About Audiograms
Get a hearing test and find out. Here is how you do it!
What's a audiogram? An audiogram is the test results you
receive when you take a hearing test. A very highly calibrated machine that
produces sound at the pitches associated with human speech, called an
audiometer, is hooked up to a pair of headphones that you wear. The person
giving the test will chart the volume level at which you detect each pitch or
tone across the frequency range where human speech takes place.
After the hearing test the person giving the test will usually go over
it with and show you how your hearing compares with what is considered normal
hearing. It is a very simple test much like the way we get our eyes tested -
no studying required!
Where can I get a hearing test??
You can get your hearing tested free or for very little cost at
any hearing aid dispenser or audiologist. Check the yellow pages under Hearing
Aids. Make sure you ask for a copy of the hearing test results, your
audiogram, when setting up the appointment.
At Advanced Hearing we will be glad to give you a second opinion on your
hearing for free. We will tell you if you need hearing aids, which type of
hearing aids will help you, and the cost of those hearing aids. There is no
charge for our consultation.
You can get a free hearing test online as well. While this is no substitute for the evaluation of a trained professional, the information may be useful to you.
The links below will give you the information you need to
evaluate your audiogram.
What can I do about the whistling (feedback) produced by hearing aids?
There are two types of acoustic feedback: that produced internally from the
hearing aid - indicating a device in need of repair; and the more common
external feedback produced by a leakage of amplified sound out of the ear
canal and back into the microphone of the hearing aid. Feedback that occurs
when the hearing aid is being inserted or removed or when your hand is cupped
near the device is common, and does not necessarily signal the need for
action. If however, you experience feedback when you speak, chew, yawn or
change position, you need to consult your audiologist. Feedback is more likely
to occur in smaller hearing devices because the microphone is closer to the
area at which the sound comes out into the ear. So, a behind-the-ear style may
be less likely to produce feedback than in in-the-canal style device. Usually,
external feedback can be corrected by:
-
properly reinserting the hearing aid or earmold
-
remaking the earmold (or in-the-ear shell)
-
plugging, or reducing the diameter of any vents (holes)
-
reducing the amount of high frequency gain, (typically an unacceptable
trade-off because of the resultant loss of high frequency hearing)
-
altering the sound by means of filters in the hearing aids or changes in the
way the devices are programmed
-
adding a "canal lock" (a piece of plastic) to better hold canal hearing aids
in place so they don't work their way out of the ear canal as you chew
Recently some manufacturers have introduced digital feedback reduction. With
this technology, feedback is sensed by the hearing aid and canceled by means
of a new signal generated by the hearing aid itself.
Facts for Consumers from the Federal Trade Commission
Produced in Cooperation with the
American Association of Retired People
November 1992
More than 21 million Americans suffer from some type of hearing impairment.
Fortunately, many of these people can benefit from the use of a hearing aid.
However, hearing aids cannot work for everyone. Those who can be helped need
to be carefully fitted. This on-line brochure provides information about hearing
loss and things to look for when shopping for a hearing aid. It stresses the
importance of a medical exam and the value of a trial period.
Types of Hearing Loss
The two basic types of hearing loss are conductive and sensorineural. Conductive
hearing loss involves the outer and middle ear. It can result from a blockage
of wax, a punctured eardrum, birth defects, ear infections, or heredity. Usually,
conductive hearing loss can be corrected medically or surgically. Sensorineural,
or "nerve" hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear. It can be
caused by aging, prenatal and birth-related problems, viral and bacterial infections,
heredity, trauma [such as a severe blow to the head], exposure to loud noises,
the use of certain drugs, fluid buildup in the inner ear, or a benign tumor
in the inner ear.
Only in rare cases can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically
corrected. It is the type of hearing loss that is most commonly managed with
a hearing aid. Sensorineural hearing loss can affect selective portions of a
person's range of hearing. Therefore, the degree of hearing loss and the specific
levels of pitch [frequencies] affected will vary from person to person. Even
in instances where the pattern of the loss is the same, the degree of sound
clarity may vary from person to person or may differ between ears for one individual.
As a result, individuals suffering from sensorineural hearing loss often require
a hearing aid tailored to the specific sensitivity and the pattern of hearing
loss.
