Hearing Direct Blog, News and In The Media

Telephones With Loud Ringers

Written by Ran on January 30, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Hard of hearing phones come in a wide variety of models. They have different features and varying sound amplifying levels. The best hard of hearing phone will be the one that best suits your particular hearing loss and its severity.

The basic functions you should look for, however, include hearing aid compatibility, clarity of sound, blocking of background noise and an option for adjusting the volume. Depending on the additional functionalities and features you want, there are many types to choose from.

Before you choose a specific model, it is good to be aware of the benefits of both corded and cordless hard of hearing phones.

Benefits of hard of hearing corded phones:

low price range
constant power supply
possibility for larger buttons
can have functions for visually impaired as well, thus very suitable for the elderly

Corded phones that offer a full set of functions, some of which include increased ringer volume, telecoil compatibility, backlit and vocalized keypad and built-in answer phone are the models Amplicom PowerTel 68 (up to 5 times louder than the standard phone), Geemarc PhotoPhone 155 (with 8 large customizable photo buttons) and Geemarc CL455 (with talking phonebook).

In case you need a simpler phone with fewer functions, you can consider the Geemarc CL100 or Geemarc PhotoPhone 100. Both offer a volume gain of up to 30dB and have a visual ring indicator.

For those with a severe hearing loss, the Geemarc AmpliPower 50 is recommended. It provides an extra loud volume of up to 60dB.

If you are thinking about buying a cordless phone, there are also some advantages to consider.

Benefits of hard of hearing cordless phones:

mobility
mostly a more contemporary design

Some of the cordless phones offer as many functions as the corded ones. The brand new Amplicom PowerTel 700 is the perfect example of a phone with a bundle of extra features and up to 100 hours of standby time. A built-in answer phone is offered in the Amplicom PowerTel 580 and Geemarc Amplidect 285 models.

The whole Geemarc Amplidect series offered on hearingdirect.com, have up to 30dB volume increase capability, a handsfree speaker option, a visual ring indicator, a backlit keypad and a caller ID.

We have compiled a ringer comparison chart between some of the most prominent phones on the market. In the second table, you can see what their ringer levels mean compared to common daily sounds:

Phone model	Phone type	Maximum ringing level
Geemarc CL8400	mobile	80dB
Doro PhoneEasy 332	mobile	83dB
Doro PhoneEasy 338	mobile	83dB
Doro PhoneEasy 409	mobile	83dB
Doro PhoneEasy 345	mobile	83dB
Doro PhoneEasy 410	mobile	83dB
Doro PhoneEasy 610	mobile	85dB
Doro PhoneEasy 615	mobile	85dB
Amplicom PowerTel 49	corded	90dB
Amplicom PowerTel 68	corded	90dB
Amplicom PowerTel 580	cordless	90dB
Amplicom PowerTel 700	cordless	90dB
Amplicom PowerTel 702	cordless	90dB
Amplicom PowerTel M4000	mobile	100dB
Geemarc Clearsound CL8300	mobile	100dB
Amplicom PowerTel M6000	mobile	100dB

Environmental sounds	Sound level	Decibel level
Threshold of hearing	Faint	0dB
Whisper	Faint	20dB
Normal conversation	Moderate	60dB
Street noise	Loud	70dB
Electric shaver	Loud	80dB
Truck traffic	Dangerous	90dB
Motorcycle	Dangerous	100dB
Rock concert	Deafening	115dB
Gun blast	Deafening	140dB
Aircraft take-off	Deafening	180dB

The charts show that the ringer volumes available are high enough to be used by people with severe hearing loss. It should be considered that an increase of 10dB is perceived as approximately double the sound for people without a hearing problem. That means that +30dB additional ringer volume is about 5-6 times louder than the standard conversation volume.

Posted in Hearing Information, Product Review

Choosing A Hearing Aid

Written by Stuart on January 27, 2012 — Leave a Comment

The first action that should be taken before choosing a hearing aid is to go through an initial hearing test conducted by a specialist. While online hearing tests may provide some basic information about a possibility of a hearing impairment, a professional medical exam by an audiologist is strongly advised to determine the exact type and level of hearing loss and the most suitable hearing aid for the condition.

