• HEARING SOLUTION

    Hearing aids in Chennai

Hearing Solution

Understanding the nature of the hearing problem and selection of the hearing aid is the first step towards hearing solution. The selection of the hearing aid should be based, first according to the hearing problem then according to ones lifestyle situation and then finally to the budget in that order. This understanding and selection process prepares for a most effective conduction of the course of the hearing solution and ensures the best possible result.

Understanding the nature of the hearing problem does not just speaks about its severity and type but also about the nature of the person ( his age, his lifestyle etc.,) and his adaptation level to the hearing problem (a longer period of adjustment to the hearing problem makes one to get adapted to it). Each and every aspects plays it parts in the working of the hearing solution. It is not the severity that is difficult to deal with but it is the adaptation which is most difficult to over come and resolve. Longer the period stronger the adaptation.

Hardship caused by adaptation in the course of hearing solution

If a person is handicap, nature would have compensated him with some or the other skills to overcome his problem. Same way If a person is adjusting and learning to live with his hearing problem sooner he would develop some habits to cope with his hearing problem longer the period of adjustment deeper the habit establishes and it develops as a skill. If it develops as a skill it will be very hard to get rid of that habit. These skills thus developed stand as a very strong barrier in the course of hearing solution. Without considering this background one should not take the hearing solution for granted and give their verdict.

The habits that generally a hearing impaired develops.

All the below mentioned habits will disturb and interrupt the skill of listening. If one left to continue without hearing solution he loose the skill of listening and develops the skills listed below. If you want to hear you have to listen. How to make a person to listen who has become weaker in it. It is just by making him to wear the Hearing instrument and insist him to enjoy and explore the sound constantly without thinking critical about it. This activity helps him to recognize and relearn the sound and tone and reverse his ability and bring back his de-learned skill of listening.

  • GuessingAn apprehensive hearing impaired will always tend to guess During a conversation. He completes the word with the help of prefix and suffix clue, he completes the phrase with language clue and with background knowledge of the subject under discussion he understand the whole conversation in relation to the circumstances and the participant who involved in the conversation.
  • Lip readingHe will always look out for the clues other than the sound signal to make up and deal with the conversation. Lip movement clue is prime among them. He may also use other clues like gestures & body language.
  • AvoidingFor all the hardship the hearing impaired undergoing he would rather prefer to avoid the situation to save himself from the problem. Being let down by his hearing problem on numerous occasion he give up and develops the tentative- ness of being indifferent to all the sound clues happening around. He may avoid the situation totally or tentatively he may prefer to answer one or two question at times in between in a conversation.
  • Age factorWith age one tend to loose his power of cognition and recognition (cognition – the processing speed of the brain in relation to our senses )in which case he may not be smart enough in challenging situations.He may take some time to strike the chord. We should always be supportive and co-operative and be assisting him in his effort of hearing. While trying to effect conversation we need to handle him with understanding. One should always ensure about his readiness and maintain to talk to him in clarity with medium tone and medium pace(giving him enough time to process). Slowly and steadily In due course he would learn to extract a utility level from the hearing aid.

    Young or aged the selection of hearing aid should always be based according to the hearing problem and according to the lifestyle of the person, the better the level of hearing solution better he copes with the demanding situation. Considering their lifestyle they don’t require a hearing aid with most advanced feature and many option. Only for the dexterity reason they may opt for a solid and simple style hearing aid otherwise they can go for mini or sleek BTE or in the canal hearing aid.

Severity of the hearing problem

Severe Hearing loss

The Hearing solution to mild to moderate level hearing loss is challenging than the hearing solution to severe level hearing loss. The problem of the person who has mild to moderate hearing loss is different from that of the person who has severe hearing loss, while the person with severe hearing loss could not hear Normal speech and many of the environmental sounds – being deprived of most of sounds that normally one could hear, he would be delightful when he hears back all those sound that he could not hear before. They usually complaint less, regarding the problem of Noise and background disturbance.

Mild to moderate Hearing loss

Whereas In the case of mild to moderate hearing loss, as their hearing fall either the level or just below the normal speech level, They could just manage to hear the standard medium speech, the real problem is when some one speaks at low tone. They have difficulties in those situation like soft speech, speech at distance, speech in noise situation e.g. conference, meeting, party etc., Where they may fail to understand some words. (In difficult situation they adjust so much to keep level with the conversation, they guess, they miss but they smartly conduct the course of the conversation).

As they could not hear those sound below medium range they miss out so many incidental surrounding sound. (all those soft and minute environmental sounds – fan or A/c running in the next room, mixer or cooker sound from the kitchen, tap turned on, water overflowing, motor running at the backyard, door opening some one entering, leaves fluttering, squirrel sound from the garden etc.,) For them it would be like being in a calm place in most of the situation. And they will get well acclimatized to that.

