Deaf musician James Holt from Smithills hits right notes with help of pioneering new hearing aids

What a great moment for James Holt! According to the Bolton News, James Holt is a DEAF musician who has become one of the first people in the UK to receive pioneering new hearing aids! He has suffered from hearing loss since birth, but is now benefiting from hearing aids produced by Starkey Hearing Technologies, which is what powers Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Centers. Starkey's new range of hearing aids, named A4, aims to make them easier to fit in with people's lives and gives an improved sound quality. It has improved James' ability to hear music. How truly amazing!He said: "People thought I wouldn't be able to play or write music but technology such as this has helped me a lot."Neil Pottinger, from Starkey Hearing Technologies, said: “A4 brings a completely new technology to the marketplace. We’re very much looking forward to providing hearing aid solutions to those who have previously rejected them on how they look, sound and feel — sadly with an often detrimental impact on social interaction, relationships and general health and well being."Learn more about James Holt's story in the article on the Bolton News website. Also, you can learn more about products and hearing evaluations by calling us today!

The Importance of Teaching Kids About Hearing Loss

Hearing loss isn’t something kids learn about in school, so when they come face-to-face with a child wearing hearing aids, the first thought may be “different” or “weird.” A lack of understanding can contribute to bullying and teasing; could taking the time to teach a child about hearing loss help?When I was in third grade, I remember a boy in my class who was treated differently. He would walk up to the teacher each morning and hand her a microphone to wear around her neck. She would flip a little switch, then say something and his face would light up. Almost every day, he would give her two thumbs up before returning to his seat in the front row. But one day, as we headed out to the playground for our morning snack break, a group of my classmates stood huddled in a circle, pointing and laughing at the boy. I remember feeling confused because I didn’t understand why they were laughing at him. When I got home, I asked my mom why they were laughing at him, and she explained that the boy had hearing aids.She told me…

• How hearing works:

Even though the Internet wasn’t as resourceful as it is today, the first thing my mom did was a simple search on hearing diagrams. She pointed out the ear canal, the eardrum, the auditory nerve and the parts of the brain that hearing impacted. Looking at the diagram, she explained to me how sound travels through the canal to the auditory nerve. “The nerve leads to the brain, where it ‘thinks’ about what was heard by the ears,” she said. “Then your brain decides what the sound is and you know if you heard a bird singing or a rock falling.”

• How hearing aids helped the boy hear:

My mom explained that hearing aids work like a funnel, focusing on sounds and directing them straight to the boy’s ears. When he was listening to the teacher speak, the microphone she wore streamed the sound directly to his hearing aids. Then, the hearing aids shaped the sounds so his auditory nerve would be able to understand them. When a classmate spoke to him, the microphones on his hearing aids picked up the speech so he could understand too.

• How the hearing aids helped the boy in school

Each morning when we came in from our morning break, the first thing we did was create a circle with our chairs. Then, with our books in hand, we took turns reading out loud from a story we were assigned. My mom explained how hard this would be for the boy in our class if he didn’t have his hearing aids. Some of us were too far away for him to read our lips; others didn’t have loud enough speaking voices. But with the hearing aids, she said, our voices were amplified so that he could listen along and participate.

• That the hearing aids didn’t make him any different

One of the most important things my mom taught me was that hearing aids didn’t change his personality or make him different.  Just because the boy was born with hearing loss didn’t mean that he didn’t love chocolate chip cookies or playing games as much as the rest of us. Instead of pointing and laughing, she said we should include him in our game of Go Fish! or when we played on the playground. “He isn’t any different from any of the rest of you, his ears just need a little help,” she said.When I went back to school the next day, I felt like I understood what was really happening. I realized that the other students who were laughing and teasing the boy simply didn’t understand. They only saw how he was “different” and didn’t know that in truth he really wasn’t. I felt like I could be a better friend to the boy in my class after my mom explained his hearing aids to me. I felt like I knew what questions to ask without being rude, and I was excited by the opportunity to learn something new. I also felt I should help the other students to understand. Instead of pointing, I was an educated third grader helping someone else learn.Now that I’m older, I realize how beneficial it was for me to learn about hearing loss at an early age. Even though no one in my family has hearing loss, my mom was equipped to explain it to me. By taking the time to explain hearing loss and hearing aids to me, she enabled me to make another friend and help others in my class to understand that hearing loss and hearing aids aren’t bad or weird but actually kind of cool.Have you taught your child about hearing loss or hearing aids? Maybe you should.Here at Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Centers, powered by Starkey Hearing Technologies we love all questions and would love to help you learn more!

Starkey Research Team Examines Cognitive Effort and Listening

Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers, which is powered by Starkey Hearing Technologies is a leader in research and product development. Our research, which focuses on real world patient outcomes, is conducted at our Eden Prairie campus and also at the Starkey Hearing Research Center (SHRC) one block away from the campus the University of California Berkeley campus.Members of the research team are trained in an array of educational backgrounds including engineering, psychology, audiology, neurophysiology and psychoacoustics. This interdisciplinary collaboration has resulted in exciting advancements in hearing aid technology.The Starkey Hearing Technologies research team took a closer look at how hearing loss and hearing aids affect cognition. The findings were published in the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. For this project, our researchers collaborated with a team from the University of California at Berkley to develop an effective way to measure listening effort. That method was used to better understand how technology in hearing aids can impact listening effort and cognitive function.It is well understood that individuals with untreated hearing loss (who do not wear hearing aids) experience difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise. If the auditory input is distorted due to hearing loss, the brain must work harder to understand it, leaving the listener more fatigued after extended exposure to challenging listening environments.Recent research suggests that the presence of hearing loss can adversely affect the processing resources available for comprehension and memory. A relationship between uncorrected binaural hearing loss and cognition was identified. The results also demonstrate how human cognition relies heavily on the complexities of the auditory system to effectively integrate incoming auditory information from the world around us.To follow up on these findings, the Starkey Hearing Technologies and UC Berkeley research teams began to explore effective ways for individuals with hearing loss to combat increased listening effort and reduced cognitive function in challenging listening environments. Researchers found that restoring binaural perception through the use of prescriptively fit hearing aids measurably improved cognitive function and reduced listening effort. Optimizing binaural hearing seems to play an important part in increasing comprehension and reducing listening effort.This is important news for those wearing or considering hearing aids! The findings indicate that wearing hearing aids can have an immediate and positive impact on cognitive function and reduce listening effort.These breakthroughs led to the development of Voice iQ™, a feature that is available in Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Center's invisabel model. Voice iQ is a two-part adaptive algorithm that helps listeners hear more comfortably in noisy environments by applying variable noise reduction to effectively preserve speech while increasing ease of listening.We will continue to highlight advancements in research and technology as part of our Technology Corner. Stay up to date on our research projects by following our blog.

