Q: Why do hearing aids cost so much?
A: Hearing aids, like other custom medical devices such as dentures, artificial limbs and individually manufactured wheel chair seats, are major health issues. However, hearing aids - unlike many other devices - are typically not covered by insurance, including Medicare. Consequently, the cost is of major concern when purchasing hearing aids.
The cost typically includes both professional services and the product. The hearing aid itself reflects the research and development needed to produce the ever improving hearing aids of today. There are regulatory costs in the manufacturing of a safe and effective medical device. There are costs to the generous repair and return privileges offered, and there is the cost of shipping impressions and the product.
Another factor in the cost of hearing aids is the number sold, or maybe we should say, the numbers not sold. There are 31 million Americans with hearing loss, but less than 20% of them wear hearing aids. Hearing aids are this nations most underutilized medical product.
Therefore, the cost of research and development is spread out over fewer hearing aids. If we could convince the vast majority of people with hearing loss that today's hearing aids really do make a difference, the cost of hearing aids would be reduced dramatically. The untreated hearing impaired population need to know that the cost of not treating hearing loss can be far more devastating in human emotions and relationships than in dollars.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Don't You Wish You Could Just Make That Noise STOP?
That uncomfortable ringing is known as Tinnitus. There are an estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from Tinnitus. It is highly annoying and difficult to endure. At Kenwood Hearing Center we have a unique sound therapy tool, ZEN, that may help you manage your Tinnitus.
On November 2 and November 3, a representative from Widex will be presenting a commnity seminar on Tinnitus and its management.
Tuesday November 2 at 11:30 am
in the Beck Room at the Fulton County Health Center
Wauseon, OH
Wednesday November 3 at 11:30 am
at the Pharmacy Counter - 2655 West Central Ave
Toledo, OH
Call Kenwood Hearing Center today to
register for our Lunch and Learn!
419-534-3111
Audiologist VS Hearing Aid Specialist/Dealer
Q: What is the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Specialist or Hearing Aid Dealer?
A: Many people are confused by these terms, and some hearing aid specialists create new terms such as audioprostologist, to further confuse the public.
According to the Ohio Revised Code 4747.01(B), a Hearing Aid Dealer is defined by the following; "Practice of dealing in" or "fitting of" hearing aids. This means the sale of a hearing aid and the measurement of and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person and includes the making of impressions for earmolds. According to the Ohio Revised Code, the requirements to become a Hearing Aid Dealer are: you must be 18 years old, of good moral character, free of contagious or infectious disease, have a high school diploma or equivalent and must pass the qualifying test.
The Ohio Revised Code 4753.01(G) defines the practice of Audiology as the planning, directing, supervising and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having disorders of hearing; any service in audiology, including prevention, identification, evaluation, consulting, habilitation or rehabilitation, instruction and research; participation in hearing conservation, hearing aid and assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientations; fabrication of ear molds; auditory training and speech reading, and administering tests of vestibular function and tests for tinnitus. The educational requirements to become and Audiologist are now a 4-year Doctoral degree in Audiology after completion of a 4 year undergraduate degree. Audiologists must also pass state licensing boards.
To summarize, the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Dealer is education. When choosing a facility to have your hearing tested, ask that all important question, "Do you have Audiologists on staff?" The Audiological staff at Kenwood Hearing Center has called "Dealers" and asked if they have and Audiologist on staff and have been told by several office that they did not, but that the dealers can do the same thing as an Audiologist. not only is this not true, but it is also illegal for dealer to imply that they are the same as an Audiologist.
Your hearing is your most precious sense, trust it to an Audiologist.
A: Many people are confused by these terms, and some hearing aid specialists create new terms such as audioprostologist, to further confuse the public.
According to the Ohio Revised Code 4747.01(B), a Hearing Aid Dealer is defined by the following; "Practice of dealing in" or "fitting of" hearing aids. This means the sale of a hearing aid and the measurement of and testing of human hearing by means of an audiometer or by any other means for the purpose of selecting, adapting and selling a hearing aid to any person and includes the making of impressions for earmolds. According to the Ohio Revised Code, the requirements to become a Hearing Aid Dealer are: you must be 18 years old, of good moral character, free of contagious or infectious disease, have a high school diploma or equivalent and must pass the qualifying test.