The hearing solution here stands at crucial juncture. The role of the hearing aid is to solve the specific problem of the person who otherwise has no problem in hearing standard medium speech, in the process it may give some added effect with which most people may not feel comfortable.

Being able to hear normal standard sound they really donate like the amplified pronounced effect of hearing aid.

As accustomed to minimum surrounding sound (see above) – hearing all the minute environmental sound (for e.g., 40 different sound in the place were they hearing only 20 different sound) make it difficult for them to cope with.

Hence, They complain a lot about mic effect and background noise disturbance – and that is the main problem of the hearing solution of mild to moderate level hearing loss. It takes some time for them to get accustomed to it. This is normal in any new course of change. But in due course of time, It’s different matter altogether that with the advantage of hearing power they overcome their hearing problem and deal with demanding situations very confidently.

  • RecommendBut one can do away with noise and background incidental sound – with noise reduction feature and speech focus & background sound suppressing – dual microphone directionality feature, available right from advance entry level hearing solution onwards.
  • NoteAs they could here standard medium speech they don’t feel like that they have hearing problem or they need a hearing aid. A person with mild to moderate hearing loss may decide for the hearing aid only when their problem affects them critically. One’s lifestyle determines the seriousness of the problem. As the level of seriousness as they understand the value and effect of hearing solution.
  • Profound Hearing lossThe worst level of hearing problem, found mostly in association with worst condition. (poor sound recognition, poor listening – effect of prolonged adaptation of hearing problem and poor speech language development – among those who born and grown with the hearing problem without the hearing solution or without proper course of hearing solution and speech therapy).

There are super power hearing aids for profound hearing loss, even a person with 100dB level hearing loss also may get a perfect and complete hearing solution provided he has response for all the frequency(sound) and less affected by associated problem of hearing loss adaptation.

But there is no chance of hearing solution by hearing aid if a person has total hearing loss, having no response even at one frequency band (particular tone)also may significantly affect the hearing solution. (Although latest Advance medium level hearing aids has frequency transposition or compression which compress or transpose high frequency sound towards medium frequency and help the person who has total hearing loss at high frequency to hear the same). Hearing loss beyond 100dB to max. No response for a single band of frequency to a range of band gives lesser and lesser chance to get the complete and comprehensive hearing solution. But still it may serve effective to certain extent and stand as a valuable Hearing solution. Hearing solution should not be seen by ther rate of success but by the rate of improvement.

Hence the effectiveness of the hearing solution largely depends upon the level and condition of the hearing problem. Better the level and condition immense the effect of the solution.

More than the severity it is the condition that is difficult to deal with that which stands as a strong barrier towards effective hearing solution.

Where there is negligence and lack of awareness, regarding hearing health is so common, there, one can find people with profound hearing loss. This prolonged period of neglect make them to naturally get adapted to their hearing problem(See the hardship posed by the adaptation above) suppose the hearing problem is a slopping loss (different hearing loss for different sound) this subjection of long neglect end up in poor recognition problem in addition.

  • Poor recognitionBecause of his different level of loss for different kinds of sound – better for some range of sound and poor for some other range of sound, what he hears always would be an incomplete one, hearing some part of the sound strongly and some part of the sound feebly or in a unclear form. With minus of some frequency sound whatever he hears, it may sound to him differently and when he continues to hear like this every day throughout for a long period, it got registered in his brain and he then starts to refer the same and on provision of the hearing solution he hears the original complete sound and found hard to discriminate. The recourse of the hearing solution may take some time to renew the perception in reference to the original sound.
  • NoteOn prospecting the hearing solution one should concern the background of the problem for e.g. The age of the person, his lifestyle, the severity of problem, the severity of the condition like poor cognition, recognition, strong adaptation, poor speech language development etc., The course of the hearing solution is based on these condition.

The Selection of the Hearing Aid

The Lifestyle situations & Different levels of hearing solution

The Selection of the Hearing Aid always should be based, first according to the type of the Hearing problem the person has, then according to his lifestyle situation and finally to his budget in that order. One should never compromise a suitable hearing solution for budget reason. A suitable hearing solution not only worth the budget but it worth the life after all. Affordable or not affordable to be justified for the quality of life, but one can always select from suitable hearing solution to the best hearing solution with many option wide open in between.

One could decide for the hearing solution on the basis of Problem – lifestyle – expectation – budget

What is the level and nature of one’s hearing problem -severity, type (conductive, Sensory neural) & duration.