It's time for a lot of us to get hearing aids!

“Blindness separates people from things; deafness separates people from people.” --Helen KellerDid you know that The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that one in eight people in the United States (13% - 30 million people) aged 12 years and older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations? Or that 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing? And that men are more likely than women to report hearing loss? Or that 2% of adults aged 45 to 54 have disabling hearing loss and that the rate increases to 8.5% for adults aged 55 to 64? And did you now that nearly 25% of those aged 65 to 74 and 50% of those 75 and older have disabling hearing loss? Hearing loss is way more common than one may think!Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Centers can help you with all of the common symptoms that are associated with hearing loss, including frequently asking people to repeat what they’d just said, turning up the TV and car radio volume, not understanding what’s being said in movies, theaters and public gatherings, straining to understand conversations in a group, not hearing easily what’s being said from a different room, not understanding others when I couldn’t see their faces, straining to hear some conversations altogether, not hearing ‘low-talkers’ (i.e. people who speak softly), thinking that many people mumble, and avoiding noisy environments whenever possible.Hear Rabbi John Rosove's story about his personal experience with hearing loss on his blog!Contact Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Centers to set up a hearing evaluation today.

Listen. Carefully.

Did you know that currently one in six American teens has noise-induced hearing loss from loud sounds? This is a public health threat, but very few people know about it...As part of the Starkey Hearing Foundation - Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Centers supports the giving the gift of hearing to people in need around the world. But we also care about people at home who were born with perfectly healthy ears. That’s why we started Listen Carefully.Listen Carefully is a campaign to raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss and prevent a hearing loss epidemic.It’s irreversible, but preventable. And we’re shouting it from the rooftops (with earplugs in, of course).Check out the listen carefully website to learn more about the foundation today! 

How to Clean and Take Care of your Ears

When it comes to taking care of our bodies we know how important it is to exercise regularly, see the dentist twice a year, get eight hours of sleep a night and eat a well-balanced diet. But what about taking care of our ears? In order to better understand the ear and how to properly care for it, here are some helpful tips and information to help guide you to better ear care!Earwax: the truthFirst, I want to debunk a myth. Many people think earwax, the yellow waxy substance that is produced in the ear canal, is a bad thing or gross. This is FALSE! Earwax actually plays a number of very important roles: it protects the ear canal skin, assists in cleaning and lubrication and provides protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water. How to clean your earsThe ear is actually self-cleaning and for most people ear canals do not need to be cleaned. The best thing you can do for your ears is to not put anything in them that is smaller than your elbow. Wax is not formed in the deep part of the ear canal, but rather the outer part of the canal near the external opening. If left alone, old earwax naturally migrates out of the ear as a result of jaw movement. Inserting Q-tips, sharp or pointed objects into the ear will only push wax further into the canal and may even cause trauma to the canal wall or the eardrum. So let nature run its course and simply use a washcloth or tissue to wipe the outer ear after you bathe or shower.Wax impactionEarwax becomes a concern when an impaction or a complete blockage of the ear canal occurs. The symptoms of an impaction may include any of the following:

• A plugged-up sensation or feeling of fullness in the ear
• Earache
• Changings in hearing sensitivity or hearing impairment
• Ringing in the ear
• Itching, odor or discharge
• Coughing

If you experience any of these symptoms, first see your doctor; do not assume earwax is the culprit. If earwax is the cause, your doctor or a trained hearing healthcare provider can remove it.Preventing wax impactionIf you know your ears produce a lot of earwax, and you have some wax build-up, the following ways may safely prevent a complete impaction from occurring:

• Use wax softening agents: once a week place a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil or commercial ear drops (ex. Debrox, Murine) into the ear canal. This will help soften the earwax and allow it to come out more easily
• Irrigate the ear: the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery cites irrigation or syringing of the ear as a means to safely clean the ears and help with earwax blockages and build-ups. At-home irrigation kits can be purchased at the drug store but it is very important to follow the directions when using these. For more of a preventative maintenance, a simple and convenient way to irrigate the ear is when you are in the shower. Tilt your head toward warm water, allowing the ear to fill up. Once filled, tip your head over and let the water and earwax drain out. Please note, using a wax-softening agent prior to irrigation may yield the best results. Caution: avoid irrigation if you have a perforated eardrum or a tube in the eardrum.

Another excellent preventative measure is to schedule an appointment for wax removal every 6-12 months with Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers, today!Things you should NEVER doThere are a number of things you should never do to your ears.

1. Don’t stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.
2. No ear candling. Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice claimed to improve general health and well being by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. Research shows that this procedure has no proven benefit in the removal of earwax and that it can actually cause serious injury. Just steer clear of it! To learn more check out this article from the American Academy of Audiology.