The hearing test result, called an audiogram, is carried out using an audiometer connected toheadphones. It measures how well different pitches of sound are heard. Usually, you have to push a button when hearing a sound in your headphones. The moment you stop hearing sounds at a particular frequency determines your threshold. Hearing sounds in the 0 to 20dB range indicate normal hearing, severe hearing loss occurs when quieter than 80-94dB frequencies cannot be heard.

The instrument used for the ear examination is called an auriscope or otoscope. It is made up of a head and a handle and has a magnifying glass that allows examination of the outer and middle ear. It is used mainly to check for problems of the eardrum such as a perforation or fluid in the middle ear, causes for an ear discharge or a possible conductive hearing loss resulting from impacted earwax or foreign objects.

In the case where your audiologist decides that you will benefit from a hearing aid, they will direct you to the most suitable type for your specific condition. The hearing aid can be analogue or digital and you can obtain it by contacting the NHS or buying one privately. The hearing aids offered by NHS, while free of charge, do not cover all types of hearing aids available on the market. That means that there is no guarantee that your personal requirements regarding cosmetics and style will be met completely by these models. Also, you should bear in mind that receiving a hearing aid from the NHS will take some time.

The NHS hearing aid devices include behind the ear, body-worn, bone conduction (with a removable headband), bone anchored (require implant) and CROS and BiCROS (for people with hearing in one ear only) hearing aids.

Privately you can find the full range of hearing aids including some styles and models not supplied by the NHS. Such types of hearing aids are in the ear, in the canal and completely in the canal hearing aids as well as some of the smaller behind the ear forms

Deciding on a hearing aid is sometimes connected not only to the medical prescription but to cost. The cheapest hearing aids are analogue, although not very common any more. The majority of hearing aids offered are digital and their price range is quite broad. Prices usually vary between £100 and £2,500 for one ear depending on brand, type, features and how they are supplied.

When choosing a hearing aid, make sure that it is prescribed by a specialist and is appropriate for your hearing impairment. Every hearing aid takes time to get accustomed to and to determine if it is beneficial for you. Therefore, you should buy a hearing aid that has a trial period to let you test the device. In addition, it is good to see if the device can be adjusted with time so you will not need to buy a new one in case your hearing loss gets more severe.

Posted in Hearing Aids

The History of Hearing Aids

Written by Ran on January 26, 2012 — Leave a Comment

The first documented evidence of the existence and use of a hearing aid dates back to the 16^th century. Its inventor is unknown but many sources from that time discuss several hearing aid devices. In 1588, in his book Magia Naturalis, Giovanni Porta describes hearing aids in the form of animal ears. Later on, other sources talk about horns, trumpets, speaking tubes and various devices worn around the body. However, these were hardly mass manufactured but more likely custom made for specific clients.

In 1800, Frederick C. Rein established in London the first company for commercial manufacture of hearing aids. The hearing aids he offered were non-electric and include acoustic urns, speaking tubes and ear trumpets.

Soon after, in 1836, Alphonsus William Webster patented a curved earpiece worn behind the ear, known as the first British patent for a hearing aid. Even more patents were issued in the upcoming decades. One belonged to James A. Maloney for his ear trumpet with a diaphragm earpiece in 1887. With the beginning of the 20^th century hearing aid research and the associated industry developed rapidly. In 1923, vacuum tube hearing aids were introduced and in 1934 they were upgraded to operate with batteries.

In the early 1950s, the vacuum tube hearing aids were replaced with the transistor hearing aids. These led on to the development of the behind the ear and the eyeglass temples models, which in 1954 were already electronic. In 1955, in the ear hearing aid was introduced.

From the 1970s onwards, the hearing aid models began to resemble the modern devices for hearing impairment we know today. The introduction of the electret/FET microphone played an important role in every hearing aid thatmeant that the receiver and the microphone could be kept in one case as forbehind the ear, in the ear and in the canal hearing aids.

The invention of in the canal hearing aid in 1983 was followed by the completely in the canal hearing aid introduced in 1993. Soon after, in 1996, the first successful digital hearing aid device was a fact.

By 2005, 90% of the hearing aid fittings used digital signal processing technology as opposed to the analogue technology.