The Ohio Revised Code 4753.01(G) defines the practice of Audiology as the planning, directing, supervising and conducting of habilitative or rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having disorders of hearing; any service in audiology, including prevention, identification, evaluation, consulting, habilitation or rehabilitation, instruction and research; participation in hearing conservation, hearing aid and assistive listening device evaluation, selection, preparation, dispensing, and orientations; fabrication of ear molds; auditory training and speech reading, and administering tests of vestibular function and tests for tinnitus. The educational requirements to become and Audiologist are now a 4-year Doctoral degree in Audiology after completion of a 4 year undergraduate degree. Audiologists must also pass state licensing boards.
To summarize, the difference between an Audiologist and a Hearing Aid Dealer is education. When choosing a facility to have your hearing tested, ask that all important question, "Do you have Audiologists on staff?" The Audiological staff at Kenwood Hearing Center has called "Dealers" and asked if they have and Audiologist on staff and have been told by several office that they did not, but that the dealers can do the same thing as an Audiologist. not only is this not true, but it is also illegal for dealer to imply that they are the same as an Audiologist.
Your hearing is your most precious sense, trust it to an Audiologist.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Radiation and Hearing Loss?
Q: Can radiation to the head or neck lead to hearing loss?
A: Radiation is commonly used to treat patients with brain tumors or cancers on the head or neck. Because of the location of the ear, it and all of its components are often in the radiation field. Damage can occur to the outer ear, the ear canal, the ear drum and the space behind the ear drum, the cochlea, the auditory nerve and the auditory pathways.
Radiation induced hearing loss can be conductive, mixed or nerve in nature. A recent report stated that 40% of patients receiving head or neck radiation will experience acute complications to the middle ear system typically resulting in middle ear infection and Eustachian tube dysfunction. I would suggest that you have your hearing evaluated to determine if loss is due to an infection or nerve damage.
A: Radiation is commonly used to treat patients with brain tumors or cancers on the head or neck. Because of the location of the ear, it and all of its components are often in the radiation field. Damage can occur to the outer ear, the ear canal, the ear drum and the space behind the ear drum, the cochlea, the auditory nerve and the auditory pathways.
Radiation induced hearing loss can be conductive, mixed or nerve in nature. A recent report stated that 40% of patients receiving head or neck radiation will experience acute complications to the middle ear system typically resulting in middle ear infection and Eustachian tube dysfunction. I would suggest that you have your hearing evaluated to determine if loss is due to an infection or nerve damage.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Denial of Hearing Loss
Q: My husband has difficulty hearing but he refuses to admit it or have his hearing tested. He says that his "hearing is fine," but our friends and family members are getting very frustrated with always having to repeat themselves. How could he not realize how much he is missing?
A: Although hearing loss is one of the most common health problems in this country, it often goes unnoticed and the person with the hearing problem is usually the last one to become aware of it. Described below are some of the characteristics of early onset hearing loss. Understanding theses characteristics may help explain why hearing loss can "sneak up" on someone, even when family and friends are well aware of the problem:
Gradual: A loss of hearing can develop so slowly that you're not aware of any change from year to year.
Partial: You can develop a loss of hearing in the speech clarity range, but still have normal hearing sensitivity for background noises and for the loudness of speech. That's why someone with early onset hearing loss may say, "I can hear people talking...I just can't understand them."
Painless: Although tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear) may accompany hearing loss, usually there is no feeling or sensation that alerts you to a change in hearing.
Invisible: The person with a hearing loss doesn't look any different and you can't detect hearing loss by looking into someone's ears. Only a hearing test can determine whether a hearing loss is present.
Keep in mind that because of theses characteristics, it is easy for the person with early onset hearing loss to believe there is no problem. It's also very easy for them to blame others, because to them, it really sounds like people are mumbling. If you know of someone who may have an undetected hearing loss, please ask him or her to read this. And remember, the first step is not to get hearing aids, but simply to have an audiological evaluation. We've never heard anyone complain if the result indicate normal hearing!