  • what is his lifestyleIs he socially active moving around in demanding situation like meeting, conference, parties etc., or leading a retired life with minimum activity like basic essential communication confined only to family members.
  • what do he expect the hearing solution ofHigh or medium or standard level of comfort & clarity, totally invisible micro size or easy to handle solid style, the durableness, the additional modern lifestyle wireless features.
  • Finally what is his budgetA budget that worth the hearing problem.

There are different levels of hearing solutions – Trimmer digital, computerized digital and Advanced digital, available in the “Behind the ear” BTE models and the ITE, ITC, CIC canal models. The Virtually invisible micro models – RIC’S and Micro CIC’s are available only in the range of Advance digital level. Body worn Pocket model is a non digital Analog model – trimmer digital versions are available now.

A Hearing Aid which gives Standard (preset) amplifications for all the sounds. With 1 or 2 channel and no special features it offers minimum comfort and clarity.

A Basic Sound processing unit by which speech and other sound signals are amplified with the adjustment of Volume control and frequency Trimmers. (Digital signal processing, Preset standard amplifications for all the sounds – according to the volume level and trimmer key position we set)

The Trimmer digital

Read the classification table below and select the hearing solution that suits your lifestyle.

 A Basic level hearing solution.A Hearing Aid which gives Standard (preset) amplifications for all the sounds. With 1 or 2 channel and no special features, it offers minimum comfort and clarity.

A Basic Sound processing unit by which speech and other sound signals are amplified with the adjustment of Volume control and frequency Trimmers. (Digital signal processing, Preset standard amplifications for all the sounds – according to the volume level and trimmer key position we set)

A person who has hearing problem may have different level of hearing loss for different kind of sounds( eg. mild to moderate hearing loss for some sound and severe to profound hearing loss for some other sound) one usually have more problem with high frequency sounds (eg. Whistle tones, telephone & mobile ringtones, calling bell, ladies voice and Sss…& Sshh.. Sounds) than the low frequency sounds (eg. Male voice, vowels, etc.,)this is referred as slopping loss In such instances one need according to the severity a more amplifications for high frequency sounds than the low frequency sounds. Which can be done by setting the high frequency trimmer towards the maximum level.

In Trimmer digital, a more accurate gain setting to a particular band of low / high frequency sound (each different tone) as according to the hearing loss of the person may not be attained all the time. Customized and more precise amplification for each and every different tones – cannot be done, it just trims down the gain across a frequency range with just 1 or 2 channel compression, i.e. The adjustment of low frequency Trimmer alters the whole range from low frequency sound to medium frequency sound effecting more at low frequency and less and less towards medium frequency and the adjustment o f high frequency trimmer alters the entire range of high frequency to medium frequency sound, effecting more at high frequency and less and less towards medium frequency – so the adjustment or amplification can be done only to a range level not to a particular band level. A standard general clarity.

  • Power Trimmera switch to set the level (low-medium-high) of master gain and level of maximum sound output which makes the hearing aid powerful according to the severity of the hearing loss of the person.
  • Frequency trimmersHigh frequency trimmer – a switch to set the level of amplification in high frequency range sounds, Low frequency trimmer – a switch to set the level of amplification in low frequency range sounds, according to the hearing loss a person has for these sounds.

The basic – trimmer digital

The Computerized digital – Budget

2 channel / 2-3 band adjustment, measured computer amplification – slightly better in clarity. With WDRC – wide dynamic range compression (focus on speech range sound) Offers minimum speech and noise management

The Computerized digital

A High level processor with a computer chip.

A Processor which runs on software application – enabling advance applications which has taken the hearing instrument technology to a new level and dimension.

Dynamic processing

This chip based high level processor made possible to rework the processing strategy from a standard, general, non changing rigid processing method to a highly defined, dynamic, realtime processing method.

Highly Defined to comprehensively covers wide range of problems associated with standard hearing solution. To solve and resolve the unique specific hearing problems and component of hearing problems.

Customized Hearing solution.

A Measured Optimum amplification for each different sound – as according to the Hearing Problem a person has in each of those sounds. Based on the Audio-gram Report, measured gain is set in each & every band of a frequency range. (Band – Particular Tone)

With more number of dedicated channels to compress each different tones (sound).The Band level measured gain settings matching the audio-gram gives a balanced sound output , more or less preserve the original sound signal intact . gives more clear comfort sound signal and speech resolution, brings the output close to the customer preference and satisfaction.

In Trimmer digital : an adjustment just trims down the gain across a frequency range i.e. – a standard general clarity.

Wide dynamic range compression (WDRC)

There are two methods of sound processing, the old method linear compression and the highly defined new method “WDRC” compression.

