Posted by Louis Du Brey on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 @ 03:46 PM
Tinnitus is an unwanted constant sound, in the ear(s) or head, that's present in the absence of any other outside sound. The most commonly reported tinnitus sound is a constant sound, such as a ring or buzz. In the US, approximately 30 million Americans struggle with tinnitus. Many suffers were told by their physician "there is nothing you can do about it. Suffers of tinnitus will often complain of difficulty hearing, concentrating, and sleeping to name just a few problems.
Recently Drs Kochkin and Tyler published a new paper on tinnitus in the United States*. Their research showed a more than 50% of tinnitus suffers noted an improvement in their tinnitus when evaluated and properly fit with hearing aids. They found a link between the use comprehensive audiological services to fit hearing aid and improvement in tinnitus. They specifically looked at the following practices:
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Hearing tested in a sound treated booth
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Use of real ear measurement for verification
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Loudness discomfort measurements
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Customer satisfaction measurements
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Comprehensive post fitting follow up
When comprehensive audiological services are used to fit hearing aids, there is a greater likelihood that tinnitus suffers will not only hearing better, but also note improvement in their tinnitus.
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there is help. If you suffer from tinnitus and need help, contact your local audiologist and schedule a comprehensive audiological evaluation of your hearing.
* Marketrak VIII: The Prevalence of Tinnitus in the United States and the Self-reported Efficacy of Various Treatments, November 2011
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Sun, Dec 11, 2011 @ 11:22 AM
In the last two blog posts, I reviewed bundled and unbundled pricing. If you haven't read these posts, you should go back now and review these concepts if you aren't already familiar with them. The articles were titled:
What Does Bundled Hearing Aid Pricing Mean? and
What Does UnBundled Hearing Aid Pricing Mean? I want to summarize the pros and cons of each method.
What’s Best, Bundled or Unbundled?
Bundled pricing is preferred by most experienced hearing aid users. In our office, bundled pricing includes semi-annual check-ups, and hearing retested every two years. If your hearing changes significantly, then your hearing aids need reprogramming. Whenever you have a problem, just pick up the phone and schedule a time for service. Usually we see you the same day. Hearing aid users with bundled pricing never worry about the fees for these services because they were included in the pricing. For many hearing aid users, bundled pricing is less expensive over the life of the hearing aid system. With bundled pricing, I’m assured that the cost of the office visit is never the reason you don’t call if you’re having an issue with your hearing aids. For example, you might prefer bundled pricing:
- If you are an experienced hearing aid user and know you will need follow-up and service.
- If you are a person with wax build-up that requires frequent cleaning.
- If you are a person that wants the peace of mind that they can come in anytime they have a problem and won't be charged for office visits
Unbundled pricing is required by some insurance companies, and some hearing aid users prefer it. With unbundling, you pay less for the hearing aid up-front, but pay for follow-up and services as you consume them throughout the life of your fitting. Unbundled pricing mimics how you consume most professional and medical services. You pay as you go. for example, you might prefer unbundled pricing:
- If you are a person that travels frequently and needs service away from your home.
- If you are a person who already knows you won't need services and scheduled follow ups because you can't be bothered with coming back to the office
- If you are a person that prefers to pay as you go
We dispense hearing aids using both methods. Since we provide both methods, you don't need to worry about not having a choice. You choose the method you think will work best for you.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Sun, Dec 11, 2011 @ 10:51 AM
Unbundled Pricing
After the audiologist completes your case history, diagnostic testing, and a post-test review of your results, the recommendation might include amplification to improve your speech understanding. If you elect to pursue amplification, you're scheduled for the next step in the process towards improving your hearing, a hearing aid evaluation. A good hearing aid evaluation guarantees a problem free hearing aid fitting.
During the hearing aid evaluation, you learn about technology and which products work best for you. Unbundling assigns individual fees for the hearing aid evaluation, hearing aids, hearing aid fitting, and follow-up and service. Each item is billed separately when it occurs. In addition, after the fitting, you usually have several scheduled follow-ups and annual service. You pay a fee each time you visit the office for follow-up and service. Unbundling lowers your initial cost because you are not paying for a lifetime of follow-up and service. If you exhaust your insurance benefit before the hearing aids need replacement, you pay for the follow-up and service.
