. Finally, some people find that they get better sound quality from wearing one hearing aid as opposed to two.The Benefits of Wearing Two Hearing Aids
If you’re considering whether to get one hearing aid or two, you might be wondering if two hearing aids are worth the extra expense. The short answer is yes! Here are three benefits of wearing two hearing aids:- Better hearing in noisy environments. When you have two hearing aids, each one can be programmed to focus on different sounds. This allows you to better hear conversations, even in noisy places.
- Improved balance and coordination. Wearing two hearing aids can help improve your sense of balance and coordination. This is because your brain receives input from both ears, which helps with spatial awareness.
- Less mental fatigue. If you only wear one hearing aid, your brain has to work harder to process sound. This can lead to mental fatigue and even headaches. Wearing two hearing aids can help reduce mental fatigue and improve overall communication.
Background Noise
Restaurants chatter. Road traffic. The cacophony of leaf blowers while you’re trying to enjoy your backyard on a beautiful fall day. Background noise is a problem for everyone at one time or another, whether or not you use hearing aids. There’s no way a hearing aid can completely eliminate the sounds you don’t want to hear. The good news? There are now hearing aids available that amplify the sounds you do want to hear and minimize some unwanted sounds. Research that reveals that dual microphones effectively reduce background noise for many people with certain types of hearing loss. We can help you determine the best circuits and microphone options for your hearing loss and communication needs. The best and most efficient way to reduce background noise is through the use of assistive listening devices such as FM technology. Ask us how this technology can work with your hearing aid to improve your ability to hear in difficult listening situations.How Much Should You Pay for Hearing Aids?
How much to invest in hearing aids can depend on your lifestyle. If you live alone in the woods, rarely talk on the phone, never listen to the radio or watch TV, and rarely venture out, then your hearing aid use will probably be low. In that case, it doesn’t make sense to opt for “top shelf” hearing aids. On the other hand, if you spend time in meetings at work, like to watch TV, talk on the phone or listen to the news on the radio and you enjoy socializing with friends and family, your use is going to be high, even if you live by yourself. In fact, you’ll probably wear your hearing aids for 12 to 16 hours a day. You’ll want hearing aids that consistently perform well. In that case, paying for high quality hearing aids is a good value and an investment in your quality of life, in your ability to stay connected and to communicate well.What Determines the Cost of Hearing Aids?
Features and function: Like any other technology, your hearing aid price depends on the features you choose and, more importantly, what your hearing healthcare professional recommends for you. The more features and the higher level of performance you’d like, the more you’ll pay for hearing aids. Almost-invisible devices that work well across a spectrum of listening environments and are designed for someone with an active lifestyle are likely to be more costly — and work better — than hearing aids that cost less.Does Insurance Cover Hearing Aids?
Funding for assistive devices for hearing or tinnitus may also be available if you have Hearing Aid coverage; check with your insurance provider for details on what your plan covers. Government assistance is available for Albertans with hearing loss who are over 65 years of age or who qualify as low-income. We are happy to guide patients through the process of navigating government programs.How can you help yourself and your loved ones live better?
Get a hearing test to determine whether you have hearing loss and the possible extent. After your hearing test, we can determine your best option and help you select hearing loss treatments that will:
- Work best for your level of hearing loss
- Complement your lifestyle
- Fit your budget
It’s time to be be proactive about your hearing health.
Hearing helps keep you sharp. When you can hear better, you can process information faster, kick your brain into gear and feel like yourself again. The sooner you do something about your hearing, the sooner you’ll regain your confidence.
How We Hear
Hearing involves teamwork between your ears and your brain. Hearing begins when sound waves enter your outer ear (the part that’s visible on the outside of your head). The waves travel through your auditory canal, a tube-like passageway lined with tiny hairs and small glands that produce earwax to your middle ear.
The middle ear has three small bones, often referred to as the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup, and the eardrum. The middle ear has an important job: to amplify sound. If any of the middle ear’s parts get disrupted, significant hearing loss can result.
Hearing: The Inside Story
When waves of sound, such as the chirp of birds in your backyard, travel to your middle ear and hit your eardrum, your eardrum vibrates and, in turn, moves the hammer (the small bone is shaped like a hammer). The hammer moves the anvil, which moves the stirrup, transmitting the vibrations into your inner ear.
Your inner ear consists of the cochlea (a small, snail-like structure) and the auditory nerve, which carries information between the cochlea and the brain. With the help of tiny hair cells, the auditory nerve converts sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to your brain. Your brain interprets the sound so you “hear” it as birds chirping, a voice or music. All told, hearing is an amazing process that happens in a split second.
Certain drugs, diseases, noise or simply aging can damage hair cells. Once these hair cells are gone, you can’t use Rogaine to make them grow back. But hearing aids can help compensate.
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, we’re here to help. We can determine what’s not working as well as it should be. We’ll explain your options and help you choose the best solution for your hearing needs and your lifestyle.
Types of Hearing Loss
Getting a hearing test is the first step to improving your hearing. A hearing test will identify any hearing loss you may have and the extent. There are four basic types of hearing loss:
Conductive
Usually temporary, this type of hearing loss can be fixed with medication, a short procedure and, on rare occasions, with surgery.
Sensorineural
This type of hearing occurs when tiny hairs in the cochlea are missing or damaged. Getting fitted with hearing aids is the only non-surgical solution.
Mixed
A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, this type of hearing loss is usually treated with hearing aids alone, and occasionally in conjunction with medication, a short procedure or with surgery.
Central
Caused by strokes and central nervous system diseases, this type of hearing loss usually involves a therapy called auditory rehabilitation.
What’s the right treatment for your type of hearing loss?
Call us at 587-316-9406 to get your hearing tested and get answers.
Start Your Journey to Improved Hearing Today!
Seven years: That’s the average amount of time people wait before visiting a hearing specialist for their hearing loss.
Just as you wouldn’t tolerate a loss in vision without a trip to the eye doctor, why ignore a loss in hearing without visiting a hearing expert?
The fact is, without treatment, hearing loss can get worse. Your ears and brain thrive on sound. But studies show that over time, hearing loss impairs the brain’s ability to process sound and recognize speech.
The earlier you treat your hearing loss, the more hearing you’ll be able to preserve. Don’t wait to get the help you need!