Nowadays, hearing aids are various and the most common types include behind the ear, in the ear, in the canal, completely in the canal, open fits, receiver in the ear, body worn, bone conduction, CROS, BiCROS and disposable hearing aids.

What is the difference between analogue and digital hearing aid?

Analogue hearing aids, also called conventional, essentially make sound waves louder and amplify all sounds without discriminating between them. Analogue hearing aid devices are made of electronic parts and include a microphone that amplifies the sound and sends it to a receiver (a small loudspeaker) to reproduce it. Some analogue devices can be programmed depending on the environment, such as a quiet place like a museum or a noisy place like a cafe. The different programmes can be changed by pushing a button. Analogue hearing aids are not so common today although they are the cheapest type of hearing aid.

Digital hearing aids use computer chips to convert the sounds into digital signals and thus reproduce them exactly. They are very flexible and can be programmed to fit a particular person’s hearing loss or change in the level of the hearing loss. Many digital hearing aids also adjust automatically the sound level and consider different sound environments. The complex computer processing allows differentiation of sounds such as noise and speech and can reduce background noises.

Posted in Hearing Aids

TV For Hard Of Hearing

Written by Gary on January 24, 2012 — Leave a Comment

There are different types of hearing loss and several potential causes.. The hearing loss can be conductive, sensorineural or mixed and the causes may be congenital or acquired.

A conductive hearing loss is often treatable and rarely results in a permanent hearing damage. It occurs when the sound is not transmitted properly through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the middle ear, thus the sound levels are lowered and faint sounds cannot be heard. The causes for this condition are various but the most common ones include fluid in the middle ear, ear and ear canal infections, perforation of the eardrum, earwax build-up, foreign bodies and some physical malformations which may result in a more permanent conductive loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss is a permanent hearing loss and affects the inner ear (cochlea) or its nerve pathways to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the tiny hairs in the cochlea are damaged and thus cannot effectively turn the vibrations they receive into electric signals and send them to the brain. This condition hinders the understanding of speech and hearing of sounds, whose severity depends on the level of the hearing loss. The causes for the sensorineural hearing loss are varied; they can include a birth condition/physical malformation, head injuries, ototoxic medicines, diseases, long-term exposure to loud noises, tumours and aging.

Recent research also shows evidence that hearing loss may be the result of smoking and obesity.

Regardless of cause, however, hearing impairment need not stop anyone from enjoying pastimes such as, for example, watching TV. In the past, watching TV may have been difficult for those with a hearing problem and for those without if they want to spend that time together. That is not the case anymore. There are a number of hard of hearing TV hearing aids that solve this problem.

Wireless TV hearing aids available allow you to adjust the volume in your headphones without changing the volume of the TV, thus it does not disturb in any way the others watching with you. They have a rechargeable receiver and depending on the exact model cover different areas, usually around 900 square feet. The TV hearing aids offered on hearingdirect.com amplify sound up to 120-125 dB. Most hard of hearing TV hearing aids also let you listen to the radio, CD or MP3 players, PC/Laptops.

Some models, such as the Amplicom TV150, TV Ears and Geemarc CL7300 let you adjust the volume and the tone. Also, many TV hearing aid headphones reduce the external noise and automatically adjust TV volume changes.

If you are looking for a T-coil compatible device that will send the signal directly into your hearing aid (if it has a “T” setting), you can take advantage of room loop amplifiers such as the Geemarc LH600 Loop System. Once you set it to the desired level, you need just to switch the TV on and you will not need to wear any additional devices when you are in the room. It works via a tiny wire that goes around the room you want to listen in. Your hearing aid will then pick up the signal from the magnetic field that has been created by the current in the loop and deliver it directly to the ear.

Posted in Hearing Information

Valentines Day Gift For The Hard Of Hearing

Written by Ran on January 17, 2012 — Leave a Comment

On February 14th numerous people around the globe and in the UK will celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly known as Valentine’s Day. For the vast majority of people, the day is mostly associated with buying and receiving a gift from a loved one or a close friend. If you are searching for a gift idea for the hard of hearing this Valentine’s Day there are several options at different levels of cost that you may consider to accompany the Valentine’s Day card.