Most experienced hearing aid users expect to paying a single price, bundled, for the hearing aid evaluation, hearing aids, fitting, and follow-up and service. During the last 5 years, insurance companies asked audiologists to unbundle hearing aid pricing.
For more information about bundling, see my blog titled: What Does Bundled Hearing Aid Pricing Mean?
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Sun, Dec 11, 2011 @ 10:33 AM
Bundled Pricing
After the audiologist completes your case history, diagnostic testing, and a post-test review of your results, the recommendation might include amplification to improve your speech understanding. If you elect to pursue amplification, you're scheduled for the next step in the process towards improving your hearing, a hearing aid evaluation. A good hearing aid evaluation guarantees a problem free hearing aid fitting.
During the hearing aid evaluation, you learn about technology and which products work best for you. When ordering hearing aids, the audiologist quotes a single price for the hearing aids. This price includes the hearing aid evaluation, hearing aids, fitting, follow-ups, and service. The service continues for the life of the hearing aid fitting. You never pay for an office visit related to care or service of your hearing aids for as long as you have them. If you have an insurance benefit for hearing aids, it is rare for the insurance benefit to cover all costs. It’s common for you to add money out-of-pocket to pay the difference.
Historically audiologists sold hearing aids using a single price, bundled, that reflected the cost of the hearing aids and the services to fit including follow-up and routine service. It was easy for the consumer to understand that after purchasing hearing aids, all their follow-up and services were included in the single price for the life of the fitting. The average life of a hearing aid fitting is five to seven years. During the last 5 years, insurance companies asked audiologists to unbundle hearing aid pricing. Patients accustomed to bundled pricing find unbundling confusing.
For more information about unbundling, see my blog titled: What Does Unbundled Hearing Aid Pricing Mean?
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Nov 09, 2011 @ 06:26 PM
This is Part II of the original article titled: Why Buying a Hearing Aid Through the Internet Is a Bad Idea.
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You need better hearing, not an inexpensive hearing aid
- Regardless of the quality of the hearing aid, success with amplification is dependent on in-person follow-up and counseling. When you purchase an online PSA, that is all you get! Your credit card is charged and they send the device to you through the mail system. There is extensive research proving that amplification provided without excellent follow-up services results in an unsuccessful fitting. Most listeners that are hard of hearing want improved understanding of speech. If you spend $300.00-$500.00 for a device you cannot use, you have wasted your money.
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PSAs can discourage listeners that need improved hearing
Most listeners having difficulty understanding speech wait a long time before taking action to improve their hearing. PSAs might work for slight to mild high frequency loss, but do not have enough power for moderate or greater losses. If you have a mild to moderate loss and try a PSA, you will not notice any improvement. In fact, you may turn the device up loud enough to hear a loud screeching noise that is very uncomfortable. This is acoustic feedback and results from a poorly fit device. Listeners who experience no benefit with an online purchased PSA because their hearing loss is too great may incorrectly assume that nothing can help them to understand speech better. This is simply not true. What they need is a prescriptive device that fits their ear and their hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss results in increased difficulty understanding speech over time, reduced earning income, and depression to name just a few side effects.
When I see a new patient with a PSA, they may report that they noticed the PSA helped them in some situations. They are here today because they need more help and want a professional fitting. That is probably the best outcome for a PSA.
If you really must try a PSA, contact your local audiologist and ask if they have a PSA in their office that you can purchase. If so, try it. If it does not improve your speech understanding, often they will credit the cost of the device towards a professional evaluation and fitting.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Nov 09, 2011 @ 06:13 PM
I see patients in my office with hearing aids purchased over the internet. Most of these products are really starter hearing aids. Starter hearing aids might help slight to mild high frequency losses, but are risky for most patients. The products avoided Federal regulation by Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and State regulation by not saying "hearing aid" in their advertising and marketing. In order to get around the state and federal regulation, online retailers refer to these devices as personal sound amplifiers, PSAs, or personal sound amplification products, PSAPs. Concerned audiologists want PSAs subjected to the same regulatory requirements as hearing aids.