The world of sound is bound by space and distance dimension that which greatly influence the intensity (loudness) and as well the scope of the sound (with regard to communication). Our communication world is distinguished by personal space and social space surrounded by indoor and outdoor environ and the WDRC process aptly defines it by compressing the sound in dynamic soft – medium – loud structure, providing customized amplification in each of those sound.

Soft sound : Personal and Social space minute environmental sound and soft speech. Increasing the gain for these sound gives more environmental awareness and ambient effect.

Medium sound : Normal speech – Personal space & social space i.e. One to one conversation and meeting, conference, group party etc., and solid environmental sounds. The focus point of hearing solution maximum optimization recommended to make it more pronounced.

Loud soundAll kinds of impulsive sounds. (Less gain setting recommended)

The advanced entry level digital

Hearing Test in Chennai

The advanced entry level digital

The fast moving segment – a complete hearing solution with adequate feature to cope with different situation at affordable price.

  • 4 channel / 6 band adjustment
  • dual microphone – speech and background noise separation
  • Noise reduction I
  • wind rush manager
  • Echo cancellation
  • Anti shock – impulsive noise smother
  • Speech Enhancement
  • 2-3 Manual program (for quiet & noisy environment -meeting, party etc.,)

The advanced medium level

  • 6 – 12 channel / 9 – 12 band adjustment
  • dual microphone – Multiband adaptive directionalsmart directional – Automatically changes it directional mode according to the environment (omni / Adaptive / fixed directional)
  • 3 Auto program, 3 Manual program Quite / speech in noise / Music / outdoor etc., Optional accessories Remote control wireless streaming (bluetooth streaming TV / Mobile / laptop etc.,)
  • Noise reduction II
  • Wind rush manager II
  • Speech Enhancement
  • Anti shock II – impulsive noise smother
  • Echo cancellation

Automatic Program : in our modern day lifestyle we handle so many assignment and be moving constantly from one situation to another the automatic program reads the changing situation and automatically change the setting to another suitable program.

Manual Program : We can manually change the setting from one program to another to our preferences.

Hearing machines in Chennai

The advanced hearing solution

Hearing Test in Chennai
    • 20 channel / 20 band
    • dual microphone – Natural directional Real world dimension / Real ear effect
    • 4 Auto program, 4 Manual program Quite / speech in noise / Music / outdoor etc.,
    • Noise reduction III
    • Wind rush manager III
    • Speech Enhancement III
    • Anti shock III – impulsive noise smother
    • Echo cancellation
    • Optional accessories
    • Remote Control, Wireless streaming (bluetooth streaming TV/ Mobile / laptop etc)
  • A student – a young aspirant – a business icon – a senior clerk or counter staff a – a pensioner, different class, different profession, different lifestyle where do you fit, in which plane your life revolves around, if it contain games and parties, or it contain high profile business meeting as well, it just pleasant indoor environ and standard communication or it includes field activities or outdoor meetings also quiet often, check it up with the above tables – go for a suitable hearing solution – resolve your hearing problem.

    Whatever is the lifestyle the most advanced hearing solution is the best hearing solution for all. But it is the budget that influence the selection of the level of hearing solution. more and more the advance the hearing solution more is the level of comfort, more speech resolution, more original Sound quality, a Natural real world dimension – live a lively and lovely life.

The scope of the hearing solution

Understanding the process of hearing will help us to understand the scope of the hearing solution.

Wearing a Hearing Aid does not complete the process of Hearing solution but of course it is the core part of a Hearing solution. Hearing Aid is an Instrument which collects speech and other sound signals around and enhance it and provide it to the hearing level of the person and ear is the organ by which we hear but it is the brain where we perceive the sound, So just hearing the sound does not complete the process of hearing, It involves our brain, by the way it involves our cognition power, recognizing strength and listening ability. The poor cognition (due to age), the poor recognition (with the incomplete sound that got registered in the brain because of poor hearing standing as a reference one find hard to relate or refer with the complete sound that he hears after wearing the hearing aid) and the poor listening (lip reading, guessing that developed as an effect of strong adaptation of the hearing Problem seriously interrupts one’s listening) stands as a strong barrier towards effective hearing solution. Hence the level of power of cognition, recognition and listening may conduct the course and effect the success level of hearing solution.

Hearing solutions by Hearing Instruments is not a restoration of ones Hearing Power. A Hearing Instrument is an instrument that’s it. No way it becomes a substitute for our natural Ear.