Below £20:

The hard of hearing often use a wide range of amplified devices to manage their hearing loss in their day-to-day lives. The most common amplified devices are hearing aids that are used, according to a resent survey, by 1.4 million individuals in the UK alone. This represents an option to purchase an affordable accessory to improve the workings and handling of the hearing aid. Hearing aid accessories are available from as low as £0.50 and feature a wide range of useful products such as the Rayovac hearing aid battery caddy that helps ensure that available hearing aid batteries are only a pocket away as the product fits onto a keyring. Another fantastic gift idea is the immensely popular digital keyring battery tester that fits in the pocket and helps ensure that the hearing aid wearer is aware of the remaining battery life, very useful.

Below £30:

Many people consider the act of waking up on time difficult, but try it without been able to hear your alarm clock ringing. Now that is really difficult don’t you agree? Fortunately, a number of dedicated hard of hearing aid companies such as Geemarc and Amplicomms offer a wide range of alarm clocks for the hard of hearing. These are highly affordable alarm clocks that often provide complete sensory triggers from loud ringer to flashing lights and even under pillow vibration pads (depending on the model). They are also easy to carry around so for the hard of hearing who travel often, these are almost a must have.

Below £50:

It is in our nature to communicate with others and to seek their attention. Other than talking face-to-face, the phone is probably the most prolific communication device used by people from all walks of life. The hard of hearing often struggle using the phone as normal off the shelf phones are simply unusable. It is common for the ringer volume to sound too weak and for the voice on the other end of the line to sound unclear. Many hard of hearing are unaware that there is a growing range of hard of hearing phones that are dedicated to serve the needs of the hard of hearing and they are available at remarkably affordable prices. These phones come as cordless or as corded and can completely transform the communication experience of a hard of hearing telephone user. Their main benefits include highly amplified ringer, simplicity in their functionality, adjustable speaker levels and affordability, a truly fantastic gift for Valentine’s Day and for any other occasion.

Below £100:

If your budget allows you to spend close to £100 or more, you will find even more gift ideas. As we said at the start, the most common device to manage hearing loss is a hearing aid. It is true that buying a hearing aid privately can cost hundreds of ponds, however it does not have to be this way. For example, the HD85, a digital in the ear hearing aid is offered at just £99 complete with a one-year manufacturer warranty and even comes with free batteries.

Finally, check out the new hearing direct sale outlet for bargains on hard of hearing aids.

Posted in Hearing Aids, Hearing Information, Product Review

Free Hearing Aids

Written by Gary on January 12, 2012 — Leave a Comment

There’s no such thing as a ‘Free Lunch’; or so the saying goes… But are there such things as free hearing aids? Technically the answer has to be no. That isn’t to say that you can’t obtain a hearing aid without paying for it directly, rather that you pay for it in a different way and the cost is shared across every tax and national insurance payer in the UK. The NHS will provide a hearing aid without direct charge to anyone with an NHS number that is deemed, through appropriate testing, to need one. The hearing aid always remains the property of the Trust that issues it and as such the hearing aid is really lent to the individual on a long term loan rather than given to the recipient. Technically the hearing aid never belongs to the patient and as such, they are not allowed to transfer it to another person either in the form of a gift or by way of payment.

The process of obtaining a hearing aid from the NHS has been covered in several other posts but in summary, the process/access begins with your GP. The GP will screen you initially and then refer you on to the local hospital audiology department for a full hearing evaluation and subsequent fitting. The whole process varies in length from Trust to Trust and GP to GP but the Government targets for all NHS processes apply and therefore 4-6 weeks or so is about average.

On a decidedly different basis, you may be offered a ‘Free Hearing Enhancer’ or ‘TV Aid’ or something with a similar title from some National Chains of hearing aid retailers. These free gifts rarely, if ever, deliver satisfactory results and are purely designed to capture your name and address for future marketing purposes of ‘proper’ hearing aids. Dare I suggest that these models are designed to prompt an unsatisfied outcome to encourage dialogue with the retailer and a subsequent recommendation for a hearing aid at the average £1,100 mark – perhaps I’m just being a little cynical!

In any event, free hearing aids don’t really exist, whether they are of poor quality (offered by retailers) or good quality (offered by the NHS hearing aids) they are ‘paid’ for one way or another. Ultimately, there is no such thing as a free lunch!