Earwax and hearing aidsHearing aids and earwax do not play well together. If you wear hearing aids, you know exactly what I am talking about. Earwax can clog the microphones or receivers of the hearing aid, which can impact performance and sound quality. It can reduce the effectiveness of the hearing aid by blocking sound and can even cause enough damage to warrant repair. Some users notice an increase in wax production when they begin wearing hearing aids. This is not uncommon.Hearing aids not only block the normal migration of earwax out of the ear but can also stimulate glands in the ear canal to produce more wax. It is extremely important to properly clean and care for your hearing aids as instructed by your hearing healthcare professional. For some at-home tips,click here. If you actively engage in preventative earwax practices, like using wax-softening agents or performing irrigation, do them at night before bed after you have taken out your hearing aids. In the morning, make sure to wipe the outer ear with a towel or tissue to remove any wax that may have migrated out before putting in your hearing aidsSwimmer’s EarHave you ever had water trapped in your ears after swimming? Most of us have! The natural reaction to dislodge the water is to tilt the head to the side and shake it rigorously or to tug downward on the earlobe while opening and closing the jaw. Though the head shaking and opening/closing of the jaw may go on for some time, it is often successful as evidenced by hearing a pop and feeling the water drain from the ear. However, sometimes the water cannot be freed, and due to the bacterial and fungal organisms in the water, an outer ear infection known as Swimmer’s Ear can occur. The most common signs and symptoms of an infection include itching inside the ear, pain that gets worse when you tug on the earlobe and a plugged-up sensation or feeling of fullness. If you experience any of these symptoms you should see your doctor immediately to obtain proper treatment.A great way to prevent water from getting trapped in the ear is to make your own eardrops at home using a mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half vinegar. The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery supports the use of this preventative approach and states that this mixture will help evaporate excess water and keep the ears dry. When using the eardrops please follow these instructions:

1. Tilt your head and place five to six drops of the mixture into the ear.
2. Pull downward on your earlobe and open and close your jaw; this will help the drops to move further the ear canal.
3. Hold your head in the tilted position for at least 30 seconds.
4. Turn your head over and allow the drops to pour out of the ear. Make sure to have a towel or tissue on hand.
5. Check to see if the ear is still plugged. If so, repeat these steps.

CAUTION: Do not use ear drops if you have a perforated eardrum or a tube in the eardrum.If you try these steps several times and the water will not come out, see your doctor or hearing professional. Do not allow days to go by without removing water from your ears or you could get an infection.If water gets trapped in your ear often or you are prone to getting ear infections, consider investing in some custom floatable swim plugs. These protective plugs are specifically fit to your ear to create a watertight seal in the ear canal to keep out water and moisture. Plus, they are available in many fun colors allowing you to not only protect your ears but look good doing it! Swim plugs can be obtained from any hearing healthcare professional.Unlike the rest of our bodies, the ear is actually pretty easy to maintain and keep in a healthy state. Just keep these tips in mind and you will be in good (ear) shape!

Reversing the "Hearing Aid Effect"

Trends have to start somewhere. In fashion, it’s on the runways of New York City or Paris. For music, content that spreads on social media makes songs and artists popular. And for sports, it’s TV and branding that makes certain athletes more popular than others, more “relatable” in a way. But what about hearing aids?Unlike the commodities and persons above, the trends involving hearing aids aren’t specific to a brand or product. They are based on emotion, stigma and perception. The original hearing aid trend is referred to as the “hearing aid effect.”The “hearing aid effect”Years ago, wearing hearing aids made a statement, usually one the wearer didn’t want to make. Hearing aids of the 70s, 80s and early 90s were large, bulky, uncomfortable, hard to control, exhibited a whistling feedback and lent more embarrassment than assistance to the user. The negative term “the hearing aid effect” was born, associating hearing loss with the old or incapable.Individuals viewed people with hearing aids as being less intelligent, less capable and essentially not “normal.” Early studies showed that children found other children with hearing aids less intelligent and less attractive (Dengerink & Porter, 1984; Silverman & Klees, 1989). A study with college students by Blood and Danaher in 1977 found that a series of photographs featuring boys with hearing aids were rated lower for intelligence, achievement, personality and appearance than the photographs featuring boys without hearing aids.What’s changed?Today’s culture is all about modern technology, sleek smartphones and following social trends started by celebrities and political figures. It is now commonplace to see ears adorned with technology. No one bats an eye or stops to decipher if someone is wearing an earbud for an MP3 player or a hearing aid. Both are accepted, even commonplace. Teenagers connect to music and movies using headphones. Business professionals connect to meetings using personalized audio equipment. Unlike the years before, we are now capable of providing necessary technology and satisfying the cosmetic desires of the public.Hearing aids are now small, discreet and comfortable. Some are completely undetectable. More effective feedback management, wireless technology and the ability to function with smartphone devices to stream calls and media has led to overall improved lifestyle performance, which in turn calls less attention to someone’s hearing loss. Modern day hearing aids don’t denote lesser intelligence or capability. According to a 2014 study by Erik Rauterkus and Catherine Palmer, published as “The hearing aid effect in 2013” in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, hearing aids now actually demand increased levels of respect.It isn’t only the sleeker designs and highly advanced technology that has contributed to this positive view. Researchers speculate that a combination of factors has positively contributed to the reduction in the “hearing aid effect.” Improvements in hearing aid design and performance as well as decreased size could all be factors. But there are three other factors that have similarly led to a positive outlook on hearing aids.Unintentional camouflaging from the music, communications and fitness industriesThe music and communications industries indirectly made hearing aids “OK” with the creation of ear-level devices such as headphones and earbuds for listening to music and Bluetooth headsets that allow people to take calls with no hands. The fitness world has made hearing aids more acceptable with headphones for running or biking. Bluetooth and listening devices are so commonplace today that no one thinks about them. They denote popularity, social commonalities, activity and cultural involvement. Many of these devices look similar to some hearing aids, making them more accepted by society.Celebrities have hearing loss, too?The awareness of prominent public figures and known celebrities with hearing loss has done a lot to reduce the stigma. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both were open about their hearing loss and use of Starkey Hearing Technologies’ hearing aids. Musicians such as Pete Townsend and Neil Young have likewise become open about discussing their hearing loss and use of hearing aids. NFL star Derrick Coleman put hearing aids on the map for athletes when he was fitted with the Made for iPhone hearing aids and became an advocate for the Starkey Hearing Foundation.The increasing involvement of big name figures and companies has led to unquestioning social acceptance. Public figures are opening the floor for the discussion on hearing loss, and many have become social advocates for raising awareness and helping to battle hearing loss by working with the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Musical superstars such as Matt Nathanson, along with renowned professional athletes from the NFL and NHL, Derrick Coleman and David Backes, are helping to raise awareness by participating in international mission trips year-round.Apple and the iPhone RevolutionWith iPhone popularity has come the need for Made For iPhone^® (MFi) technology. Audibel released its Starkey Hearing Technology powered A3i product late in 2014. Because the A3i Made for iPhone is useable with iPhone and select Android™ products, but now they've released the A4i product and it’s quickly making hearing aids cool.Hearing aids aren’t age-based, intelligence-based or for a certain segment of the population. They are sleek, smart, cool and for anyone and everyone with hearing loss, at any age and any time.Check out our incredible products at www.chicagolandhearing.com to learn more about hearing aids today.