A: Although hearing loss is one of the most common health problems in this country, it often goes unnoticed and the person with the hearing problem is usually the last one to become aware of it. Described below are some of the characteristics of early onset hearing loss. Understanding theses characteristics may help explain why hearing loss can "sneak up" on someone, even when family and friends are well aware of the problem:
Gradual: A loss of hearing can develop so slowly that you're not aware of any change from year to year.
Partial: You can develop a loss of hearing in the speech clarity range, but still have normal hearing sensitivity for background noises and for the loudness of speech. That's why someone with early onset hearing loss may say, "I can hear people talking...I just can't understand them."
Painless: Although tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear) may accompany hearing loss, usually there is no feeling or sensation that alerts you to a change in hearing.
Invisible: The person with a hearing loss doesn't look any different and you can't detect hearing loss by looking into someone's ears. Only a hearing test can determine whether a hearing loss is present.
Keep in mind that because of theses characteristics, it is easy for the person with early onset hearing loss to believe there is no problem. It's also very easy for them to blame others, because to them, it really sounds like people are mumbling. If you know of someone who may have an undetected hearing loss, please ask him or her to read this. And remember, the first step is not to get hearing aids, but simply to have an audiological evaluation. We've never heard anyone complain if the result indicate normal hearing!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Quick Thinking!
I have a patient who is a bus aid for a local school district. She helps kids with behavioral, medical and other handicaps while they are riding the bus.
This year, she has a male teenager with a severe behavior disorder. According her her, this young man can be very unruly and she has to constantly remind him what the rules of the bus are.
One morning, he was particularly wound up, and my patient sternly reminded him to behave.
The young man retorted: "My grandma has those."
Patient: "Those, what?"
Teenager: "Those hearing things in your ears."
Patient: "No, I don't think your grandma has what I have."
Teenager: "Yeah, she has trouble hearing, so she has those hearing things in her ears to help her hear."
Patient: "Well, these aren't hearing aids, these are my transmitters."
Teenager: "Transmitters?"
Patient: "Yes. This one [pointing to left hearing aid] goes to the police station, and this one [pointing to right hearing aid] goes to the bus garage. Whenever someone is misbehaving, all I have to do is push the button on my transmitters and they can hear EVERYTHING that is going on on this bus."
Silence. And a well-behaved 14 year old.
Genious!
~Sarah
This year, she has a male teenager with a severe behavior disorder. According her her, this young man can be very unruly and she has to constantly remind him what the rules of the bus are.
One morning, he was particularly wound up, and my patient sternly reminded him to behave.
The young man retorted: "My grandma has those."
Patient: "Those, what?"
Teenager: "Those hearing things in your ears."
Patient: "No, I don't think your grandma has what I have."
Teenager: "Yeah, she has trouble hearing, so she has those hearing things in her ears to help her hear."
Patient: "Well, these aren't hearing aids, these are my transmitters."
Teenager: "Transmitters?"
Patient: "Yes. This one [pointing to left hearing aid] goes to the police station, and this one [pointing to right hearing aid] goes to the bus garage. Whenever someone is misbehaving, all I have to do is push the button on my transmitters and they can hear EVERYTHING that is going on on this bus."
Silence. And a well-behaved 14 year old.
Genious!
~Sarah
Friday, October 15, 2010
Welcome to the official BLOG of Kenwood Hearing Center!
The audiologists and staff at Kenwood Hearing Center, Inc. are VERY excited to start this blog. We realize that the "digital media" world is all around us, and we are looking forward to becoming a part of it.
We hope to use this blog to update you on what is new in hearing aid technology, to share fun and inspiring stories, to document patient testimonials, and most importantly to educate the world (or at least the Toledo area!) on hearing loss, hearing aids, and anything related.
If there is something you'd like to see here or if there is a question you would like to have answered, you are welcome to email us at kenwoodhearing@gmail.com. We hope we can be of assistance to you!
~Sarah
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