Posted in Hearing Aids

Suitable Mobile Phones For The Elderly

Written by Stuart on January 11, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Mobile technology is rapidly evolving. The market offers various products for people with hearing problems. Historically, when talking about hard of hearing phones, many referred to and had in mind phones for the home. However, amplified mobile technology is rapidly changing and developing at pace.

A number of companies such as Geemarc, Doro and Amplicomms now take into account the needs of people requiring hearing assistance and provide a range of hard of hearing mobile phones. There are phones suitable for young people as well as for elderly people and the different models offer different functionalities corresponding to the user’s habits and needs. Contrary to many people’s apprehensions, hard of hearing phones can look modern and can includeextras such as a coloured screen, camera, Internet and many other features found on regular mobile phones and smartphones.

The most important thing, however, when purchasing a hard of hearing mobile phone is to make sure that it is compatible with the hearing aid you have. Many companies have a return policy that will let you test the phone before you decide if it is the right for you. This is very important, as using a phone is by far the best way to evaluate if it’s right for you.

Another important factor to consider for hard of hearing mobile phones is the volume increase capabilities. For mild to moderate hearing loss you can choose a model with up to +25dB volume amplification such as the Amplicomms PowerTel M4000, which is in the very price competitive range. For more severe hearing loss you can choose a phone with a +35dB to +45dB amplification such as the Geemarc CL8400.

You should also look at other features of hard of hearing mobile phones such as the:

Telecoil compatibility offered by the Amplicomms PowerTel M6000, Amplicomms PowerTel M4000 and Doro models
The handsfree speaker option available for all mobile phones offered on hearingdirect.com
The Bluetooth option offered on Amplicomms PowerTel M6000, Doro PhoneEasy 345 and Doro PhoneEasy 410, and the new models Doro PhoneEasy 610 and Doro PhoneEasy 615

Some models such as the Doro PhoneEasy 615 come with extras such as a 3.2 Megapixel Flash camera.

When looking for a mobile phone for an elderly person there are a few additional features that are crucial and have to be taken into consideration.

Affordable price – most senior citizens will not take advantage of and do not need excessive features on their mobile phones so look for less fancy, affordable options.
Easy to access volume controls
Vibration in case worn in pocket or on a strap
Large buttons for easy dialing and texting
Speakerphone
Large bright screen
Emergency call button

If that is what you need you can consider the following phones: Geemarc Clearsound CL8300, Amplicomms PowerTel M4000 and Amplicomms PowerTel M6000.

Geemarc CL8300 Amplicomms M4000 Amplicomms M6000

Posted in Hearing Information

Behind The Ear Or In The Ear Hearing Aids?

Written by Gary on January 9, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Finding the right hearing aid or realising the necessity for one is not always easy. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one out of every fifth person who needs a hearing aid actually uses one. This means that more awareness is needed to pinpoint the advantages and possibilities of different hearing aids.

There are various types of hearing aids. The three main styles are behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) and in the canal (ITC). Each of these, respectively, offers a wide array of solutions varying in size, colour, design, features, sound processing, etc.

We will focus on two types of hearing aids – behind the ear and in the ear and will discuss their benefits and differences. It is important to remember, though, that every person is different so there is not a universal device. Depending on the specific case, one or another aid may be recommended as more appropriate.

Behind the ear hearing aids are one of the most popular devices for hearing help. They consist of a small plastic case that is located behind the ear, a dome that goes into the outer ear and a connecting thin tube that amplifies the sound. All the electronics such as the microphone, battery, controls and often the loudspeaker, are discreetly hidden in the case, while the almost invisible thin tube connects it to the open-fit dome. As the electronics are outside the year, they are protected from clogging and are easy to maintain and clean.

Another type of hearing device is the in the ear hearing aid. It is suitable for mild to profound hearing loss depending on the style and fit. Offering in essence the same functions as the behind the ear hearing aid, it is different in size and location. This type of hearing aid is placed entirely in the ear. The hard case contains all the electronics, controls, microphone, and telecoil feature if present (making it easier to hear phone conversations) , etc.