Warning Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is commonly referred to as an invisible health condition and early signs of hearing loss are often overlooked. Unlike other medical conditions, you can’t physically see the signs of hearing loss. Because the changes often occur gradually, it is quite common for individuals with hearing loss to find ways to cope and grow accustomed to reduced hearing acuity.Family and friends are often the first to notice. In an article on CNN.com, audiologist Virginia Ramachandran explained, “People don’t always perceive that they need hearing aids, because hearing loss comes on gradually. Usually they are the last person to know. “Recognizing Hearing LossThe following questions can help identify common warning signs of hearing loss:

• Do you have difficulty following conversations?
• Do you ask others to repeat themselves?
• Do you complain that people mumble or speak too fast?
• It is difficult for you to hear and understand women and children?
• Do you have ringing in your ears?
• Do you have a favorite ear?
• Do you have trouble hearing on the telephone?
• Do you find yourself turning up the volume of your television?
• Do others complain that you keep the volume of your television too loud?
• Do you avoid noisy places?
• Do you ever feel embarrassed about misunderstanding what others say to you?
• Do you feel tired after listening in challenging environments?

 Understanding Hearing LossIndividuals with hearing loss have difficulty following conversations and understanding the voices of women and children. Most complain that people mumble or talk too fast. Hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus. A buildup of earwax, medication, exposure to loud sounds and hearing loss can all cause ringing in the ears, or tinnitus. The ringing might be constant or occasional, but it is often the first sign of hearing loss. Individuals with hearing loss may prefer one ear, reporting that they have a “good ear.” They may ask others to stand close to the better ear or speak directly into that ear. Those with hearing loss may even avoid challenging listening situations including conversations over the phone and noisy environments.Treatment OptionsIf you answered “yes” to any of the questions listed here, schedule a complete hearing evaluation with Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today! Effective treatments are available for hearing loss! The most common way to address hearing loss is with hearing aids, but occasionally medication or surgery is needed. A hearing consultation with a professional is the best way to find out if you have hearing loss and what options are available if you do.Take the next step to restore your hearing. Early detection has been proven to create better treatment outcomes.

Audibel is Now in Chicago!

We're growing! Please come visit us in our TWO new Chicago locations! As a gift, we will give you a free pack of batteries if you mention this webpage. Conveniently located in the South Loop Roosevelt Commons right off Roosevelt Ave, and Lincoln Park near the North Ave Whole Foods - call us today to schedule your appointment!

Lincoln Park:

Chicagoland Audibel Hearing Aid Center939 W North Ave #750, Chicago, IL, US(224) 325-4327View Map Here > 

South Loop:

Chicagoland Hearing Aid Center150 West Roosevelt Road Suite b201 Chicago, IL 60605(224) 325-4327View Map Here >

Hearing Aid Myths Exposed!

Sometimes we love to mislead ourselves by believing what we want to believe or believing what others tell us to believe.  As Dr. H. Gustav Mueller once said, “You have to hear what you don’t want to hear to know what you don’t want to hear.”  For example, did you know that Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb? Or did you know that cracking your knuckles really doesn’t lead to arthritis and that Thomas Crapper didn’t really invent the toilet?  There are a lot of examples of beliefs that we assume to be accurate, but it’s good every now and then to reevaluate what we think we know.

So how is your hearing knowledge? For many of us, it’s time to learn about some of the misconceptions about hearing loss and hearing aids.

MYTH: Hearing loss affects only “old people” and is merely a sign of aging.TRUTH: Actually it is the reverse of what most people think. 65% of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. There are more than six million people in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 44 with hearing loss, and nearly one and a half million are school age. Hearing loss affects all age groups.MYTH: If I had a hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me.TRUTH: Only 13% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical.

Since most people with hearing impairments hear well in quiet environments like a doctor's office or examining room, it can be virtually impossible for your physician to recognize the extent of your problem. Without special training, and an understanding of the nature of hearing loss, it may be and can be very difficult for your doctor to even realize you have a hearing problem.

MYTH: My hearing loss is normal for my age.TRUTH: Although it may be more common for loss at your age, it is not necessarily normal. But…isn't it strange how we look at things? It happens to be "NORMAL" for overweight people to have high blood pressure. That doesn't mean they should not receive treatment for the problem.

MYTH: I can wait until my hearing gets a lot worse before I have to do something about it.TRUTH: The longer a person waits to take care of their hearing, the less a hearing aid will do for them in the future. You may suffer auditory deprivation, a possible speech impediment, and remember- untreated hearing loss carries the same symptoms as Alzheimer's disease.