Here are five reasons to avoid purchasing online PSAs, PSAPs or hearing aids:
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Hearing loss may be a symptom of a greater problem
All states require licensing of professionals to participate in the sales of hearing aids. The reason that audiologists are licensed is to provide/guarantee of level of protection to the consumer. If during your evaluation the audiologist finds an underlying medical problem, such as an ear infection or ear tumor, early treatment may result in the restoration of hearing without the use of amplification.
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One size really does not fit all
Hearing losses require different individual sizes of hearing aids in order to provide benefit and customer satisfaction. The process requires physical contact with a trained and credentialed hearing healthcare professional. Your ear shape may not be compatible with some styles of hearing aids. The online PSA you selected may not fit your ear. Sometimes you can insert the PSA, but experience pain that leads to an ear infection because of poor fit.
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It is not just about volume
Hearing losses require different individual programming of hearing aids in order to provide benefit and customer satisfaction. Audiologists use sophisticated computer programs to set the prescription, and can adjust the programming while you are in the office. Your online PSAs have a fixed prescription set at the factory and the retailer simply mails the device to you. You might have a volume control on your PSA, but you cannot change the programming.
This is the end of Part I. Please see the blog, Part II Why Buying a Hearing Aid Through the Internet Is a Bad Idea for reasons 4 and 5 and my closing comments.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 09:43 PM
This is Part II of the original article titled: Why You Shouldn't Purchase Hearing Aids From Hearing Planet, Part I
In Part I of: Why You Shouldn't Purchase Hearing Aids From Hearing Planet, I talked about the importance of being able to see your hearing care professional and not just talking to a internet or telephone sales person. Hearing Planet also produces their own consumer's buying which they will provide at no charge as long you provide your personal contact information. A consumer buying guide is always more valid and trustworthy when it isn't written by the company selling you hearing aids. The final point in Part I was designed to let consumer know that the money spent on their hearing aids is to sent to a company that doesn't have a business in your community. While the fitting is done in the community, only a small portion of that money goes to the dispenser that actually fits your hearing aids.
In this final part, Part II, I finish outlining the last two reasons why you shouldn't purchase hearing aids from Hearing Planet.
4. Services are only covered for the 1st. year
Hearing Planet providers are required to include only the 1st year of follow-up with the delivery of the your hearing aids. The average life of a hearing aid is 5-7 years. You will be required to pay for your own services after the first year. Cost for services typically are half of the total cost of the hearing aids. While the initial cost of the Hearing Planet hearing aid may be less, you will pay out of your pocket for service after the first year.
5. You'll probably spend more money with Hearing Planet
Hearing Planet pricing is not that great! Recently we had a patient come to our office with pricing on the Unitron Latitude 4 hearing aid from Hearing Planet. Their out-of-pocket cost in our clinic was less than Hearing Planet's price. In addition, we bundled care and services for the hearing aids for as long as they owned their hearing aids.
When compared to Hearing Planet, your local hearing care provider can provide you with the same product for less money and include your follow-up and post fitting care for the life of the fitting. Are you comfortable sending thousands of dollars out of town to a stranger, or do you prefer to save money and receive better service locally.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 09:27 PM
This is a long blog, so I've decided to write it in two parts. This is Part I
If you're browsing the internet for hearing aid information, you're immediately confronted with Hearing Planet ads. Here are five reasons why you should not purchase hearing aids from Hearing Planet:
1. You're communicating with a salesman
Hearing Planet employs an online and telephone sales force to answer your questions and setup appointments. Their support personal don't know you and never physically see you. They are not trained in assessment and evaluation of hearing loss. Once you provide them with your contact information, they are relentless in their attempts to contact you and schedule a hearing test appointment.