Most in the ear hearing aids are custom made to fit the individual ear and could be visible when there is a face-to-face interaction. Use by children is not common as with growth, the aid will become too small and would need to be replaced and that could become an expensive process. One of the problems with in the ear hearing aids may come from earwax and moisture finding its way into the aid that could be detrimental to the device, so one should be careful and clean it regularly.

Both types of hearing aids have their advantages. However, choosing a hearing aid should be done depending on its functions, not purely on aesthetic reasons. Here is a list of the main features of both hearing aids.

Benefits of behind the ear hearing aids:

durable battery life
easy to clean and maintain
suitable for people with an earwax build-up
range of colours and sizes
possibility for connection to FM systems

Benefits of in the ear hearing aids:

small and discreet
custom size

Posted in Hearing Aids, Hearing Information

Amplicomms Is The New Name of Amplicom

Written by Ran on January 9, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Amplicomms is the new name of Amplicom. The German based brand is one of the leading manufacturers of hard of hearing aids, from amplified mobile phones to desk and cordless phones to extra loud alarm clocks. A growing number of its hard of hearing phones bear the GGT seal of approval (German Gerontology Technology Association), a highly sought after accolade which speaks for the quality of its solutions.

On the Hearing Direct site, which features a wide range of Amplicomms leading products and a growing number of their reviews, you will come across the brand as Amplicom and recently as Amplicomms, however to clarify any confusion, it is the same brand that has undergone a brand identity change as part of a global corporate brand re-launch.

Perhaps mostly widely known for its range of hard of hearing phones under the name PowerTel, Amplicomms offers aids that are suitable for a number of sensory impairments. The use of large buttons, large displays, hearing aid compatible technology and extra loud ringers makes its products suitable for the hard of hearing and sight impaired alike.

Posted in Hearing Information, News

Hearing Aids For The Elderly

Written by Ran on December 29, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common types of hearing loss in the UK and in the western world. Using a number of hearing aids for the elderly, the resulting hearing loss can be managed thereby allowing the elderly to sustain a high quality of life. A number of hearing aids are free through the NHS, however the overwhelming range of hearing solutions are only available privately.

Digital Hearing aids – These are small shaped devices that fit in or around the ear of the wearer. They help support the parts of the hearing pathway that are no longer working optimally by amplifying external sounds. (Find out more in our guide to age related hearing loss). Hearing aids using digital technology are available at no cost via the NHS, though a waiting list may apply and types are limited. To learn more about free hearing aids read our guide to nhs hearing aids. The alternative is to obtain a hearing aid privately from one of the high street chains or on line where prices are often more competitive from, starting from as little as £99.

Hard Of Hearing Phones – It is common for the hard of hearing to struggle with conducting a telephone conversion. In some cases the volume of the person on the other end of the line is not loud enough and very commonly they struggle with hearing the telephone ringer in the first place. Hard of hearing phones include desk, cordless and even mobile phones that are especially designed with the hard of hearing in mind; including an amplified ringer and an adjustable tone control and with the elderly in mind, are often very simple to operate. These phones are only available privately, though very affordable even when compared with their non-amplified counterparts.

TV Hearing Aids – It is hard to find a household nowadays that does not own a TV. Regardless of the make, size or display technology, volume levels may be inadequate due to the way in which sound is delivered. Simply increasing the volume may work, however other household members and your next-door neighbor may have something to say about it. TV hearing aids are able to deliver the sound directly to the person in need using a wireless headphone unit that is connected directly to the TV. It allows the wearer to adjust the volume using the headphone to the required level, while other members who are watching TV can hear through the normal TV speakers at their preferred level. These hearing aids are also only available from private sellers.

Alerting Aids – Another group of popular hearing aids for the elderly are alerting aids that, as the name implies, are tasked with alerting the user with amplified sound and other sensory triggers such as flashing lights and vibration. The most common are extra loud alarm clocks that differ from common alarm clocks by having an amplified bell or amplified tone and by having flashing lights and vibration pads that are placed under the user’s pillow (depending on the model). Last but not least are a group of amplified doorbells and telephone ring alerters that are portable, extra loud and include flashing lights.

These hearing aids are designed not to ‘cure’ hearing loss, but to allow the elderly to better manage their hearing loss and have its affects feature less prominently in their daily lives.

Posted in Product Review