MYTH: My hearing loss is not that big of a deal. I can live with it.TRUTH: According to the 1990 National Center for Health Statistics, hearing loss is listed as the third leading cause of health problems in individuals over the age of 50. Arthritis and Hypertension are one and two.

MYTH: My hearing loss does not affect anyone accept me.TRUTH: Your hearing affects everyone around you, including the ones who love you the most.

MYTH: Hearing aids are too expensive.TRUTH: Some flat screen televisions sell for $8,000 or more, but this doesn’t make us say,  “All TVs are too expensive.” Just like TVs, hearing aids range in cost depending on features and performance. You can almost always  find hearing aids that fit your budget and lifestyle. The value of better hearing and a better life is almost always well worth the cost.

MYTH: You can save money buying hearing aids online.TRUTH: You wouldn’t purchase a pair of prescription glasses on the internet without consulting your eye doctor, because your glasses need to fit your vision loss. Buying hearing aids is the same. Sure, visiting a hearing specialist may be more costly, but take into account what you get for the price.  You can be confident that you get the right hearing aid with the right fitting and settings, along with follow-up care, adjustments, cleanings, instructions, repair services, and more. It’s well worth it.

MYTH: I have friends that wear hearing aids and it does not seem to help them.

TRUTH: It is true that some people do not do as well as others with hearing aids. Just remember this:  we all do not get the same eyesight clarity with glasses, but we still do not want to be without them. The longer you wait to correct your hearing; the less you will get in return. You have one set of ears -  take care of them.

If you feel you have a hearing loss, you’re not alone. What keeps you alone is not finding the help that is needed to correct the situation. Help is just a phone call away. If you or someone you know is suffering from this debilitating problem, please contact us today for a hearing exam. Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers has 14 convenient locations across the Chicagoland area. We can guide you in the direction you need to go for proper hearing care.

For confirmation of the information provided above and any additional facts see:

http://list25.com/25-popular-myths-debunked/5/

www.betterhearing.org

We'll be back in 5! - Gone to the Starkey Hearing Expo...

Not really! Our doors are still open, but owners Benjamin Wright and Sarah Sommers are spending 5 days in Las Vegas for the premier event for independent hearing professionals. The Starkey Hearing Expo features industry experts and global thought leaders. We can't wait until they get back to hear all about how Starkey Technologies is revolutionizing the hearing aid industry and bringing new technology to our patients. Chicagoland Hearing is proud to bring the power of Starkey Technology to our patients! Want to learn more about the event and how Starkey Technologies are redefining the industry and patient experience? Visit:http://www.bloomberg.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600 201601201307PRIMZONEFULLFEED10159369-1http://www.starkey.com/

Hidden Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss patient Jeff Larcomb could pass a standard hearing test just fine. But he still could not figure out what others said while in a noisy room."It's impossible... As soon as there's competing sound, it's all mushed together," Larcomb said."I'm staring really intently at people and trying to follow their mouth and stuff like that," Larcomb continued. "It's just not normal behavior, right, and people are kind of like, 'What's this guy's deal?'"The reason patients such as Larcomb struggled deciphering speech in noisy situations had been previously unexplained by audiologists.New research has now named the condition hidden hearing loss."Hidden hearing loss... may very well explain a substantial number of these people who have trouble hearing in background noise," audiologist James Hall said.Researchers studied young adults who may have regularly overexposed their ears to loud sounds and found that hidden hearing loss was associated with a disorder deep in the auditory system.The condition may also play a role in tinnitus, an experience where some hear ringing in their ears.Though not yet an official diagnosis, hidden hearing loss proves a promising start for frustrated patients."I'm really excited about that because what I think it does is it gives credence to the fact that this patient population exists," audiologist Gail Whitelaw said.As the research is new, there is no targeted treatment or cure.For now, audiologists said hearing aids can help in some cases, as can a greater personal awareness of the effect of background noise.Call Chicagoland Hearing Aid Centers today to set up a free hearing evaluation.

Introducing A3i BTE 13!

We are excited to introduce the new A3i™ BTE 13, our newest Made for iPhone^® Hearing Aid. With the addition of the BTE 13 and our latest advances to our Made for iPhone Hearing Aids – the A3i family continues to break new ground leading the way in performance, personalization and connectivity.Our benchmark operating system,BluWave^® 4.0, is now at the heart of all A3i BTE 13 and RIC 13 products enabling us to continually optimize audibility, comfort and sound quality to deliver Audibel Superior Sound. A3i delivers what patients want:

• A more natural listening experience through Binaural Spatial Mapping and Active Noise Control²
• Superior audibility in noisy environments thanks to our multichannel adaptive solution to directionality, Active Directional Detection and Voice Detect
• Distortion-free comfort in loud situations with ISO-Clear Compression
• Make control adjustments a thing of the past with Auto Experience Manager

Audibel’s patient-preferred TruLink™ Hearing Control app has been updated to include even more features that enhance streaming and hearing in noise to helps our patients hear better, live better and have a healthier life. With Stream Boost, our patients can have an automatic setting that boosts any incoming media stream for enhanced audio performance, while Comfort Boost allows them to aggressively reduce noise to optimize sound quality in noisy environments.A3i connects hearing and health to make life better!

The man who ate his hearing aids

We recently stumbled across a news article about a man you accidentally ate his hearing aids thinking they were cashews. You can read the full story here. Though this is obviously an extreme case of failing vision, we thought we would use the incident to remind our patients that our Bloomingdale office is located within the Wohl Eye Center.Studies have show that there is a direct correlation between vision and hearing loss in adults in older persons. This sensory decline can have a cumulative effect on well-being, quality of life and connection to family and friends. Call today to book your hearing and vision examinations!  See our full post on our eye and ear center in Bloomingdale here.

What My Hearing Aid Taught Me...

 Cool techy article out from the Atlantic on hearing aids as "wearables." ...