2. They wrote their own buyer's guide for consumers
Hearing Planet provides a free buyer's guide that they wrote. That's like an employee evaluating their own salary and deciding that they're underpaid and need a raise. Read Sergei Kochkin's: Your guide to buying hearing aids, as better source for unbiased information on hearing aids and the industry. Dr. Kochkin is the equivalent of Ralph Nader to the hearing aid industry. He doesn't sell hearing aids nor does he receive payment from hearing companies
3. You are spending your money outside of your community
The money that you pay Hearing Planet is not kept in your community. While Hearing Planet negotiates with a hearing care provider in your community to deliver your hearing aids, the provider receives only a small stipend or percentage to deliver and fit your hearing aids. You don't actually pay the provider, you send a check or credit card information to Hearing Planet.
This is the end of Part I. Please see the blog titled: Why You Shouldn't Purchase Hearing Aids From Hearing Planet, Part II for reasons 4 and 5 and my closing comments.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 @ 08:33 PM
A comprehensive research study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) and published in August 2011, showed that current "technically advanced, sleekly designed hearing aids are helping people with hearing loss regain their quality of life and remain socially involved."
- In fact, 80% of hearing aid users were satisfied with the changes that occurred in their lives specifically due to their hearing aids.
- 82% of hearing aid users would recommend hearing aids to their friends.
The survey showed how dramatically people's lives improved with the use of hearing aids. More than 2,000 hearing aid users were studied. Improvements that people saw in their quality of life as a result of their use of hearings aids included:
- 70% of hearing aid users said their ability to communicate effectively in most situations improved because of their hearing aid.
- More than 50% said their hearing aids improved their relationships at home, their social life, and their ability to join in groups.
- 40% noted improvements in their sense of safety, self-confidence, feelings about self, sense of independence, and work relationships.
- 25% to 33% of hearing aid users said they even saw improvements in their romance, sense of humor, cognitive skills, and mental, emotional, and physical health.
Another important point from the study was the benefit received from the hearing aid, were related to the quality of care provided by the hearing healthcare professional. Hearing aid users were much more satisfied with professionals that test hearing in a sound booth, use probe microphones to verify the hearing aid fit, use an array of counseling tools to help people hear better and adapt to their hearing aids; and validate improvement in hearing associated with hearing aid use.
Posted by Louis Du Brey on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 @ 08:10 PM
September 21 was World Alzheimer's day. Actor Charlton Heston, actor and former President Ronald Regan, and more recently women's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee Pat Summit were all diagnosed with dementia. Hearing Loss not only compounds the symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia, but may also be an imporant risk factor. Here are four reasons why maintaining good hearing is important for maintaining a healthy mind.
- Some cases of Alzheimer's and Dementia are made worse by hearing loss.
A 1986 study showed that 83% of the 30 of the patients diagnosed with senile dementia also had a significant hearing loss. 33% of those were reclassified to a less severe category of dementia once their hearing loss was corrected.
- Uncorrected hearing loss leads to depression which is also associated with Alzheimer's.
A Dutch study found that Alzheimers was 2.5 times more likely in people with a history of deperession. Hearing loss caused listerners to withdraw socially which lead to depression and anxiey. The National Council of Aging published a study that showed listeners who then corrected their hearing loss showed significant improvements in relationships at home, feelings of self worth, and mental health.
- Improved hearing provides significant stimulation to the brain.
A hearing loss isolates the listening from their environment. Corrected hearing stimulates the brain and helps us comprehend the world around us. Like doing a crossword puzzles, just conversing with someone stimulates vital sections of the brain.
- Uncorrected hearing loss can make Alzheimer's and Dementia worse.
Even if you already have symptoms of Alzheimer’s or Dementia, correcting for hearing loss decreases the effects of memory loss. A 1999 study showed that testing and correcting hearing loss in Alzheimer’s patient could be done effectively. The study showed that there was a significant improvement in everyday communication. This improvement in hearing resulted in a decreased burden on caregivers
So the message today is that if you are concerned about memory problems, it's time to have your hearing tested. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with their hearing or memory, schedule a hearing test with an audiologist. Hearing testing is painless and most insurance companies with pay for all of the examination done by an audiologist. And if it is nothing more than a hearing problem, the audiologist can help you to hear and understand better.