Purchase Suggestions
A hearing aid is an electronic device that picks up sound waves with a tiny
microphone. The microphone makes weaker sounds louder and sends them to the
ear through a tiny speaker. Because a hearing aid is an amplification device,
a person must have some hearing to benefit from its use. In addition, because
hearing loss has a variety of patterns and degrees of severity and affects people
in different ways, no single hearing aid is right for everyone.
The Federal Trade Commission [FTC] offers the following suggestions if you
are considering the purchase of a hearing aid.
Consider Getting an Ear Examination
The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] recommends that you have your ears examined
by a licensed physician. Ear examinations are universally recommended by the
medical community to ensure there are no underlying diseases or medical problems
causing the hearing loss. A hearing loss may be a symptom of another medical
problem that needs a doctor's attention. Also, the cause and severity of a hearing
loss vary widely from person to person.
Be wary of any advertisements for hearing aids that play down the need for
a medical examination and a hearing test. Dispensers or providers that encourage
you to sign a waiver for a medical examination may be selling products that
do not meet industry standards.
Get a hearing evaluation from a dispenser or an audiologist. Have your hearing
tested to assess your ability to hear with and without a hearing aid. This test
will enable a dispenser or audiologist to select and fit a hearing aid to your
individual needs. [The term "dispenser" refers to anyone selling hearing
aids, whether the person is a hearing aid dealer or an audiologist.]
Check Out the Dispenser
Before you buy, check the reliability of local hearing aid dispensers with
your local Better Business Bureau [BBB], consumer protection agency, or state
attorney general. You also may want to verify the reliability of dispensers
and physicians with their licensing boards in your state capital. Ask if there
are any complaints on file, and how the company or professional has responded
to the complaint.
Ask the Dispenser or Audiologist about a Trial Period
Many manufacturers, hearing specialists, and consumer groups recommend, and
some state laws require, that consumers be given at least a 30-day trial period
with only a small service fee [varying from five to 20% of the purchase price]
if the consumer returns the product. In fact, manufacturers routinely make adjustments
and permit hearing aid returns within 60 to 90 days at no charge to the dispenser.
A trial period is strong protection for such an important purchase, so ask before
you buy.
Remember, if you purchase a hearing aid from a door-to-door salesperson you
have the right under the FTC's Door-to-Door Sales Rule to cancel within three
business days of any sale for $25 or more. The sale may take place in your home,
or at a location that is not the seller's regular place of business.
If you are thinking of buying a hearing aid through the mail, consider the
difficulty of getting the right hearing aid for your needs and a proper fit.
Although there is no federal law against the mail order sale of hearing aids,
several states have banned hearing aid sales by mail. In states that do allow
the sale of aids by mail, the transaction is subject to the FTC's Mail Order
Rule. This rule requires companies to ship purchases made by mail when promised
or give consumers the option to cancel their order for a refund.
Be Aware of Sales Practices
Avoid being pressured into buying a hearing aid. As with any other medical
decision, you should be given the opportunity to seek additional information
or a second opinion. Sales personnel using high-pressure approaches demonstrate
little concern for your well being.
Purchase Agreements
The hearing aid purchase agreement, or contract, should contain all terms of
the transaction in writing, including an explanation of all verbal promises.
In reviewing your agreement, remember to consider the following:
- Is there a written warranty?
- Is the warranty honored by the manufacturer or by the dispenser? [In some
cases warranties by the manufacturer may not be recognized unless the hearing
aid is purchased from a seller authorized by the manufacturer.]
- What services, if any, will be provided free of charge, and how long will
they be provided?
- Will you receive a "loaner" if your hearing aid needs to be repaired?
Do business with a dispenser who will clarify these details and put all verbal
commitments into the written contract.
Federal Standards for Sales
The FTC is responsible for monitoring the business practices of hearing aid
dispensers and vendors. Under the Federal Trade Commission Act, the FTC can
take action against a company that misleads or deceives consumers. Such a company
may use misleading sales and advertising practices --- giving inaccurate information
about hearing loss, performance of a hearing aid, refund policies, or warranty
coverage. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which the FTC enforces, provides consumers
with certain protections relating to warranties. This act requires a company
offering a warranty to fully disclose all its terms and conditions.