What My Hearing Aid Taught Me About the Future of Wearables

By Ryan Budish

I was into wearables before there was Google Glass, Apple Watch, or the Moto 360. I was into them before cheap devices told you how much you had walked, run, slept, or eaten. In fact, I’ve been into them for so long now that I’m not quite sure when it started. I think it was around when I was 5, in 1986.The wearables I started wearing as a kid and still wear today are hearing aids—or, as my audiologist euphemistically calls them, "amplification devices." Although many will never need hearing aids, today’s tech firms are making it likely that, someday soon, tiny computers will become extensions of your body, just as they have been part of mine for nearly 30 years. Thanks to that experience, I feel as though I’ve had a sneak peek into our wearable future—and I can make some predictions about what it will look like.To be fair, hearing aids are quite different from the current array of consumer wearables. Hearing aids are medical devices designed to make up for a physical impairment. By contrast, consumer wearables like the Apple Watch are luxury items that let us read text messages and measure our fitness. This distinction has legal significance: The FDA tightly regulates any device that tries to either diagnose or treat a medical condition. That means certain features are unlikely to ever exist in a consumer wearable, unless Tim Cook wants to sell watches that require a doctor’s prescription.But despite initial appearances, both medical and consumer wearables share a few important goals.Broadly speaking, both types of wearables aim to fill gaps in human capacity. As Sara Hendren aptly put it, "all technology is assistive technology." While medical devices fill gaps created by disability or illness, consumer wearables fill gaps created by being human. For example, evolution hasn’t given us brain wi-fi, yet.Both kinds of wearables also need to justify being attached to our bodies. This seems pretty obvious for hearing aids, but it is just as true for consumer devices. A wearable that serves as only a slightly more convenient screen for your phone is hardly reason for the average person to spend hundreds of dollars. Instead, wearables need to offer a feature that works best when in close contact with your body, like measuring heart rate or offering haptic feedback.Also, both types of wearables need to embed themselves seamlessly into our experiences. If a wearable obstructs your experience of the real world, or is a distraction, it’s likely to end up on a shelf instead of your wrist. That’s not to say that they don’t take getting used to—even after a lifetime of wearing hearing aids, it still takes me several weeks to adjust to a new pair. But after that period, a well-made wearable should seem like a seamless extension of our bodies.In my current role at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, I’m lucky to be able to study something I care deeply about: technology’s impact on our lives. I’m sure my interest partly arises from how I’ve depended on technology for as long as I can remember. I don’t know with certainty how consumer wearables will develop, but what I do know is how much hearing aids have changed over the last 30 years. And I have some insight into what sensory-enhancing wearables—like hearing aids, and unlike data-recording wearables like pedometers—could someday become. Over the next few years, I expect that we will see four trends, rich in both opportunity and peril, shape the evolution of these wearables from toys into tools.* * *

1. Wearables will create substitute realities.

A man adjusts his hearing aid using his iPhone. (Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)

In order to justify being part of our bodies, wearables need to offer something beyond an additional screen or input device. This means that sensory-enhancing wearables will need to mediate between reality and our experiences, altering our perception of the world around us.For hearing aids, that role is enhancing sound, replacing the too-soft sounds of the real world with louder, more comprehensible ones. But modern hearing aids don’t simply make everything louder; instead, they provide a substitute soundscape tailored to my needs and my environment. When I go into a loud restaurant, the devices can identify the clatter of glasses and the din of conversation, and tune out those sounds, while tuning into the sound of a nearby voice. The result is an audio experience that is substantially different from the objective reality; the device replaces a reality that would be challenging with a substitute that is easier to understand and utilize.Just as hearing aids replace one soundscape with another, future wearables will be able to alter the way we experience the world. Microsoft’s recently announced HoloLens, for example, will be able to help a homeowner perform their own electrical repairs by projecting instructions, visuals aids, and even expert advice right onto an exposed electrical outlet. In that way, future wearables will replace traditional sensory or communications experiences with ones that are richer and deeper.

2. Wearables will be ruled by algorithms.

The process of substituting realities means that our perceptions of the world around us will become increasingly mediated by algorithms that we do not control or even understand. The world I hear through my hearing aids is a world interpreted and translated through millions of calculations a second. Algorithms determine whether a sound in the distance is the whir of a refrigerator compressor or the whisper of your friend. If it works correctly, I may not hear the compressor at all. But if it works incorrectly, I may not hear my friend at all.Medical devices are already increasingly ruled by complex algorithms. Just as hearing aid algorithms determine what sounds are amplified and what sounds are muted, pacemaker algorithms determine when to deliver an electronic pulse to the heart. And bionic pancreas algorithms determine when to deliver additional insulin. In these examples, the algorithms don’t just shape the perception of reality—they make life-saving decisions.

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Computers Are Getting Better Than Humans at Facial Recognition

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The influence of algorithms is nothing new. They shape a lot of what we perceive online. When used in wearable devices that shape our perceptions of the world around us, algorithms can have a profound impact. For example, a device that reads facial expressions to assess moods could affect how you approach your boss, or whether you think your significant other is mad at you. Or a device that hides stressful visual stimuli could remove an annoying ad on your subway commute, but it could just as easily remove a helpful PSA. As wearables do more to reshape our realities, the way we perceive the world will become increasingly shaped by the algorithms that govern those devices.Not only does that make our perceptions increasingly dependent on algorithms, but it makes our perceptions increasingly dependent on the people who make those algorithms. My hearing aids use increasingly complex algorithms. Although a trained audiologist can adjust the devices to my unique needs, as the algorithms become more complex, the opportunities for customization become paradoxically more limited. My hearing aids, for example, have 20 independently adjustable audio channels, and while my audiologist can adjust each one, he usually adjusts them in groups of 6 or 7 channels at a time. If consumer wearables don’t offer significant opportunities for customization (or provide access to an expert who can help customize the experience), it will leave users even more dependent on the default algorithms.