Hearing solutions by Hearing Instruments has its own limits and Advantages, a Hearing Impaired person with the help of Hearing Instrument cannot match a normal person in all the aspect of hearing power but that definitely does not discount the potential of hearing aid any way. If we count the benefit it is incredible

The concept of Hearing solution is well Understood only by the benefit of better Hearing one gets. The scope of hearing solution is well relished only on constant exploration. It should not be understood in relation to the percentage of success. It should not be measured by rate of success but by rate of improvement.

Program is one particular settling formed by combining the features and settings of the hearing aid in a prescribed ratio and levels to suit the particular environment.

    • Program Noisein noisy situations like traffic, industrial workplace, shopping mall etc., The chances of lengthy and group conversation is very less so the main purpose of the program is to get rid of the reverberating impulsive and repulsive sounds. So the microphone is set to fixed directional mode, fixed to, just infront and the immediate range at back, picking up the speech essentially and shutting up the sounds from all the directions . All the special features like noise reduction, Anti shock are kept at maximum.
    • Program speech in noiseIn a situation like party, meeting, conference etc. the dual microphone is switched to adaptive directional mode that is converging the focus on to the speech direction (as it happens) by front focusing mic. and suppressing the dominating background sound collected by back facing mic. Putting the speech at focus and all the other sound at the background .features like noise reduction, anti shock, speech enhancement to be kept at desirable level. So one may enjoy the conversation at the same time being aware of the environment. – A real world dimension.
    • Program QuiteIn this quite program the microphone is switched to omni directional mode to collect minute environmental sound from all the directions. When we are alone (calm situations) in our personal room at office / at home we should know what is happening around – fan or a/c running in the next room. Mixer or cooker sound from the kitchen, running water motor at the backyard, someone entering our premises, tap turned on, water over- flowing etc., And the approaching vehicle while walking on the road Hearing all these minute sounds keep us aware about and be alarmed about the environment / the situation. Advance feature like noise reduction, anti shock, wind rush manager to be kept at minimum. In this omni directional mode essential and standard speech may remain effective when conversation builds & expands one need to change the program.

      In this quite environment keeping the microphone mode at speech focus adaptive directional mode and applying noise reduction to the maximum will give less or no awareness about the minute significant environmental sound.

      Likewise in the speech in noise situation if the microphone is switched to omni directional it will collect the sound from all the direction and speech will be masked by and be heard in confusion with all the other background sound.

      Hence one particular setting working for one situation may not work for another situation. So we need situation specific different setting to tackle different situation like quite, speech in noise, and noise etc.

Advanced features

  • Noise ReductionFilters Noise – Hearing the fan, the A/c, the motor and the traffic Noises, by the speaker of the hearing aid at a higher decibel level will be really annoying. Noise reduction feature allow us to set the level of the noise from bearable to totally nil.
  • Wind Rush Manager :

    One should always be aware of what is happening around.

    cut downs the wind gushing sound – While traveling in a vehicle, when we sit direct under the fan, the Mic. Captures the fluttering effect of the wind producing a constant hush sound. Really a disturbance, to be cancelled totally.

  • Anti shockSoftens sudden impulsive sound – The vehicle horn, the slamming door, the cracker burst, Without Anti shock feature even our foot step sounds, dish rattling sounds, things displacing sounds will bang our ears like anything during our everyday activities.
  • DirectionalityThe Directional dual microphone system – speech focus – distinguishes speech from the back ground sound – A Real world dimension. The 360 degree omni directional single mic. Picks up sounds from all the directions with no distinguishment between the sound in front (the sound in focus, especially the speech) to the sound faraway, there will be a mixing and confusion of lot of sounds. A crow cry from faraway distance will be heard very close to the ear, someone hitting and destructing two building away will hit our ears like anything. Without speech focus the omni directional single mic. One should always be aware of what is happening around. In the dual microphone system, the front focusing mic.1 keep converging it focus to pick the speech in front (as it happen) and the back facing mic. 2 covers the backside in a short range wide angle plane and collect all the sound around and gives at lesser output, Put the speech in focus and all the other sound at the background. No confusion of background sound and speech – A Real world dimension. The integrated dual microphone constantly switches it focus to omni directional, adaptive directional and fixed directional focusing according to the changing situation in automatic smart directional mode.
  • Echo cancellationThe hearing aid or the fitting accessory when conceal the ear canal air tight the air pressure inside the ear canal increases and it gives an echo effect echo cancellation or occlusion manager reduce this effect according to the need of the patient
  • Speech enhancementAmid lot of (different) sound in a given noisy situation, it detects speech and provide optimum enhancement not just to preserve but to enrich its resolution and make it to stand apart and absolute among confusing sound.

    Easy and smooth discriminations, adds more power and credibility and make the hearing solution a resolute one.

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