Adult Hearing Questions and Answers:
Hearing Aid Questions and Answers:
Children and Hearing Loss Questions:
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Questions:
How does an adult know if they need to have their hearing evaluated?
The following questions (called a Self-Test) will help you determine if you need to have your hearing evaluated?
- Do you have problems hearing over the telephone?
- Do you have difficulty following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
- Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
- Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
- Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy environment?
- Do you have dizziness, pain, or ringing in the ears?
- Do you find yourself having to repeat yourself?
- Do family members or co-workers remark about you missing what is being said?
- Do people seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
- Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
- Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
If you have answered yes to more than two of these questions you should have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist.
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What causes hearing loss in adults?
Hearing loss in adults can be caused by disease or infection, certain medications, exposure to noise, tumors, trauma, a family history, and the aging process.
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How do I determine if I am a candidate for a hearing aid?
Whether or not you are a candidate for hearing aids will be a joint decision between you and your audiologist. However, it is important to consider if your hearing loss is causing you increased stress and strain in your daily function. It might be time to consider a trial period with hearing aid(s) if you become fatigued after a day of strained listening and you are beginning to feel that your hearing loss is affecting relationships with family, co-workers, or friends.
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Is it really necessary to wear two hearing aids, or can I get by with just one?
The main reasons for considering two hearing aid vs. one are: better hearing in noise, improved localization (i.e. knowing the direction of sound), and to avoid possible deterioration of the unaided ear.
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What is a digital hearing aid?
A digital hearing aid uses digitization meaning that incoming sounds are converted to numbers, which are then analyzed and manipulated via a set of rules (algorithms) and programmed into a computer chip that controls the hearing aid. Some digital hearing aids analyze incoming sound, make a determination regarding speech versus noise and then convert this information to numbers that is then reconverted to an analog form (i.e. sound waves) and delivered to the ears without distortions associated with conventional technology.
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Why do hearing aids cost so much?
Hearing aids are sold in low volumes and the amount of time and money spent by manufacturers on research and development is considerable. In addition, the amount of time spent by an audiologist with a patient who is purchasing hearing aid(s) is significant. Audiologists, like consumers, are concerned about keeping the cost of hearing aids affordable; however, the reality is that hearing aids are expensive. It should be remembered that purchasing a hearing aid allows you to resume normal activities and communicate with loved ones; therefore this cost becomes more understandable.
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How often must hearing aids be replaced?
Most hearing aids should last for about 5 years. New hearing aids may be needed if changes in hearing status occur.
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How do you know if your child might have a hearing loss?
If your child is inconsistently responding to sound or their speech and language development is delayed a hearing loss could be possible. Other signs of hearing loss include unclear speech, turning up the volume on electronic equipment (radio, TV, CD player, MP3, etc.), and/or a child that does not respond when called. In addition, children with hearing loss may display difficulty following directions and often say “huh?”
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What causes hearing loss in children?
One of the most common causes of childhood hearing loss is ear infections (otitis media). Other known causes of hearing loss in children are congenital causes (a hearing loss that is present at birth), genetic factors, and acquired hearing loss (such as meningitis, measles, encephalitis, head injury, noise exposure, etc.).
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Can hearing loss cause speech and language problems?
Children learn speech and language from listening to other people talk. The first few years of life are very critical for this development. If a hearing loss exists, a child may not get the full benefit of language learning experiences. In addition, children with hearing loss may have learning problems resulting in poor academic achievement and communication difficulties that can lead to social isolation.
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What is an auditory processing disorder?
Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) also referred to a Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) is an auditory deficit that is not the result of other higher-order, more global deficits such as autism, mental retardation, attention deficits, or similar impairments. An APD occurs when the Central Nervous System (CNS) does not use auditory information correctly. APD is a specific deficit that affects the neural processing of auditory stimuli. APD can co-exist with ADHD or other disorders and is not the same as a language processing disorder.
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What are symptoms of an auditory processing disorder?
Children with APD may exhibit a variety of listening complaints such as difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, following directions, and discriminating (or telling the difference between) similar-sounding speech sounds. At school, children may experience difficulty with spelling, reading, and understanding information that is presented verbally in the classroom.
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How is an auditory processing disorder diagnosed?
First, an audiologist will administer a test battery in a sound-treated room requiring the listener to attend to a variety of signals and respond to them via repetition, pushing a button, or some other way. Most tests require a child be at least 7 or 8 years old because the variability in brain function is so marked in younger children making test interpretation difficult with younger children.
Secondly, a multidisciplinary team approach is critical to fully assess and diagnose the cluster of problems exhibited by children with APD. Thus, educators, physicians, psychologists, and speech language pathologist may be needed to further evaluate written, oral, language, speech, cognition, and related capabilities before a final diagnosis and treatment plan can be formulated.
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How is an auditory processing disorder treated?
It is important to understand that there is not one, sure-fire, cure-all method for treating APD. APD treatment planning is highly individualized and deficit-specific. Treatment for APD may include: changing the learning/communication environment, using compensatory strategies, and/or remediation of the auditory deficit through therapy.
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