3. Wearables will fail invisibly.

Stephen Lam/Reuters

The more we rely on wearables to interpret the outside world for us, it will become critical for devices to communicate failures. And the more seamless the experience of wearables becomes, the harder it is to know when it isn’t working as intended.In some cases failures are obvious: If my hearing aid doesn’t turn on, then I can take steps to address the issue. However, in other cases failure is less obvious. At a meeting a few months ago, I was sitting near a loud air conditioner that made it difficult to hear the people across the table. I knew my hearing aids should reduce the background noise, but because the aids produce sounds using complex, personalized algorithms, I had no way of knowing whether the hearing aids were malfunctioning or whether the air conditioner was just too loud. The more personalized the device and the subjective experience it creates, the harder it is to know when things are going wrong.Future wearables will likely do incredibly complex things, and when the results are unexpected we may trust that the device knows best, privy to secret knowledge or power. But sometimes it will just be wrong. Identifying whether what we see or hear is the proper functioning, the outcome of an inscrutable algorithm, or simply a failure, may be quite challenging.

4. Wearables will record everything.

If failures are hard to detect, the solution is just as challenging: pervasive recording. The more the behavior of wearables is dependent on context and inputs, the more that troubleshooting requires data collection. After a plane crash, one of the first things that investigators look for is the "black box" flight data recorder, because it is often impossible to reconstruct what went wrong without also knowing things like the airspeed, the throttle, and the position of the flaps and gears. Troubleshooting wearables presents many of the same challenges.When I go to my audiologist, I can tell him that I didn’t think my hearing aids worked correctly at a noisy restaurant a few weeks ago. But without a record of the the noisy environment and the sound I heard from the aids, he can only guess about what happened. For the user, this trial-and-error form of troubleshooting can be frustrating, especially when it involves multiple trips to the audiologist for readjustments.Up until recently, the idea of storing gigabytes of data on a hearing aid would have been absurd. The devices didn’t have sufficient storage and persistent recording would sap the already-limited battery life. But the newest hearing aids now record certain types of data for diagnostic purposes. If I raise or lower the volume on the aids, the device records information about the new setting and lets my audiologist download the data at a later date. As data storage becomes cheaper and power efficiency improves, the collection of additional data could help the device be better fitted to my needs and enable better troubleshooting.The same drive toward additional data collection will happen in consumer wearables as well. How do you know if your mood-identifying glasses are working correctly? That requires knowing both the input (the image of someone’s face or their voice) and the output (the identified mood). It would be easy to store still images of faces for diagnostic purposes and troubleshooting, and just as easy to upload them to the device manufacturer to help improve their algorithms.In some cases, storage may not even be necessary as consumer wearables might transmit everything in real time to centralized servers for processing. With limited processing power and battery life, wearables might offload computationally intensive processing to centralized computers. This is what Apple does (or used to do) with Siri, where at least some analysis of your voice request is processed on remote Nuance servers. Although this enables more complex analysis than small wearables might be able to do otherwise, it also creates greater privacy concerns as more data is transmitted to, stored by, and kept by others.* * *When I got my first pair of hearing aids, they were large and analog, and my audiologist made adjustments to the sound outputs using a small screwdriver. My hearing aids today are so small they can fit invisibly in the ear canal, and my audiologist adjusts them wirelessly on computer. The pace of progress has been astounding, and I have no doubt that progress has changed my life for the better in significant and concrete ways.The price of progress, however, is complexity. Older hearing aids had limited customization, altered sounds in very basic and predictable ways, failed in obvious ways, and didn’t collect data. Now things are different. The endless customization available in new aids creates more opportunities for mistakes. The complex algorithms make it harder to diagnose problems. The total substitution of experience stifles attempts to identify errors. And increasing data collection means hearing aids may soon have to grapple with thorny issues of privacy.The same holds true for consumer wearables. If they follow the path of hearing aids, future generations of wearables will be more immersive, more complex, more difficult to troubleshoot, and more pervasive in their data collection. As long as we see wearables as toys or luxury goods, it is easy to write off these challenges. But there is a real opportunity for wearables to improve the lives of many in substantial ways just as they’ve improved my life since 1986. To realize those improvements, we cannot ignore these trends, and we must take wearables seriously as the indispensable tools they will soon become.This article available online at:http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/02/what-my-hearing-aid-taught-me-about-the-future-of-wearables/385145/

Find Tinnitus Relief in 2015

Every year more than 50 million Americans experience persistent ringing in the ears both day and night. This condition, called tinnitus, is one of the most common hearing loss-related impairments that historically had very few solutions. However, over the past two years, Audibel has been helping numerous patients finally find the relief that they have been looking for with the A3 tinnitus device.Up until the introduction of the Audibel A3 tinnitus device, the best clinical treatment suggestions had been a mixture of preventative actions and therapeutic solutions. Traditional methods for dealing with tinnitus have been more focused on coping with the condition instead of managing the condition, similar to what is described in this Harvard Health Publications article. However, the A3 tinnitus device helps to cover up the tinnitus by creating a sound stimulus to soothe the irritating ringing.While the ability to diminish the tinnitus side effects with the A3device varies by individual, the large majority of wearers have reported success! To learn more about tinnitus options and to try an in-office trial of the Audible A3 tinnitus device, simply visit our Contact Us page or call our office during regular business hours. We want to help you find your tinnitus relief! 