The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] enforces regulations that deal specifically
with the manufacture and sale of hearing aids, because these products are recognized
as medical devices. FDA regulations have the force of federal law. According
to the FDA, the following conditions must be met by all dispensers before selling
a hearing aid:
- Dispensers must obtain a written statement from the patient signed by a
licensed physician. It must be dated within the previous six months, state
that the patient's ears have been medically evaluated, and state that the
patient is cleared for fitting with a hearing aid.
- A patient, age 18 or older, can sign a waiver for a medical examination,
but dispensers must advise the patient that waiving the examination is not
in the patient's best health interest.
- Dispensers must avoid encouraging the patient to waive the medical evaluation
requirement.
- Dispensers must advise patients who appear to have a hearing problem to
consult promptly with a physician.
- The FDA regulations require that an instruction brochure be provided with
the hearing aid that illustrates and describes its operation, use, and care.
The brochure also must list sources for repair and maintenance and include
a statement that the use of a hearing aid may be only part of a rehabilitative
program.
State Standards for Sales
In addition to federal regulation, many states have laws that apply to the
sale of hearing aids. Most states license hearing aid dispensers, and several
states prohibit the sale of hearing aids through the mail. Purchasers also may
be protected by implied warranties, created by state law. Your state Attorney
General's Office can provide you with particular information about state laws
that apply to the sale of hearing aids.
The state Attorney General's Office also will have information on whether hearing
aid dispensers must be licensed or certified by the state. Some hearing professionals,
such as physicians and audiologists, may be licensed by a state regulatory agency.
These agencies may provide helpful information for individuals considering a
hearing aid purchase.
Where to Complain
If you have questions or complaints concerning the sales practices of a hearing
aid dispenser, contact your state Attorney General's Office, local consumer
protection agency, the Better Business Bureau, and write:
Correspondence Branch
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, DC 20580
Although the FTC usually does not resolve individual disputes, the agency may
take action against a company if there is evidence of a pattern of deceptive
or unfair practices.
The National Fraud Information Center [NFIC] maintains a toll-free Consumer
Assistance Service, 1-800-876-7060, to provide consumers with answers to questions
about telephone or mail solicitations, information about how and where to report
fraud, referral services, and help in filing complaints.
The NFIC Consumer Assistance Service is available from 9:00am to 5:30pm EST,
Monday through Friday. The toll-free number is in service in the United States,
Puerto Rico, and Canada. Spanish-language service is available.
The consumer complaint information is instantly available to assist law enforcement
agencies through a database operated by the Federal Trade Commission and the
National Association of Attorneys General.
Protecting Your Hearing
Hearing loss can occur as part of the natural aging process. Other hearing
losses are the result of exposure to factors at both work and home. Some types
of hearing loss can be prevented.
Second only to aging, exposure to loud noise is the most common cause of hearing
loss. Loud sounds, such as gunshots, firecrackers or jet engines, may cause
permanent hearing loss. Moderate noise levels over time can also cause hearing
loss. The noise may be quieter but, if it lasts longer, it will still damage
the ear. Common items, such as power tools or a vacuum cleaner, have this capability.
Ear muffs or foam earplugs can help reduce or prevent hearing loss. The law
requires employers to provide hearing protection for employees in noisy work
areas. Hunters and target shooters are trained to wear ear protection when firing
guns. Teens can enjoy a loud concert without hearing loss by wearing earplugs.
Pregnant women can reduce the chance of congenital hearing loss by:
- getting prenatal care and
- avoiding viral infections that may result in fetal deafness in the first
three months of pregnancy
Children should have routine hearing screenings, starting at birth. This is
essential in reducing the effect of a hearing loss on speech and language, as
well as, social and emotional development. Treatment can often significantly
improve a child's hearing loss.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is never too
early, or too late, to protect the hearing you have. If you suspect a hearing
loss, contact your healthcare provider. He or she may perform a hearing exam,
or may refer you to an audiologist for a more comprehensive exam.
Excerpt from uihealthcare.com/topics/hearing/hear4689.html