What′s New

1/9/2012

Raising Awareness of the Link between Heart Disease and Hearing Loss during American Heart Month
January 09, 2012
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 Once again, the Better Hearing Institute is promoting American Heart Month in February and recognizing National Wear Red Day® on February 3. National Wear Red Day® is observed each year on the first Friday in February. Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart health and to raise awareness that heart disease—the #1 killer of women—is largely preventable.

Studies show that a healthy cardiovascular system—a person’s heart, arteries, and veins—have a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, trauma to the blood vessels of the cochlea can cause damage, negatively affecting a person’s capacity to hear.

In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, Raymond H. Hull and Stacy R. Kerschen did a comprehensive review of research that has been conducted over the past 60 plus years. They found that the negative influence of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system, and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems, has been found through a sizable body of research.

Our participation in American Heart Month and National Wear Read Day® will help raise awareness of the important connection between heart health and hearing health. And we will use this opportunity to encourage people with heart disease to include hearing checks as part of their routine medical exams.

10/19/11

Better Hearing Institute Warns on Do-it-yourself Hearing Care
October 14, 2011
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Washington, DC. The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is warning consumers of the inherent risks associated with purchasing over-the-counter, one-size-fits-all hearing aids instead of consulting a hearing healthcare professional. Hearing loss is sometimes the symptom of a serious underlying medical problem. All 50 states require that consumers use a credentialed hearing care professional to purchase hearing aids.

BHI also points out that hearing devices that are purchased over-the-counter or Internet without the consultation of a hearing healthcare professional may result in the devices not being accurately customized to the specific hearing needs of the individual.

"Today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids should be programmed to the individual’s specific hearing loss requirements in order to provide good levels of benefit and customer satisfaction,” says Sergei Kochkin, BHI’s Executive Director. “The process requires a complete in-person hearing assessment in a sound booth; the training and skills of a credentialed hearing healthcare professional in order to prescriptively fit the hearing aids using sophisticated computer programs; and appropriate in-person follow-up and counseling. This is not possible when consumers purchase one-size-fits-all hearing aids over the Internet or elsewhere.”

Extensive research shows that individualized hearing health assessments and fittings programmed specific to the needs of the hearing aid user provide the best chance for optimal hearing enhancement and customer satisfaction.

“The best advice BHI can give anyone purchasing a hearing aid is to find a state credentialed hearing healthcare professional and to communicate openly during the evaluation, fitting and trial period to increase the likelihood that you are receiving the best possible benefit from your hearing aids,” says Kochkin. “It will make a tremendous difference in your ability to hear and in your quality of life.”

 8/18/11 - Widex Fusion

Fusion hearing aids are wireless and can communicate with each other, and with other Widex DEX assistive listening devices to provide high-fidelity sound. Fusion hearing aids offer 3D TruSound which captures and preserves the naturalness of sounds — including speech! 3D TruSound works to provide exceptional hearing in quiet and in noise — and manages changes between different listening environments both seamlessly and naturally.

Fusion hearing aids offer exceptional hearing of soft and distant speech — and they provide excellent hearing in quiet and difficult listening situations, like restaurants. Fusion’s Advanced High Definition Locator is like having 15 microphones in one hearing aid, each adjusting continuously to optimize how you hear sounds around you. Do you have trouble hearing on the phone? Fusion hearing aids offer a helpful feature called Phone Plus. This feature transmits phone signals wirelessly between the hearing aids you are wearing. This means you can hold either a cell phone or a landline phone up to one ear and listen to the conversation in BOTH ears! A great benefit whenever you are having a phone conversation.

8/17/11

See our important Tips for Purchasing Hearing Aids

7/6/11

Please see our new section about protecting your ears and hearing.

Hearing Protection