Talking About Hearing Loss is A Matter of Timing

Talking to a loved one about their hearing loss is a difficult thing to do. Each holiday season, millions of American struggle with hearing loss at social gatherings around Thanksgiving, religious holidays and New Year's Eve. For some there is embarrassment and frustration. For others their family and friends are more burdened by the challenge of communicating to their loved one with hearing loss. Since awareness for hearing difficulties tends to reach its height this time of year, we want to offer suggestions for knowing when it is best to speak to a loved one about addressing hearing loss.Accepting change is often said to be one of the hardest things to do. In fact, it has been found that there are many stages in the process such as anger, denial and, ultimately, acceptance. Far too often those with hearing loss are pushed too hard into making a hearing aid technology purchase at the early stages of this process. Many individuals will return the product and subsequently wait several more years until taking the needed actions. Just like changing any habit or situation for the better, it takes the proper mental commitment from the impacted party for successful outcomes. For a concerned loved one it is important to employ caring and patience in your sentiment when speaking to a loved one about their hearing loss. Patience is extremely important as this individual should be shown the respect to make the decision, when they are ready.By taking this suggested approach, the best possible outcomes will be achieved for all parties involved in that the loved one will be committed to improving their hearing and getting the most out of their investment. If you would like additional assistance in crafting your approach for speaking to a loved one about their hearing loss, simply reach out to our office by phone or submitting your information on our Contact Us page. Also, when that person is ready to take the first step, we offer complimentary hearing consultation appointments to help determine the best course of action for gaining better hearing.

Better Hearing Can Help Overall Health

Every New Year brings many new resolutions. Most often we aim to have better dietary habits, exercise more often or get adequate rest every night. Rarely does anyone consider taking better care of his or her hearing health! However, senses, especially hearing, play a vital role in overall health and wellness. Here are several reasons why having your hearing checked annually is an opportunity to be healthier now and in the future.Most people make a goal to regularly visit their dentist, eye specialist and physician for annual check-ups.  So why is having an annual hearing screening so commonly neglected? The biggest reason might be that symptoms from a toothache, high blood pressure or poor vision are much more noticeable than symptoms of hearing loss. Those symptoms are often more subdued over time, even though hearing is a crucial part of our quality of life.Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between the likelihood of getting dementia and people who have untreated hearing loss.  However, a Johns Hopkins University study showed that a majority of people who treated their hearing loss with hearing aid technology were able to ward off dementia symptoms for several years. Additionally, hearing loss has been linked to heart health as the inner ear is a sensitive to blood flow and can indicate abnormalities in heart function.A simple, yearly hearing screening, which we offer at no cost, can go a long way to prevent possible health complications down the road. To get your annual hearing screening scheduled for yourself or a loved one, simply click here <contact us> and call our office during regular business hours. 

Modern Hearing Aids are like a Computer for Your Ears

Often we jokingly say, “These aren’t your grandpa’s hearing aids,” but nothing could be truer. Today’s hearing aid technology is truly a marvel in sophistication and design. Digital hearing aids encompass much more than a simple microphone and receiver. In fact, a microchip circuit board allows a wide range of features, programs and settings to function simultaneously and tailor to the individual’s unique hearing needs. In this blog we will explore what makes up a hearing aid and its many capabilities.Don’t let size fool you! Whether a larger on-the-ear device or a miniature in-the-canal device, all of today’s hearing aids are packaged with several complex components to produce the most comfortable sound amplification possible. There are five main parts to hearing aid technology. The microphone is the primary component that picks up sounds and determines the environmental settings. From there, the sound is transmitted to the circuit board for processing. This component is essentially the ‘brains’ of the hearing aid, just like the processor in a computer or mobile device.  Once the sound is processed, it is emitted to the wearer via the receiver; amplifying the sound based on the listener’s unique hearing loss needs.The antenna is an increasingly important component. As hearing aid technology continues to sync with media devices and smartphones for audio streaming capabilities, the hearing aid antenna is the primary component that picks up those streaming signals. Lastly, the battery supplies the energy needed to continuously power all of these parts for optimal performance.As you can see, today’s hearing aids are truly ‘computers for your ears.’ We encourage anyone to participate in our hearing aid trial programs, whether you’re considering using hearing aid technology for the first time or upgrading an older pair of devices. Simply submit your information on our Contact Us page or call our office during business hours. We look forward to showing you more about this sophisticated technology! 

Chicagoland Audible's 5 Steps to Better Hearing

Having a hearing loss is not something that most people get excited about. However, with the right attitude and approach, it can actually be a very manageable condition to care for. In my years of caring for those with hearing loss, I have seen time and time again peoplemake remarkable improvements by simply dedicating themselves to getting the most out of wearing a hearing aid. With hopes of similar outcomes in the future I am sharing 5 simple steps to better hearing for you or a loved one to use.1. Admit that your hearing is not what it may used to be. Understanding your hearing has changed is difficult at first, but the sooner one begins to seek a solution the more likely they are to maintain critical speech comprehension abilities and avoid unnecessary struggles.2. Keep an open mind and positive attitude while seeking help. Like we have all been told from a young age, attitude is everything. The same applies to having success in treating your hearing loss. Since everyone's hearing loss is unique, there are a lot of options available to consider. We strive to present those solutions that are best for you.3. Learn about your hearing problem. Get educated on what may have caused your hearing loss and what the best solutions are for treatment and extended care. We will make sure every patient is aware of the factors and given the resources needed to be successful.4. Set realistic expectations for hearing aids. As was mentioned in step 1, expectations for restoring perfect hearing are not realistic. Today’s hearing aid technology has produced tremendous hearing benefits for wearers. Your focus should be on improving your hearing abilities with hearing aids at a slow, gradual pace as you adapt to wearing a hearing aid.5. Patience, practice and time are critical to success. As with anything good, it comes from hard work and practice. Improved hearing in various situations is no different. At first, regaining comprehension abilities for sounds that have not been heard in years may be difficult. However, the reward will be yours to eventually hear simple sounds that mayhave been lost, even perhaps the songs of birds on a nice day.We are aware that an investment of money and time into hearing aids is not alwayspreferred. Yet, we are confident that with the right attitude the benefits of better hearing will justify those investments on a daily basis for you. We aim to make the process of gaining satisfaction with improved hearing as simple as possible. To start your hearing journey or help a loved one get the care they need, contact us today - visit our Contact Us page now.