Tag Archives: In Ear Hearing Aids

picture of person holding hearing aids from platinum hearing aids in detroit
Hearing Aids Detroit

Are Digital Hearing Aids Right for You?

In the United States alone, it was estimated that over 48.1 million people had bilateral or unilateral hearing loss between 2001 and 2008. In short, there are millions of Americans that have some sort of hearing loss that could benefit from hearing amplifiers, in-ear hearing aids, or some other sort of hearing device or tool. 

At Platinum Hearing Aids, your Detroit-area audiologists, we understand the frustration that you might experience on a day to day basis if you are one of the millions of Americans with hearing impairments. Because of this, we offer a variety of diagnostic and corrective hearing services. If you believe that you or a loved one is affected by hearing impairment, we urge you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.

While there are many different hearing devices that can be used to correct or amplify hearing in an individual with hearing loss, one of the most common types of hearing aids that we are asked about are digital hearing aids. But how can you know if a digital hearing aid is the right hearing device for you? Continue reading to find out!

What Is a Digital Hearing Aid? 

A digital hearing aid is extremely similar to an analog hearing aid — with the main difference being the amplifier component. An analog amplifier is designed to increase the volume of specific sound frequencies — usually between 2,000 and 8,000 Hz. Digital hearing aids, however, are much more complex. 

Digital hearing aids are essentially tiny, powerful computers that convert sound waves into digital code. The code is then analyzed before the sound is sent to your ears. Because of the sophistication involved in digital hearing aid technology, digital hearing aids are extremely efficient in clearing background noise and reducing feedback while focusing on the sounds and noises that you need to be hearing. Because of this, digital hearing aids are often considered to be the clearest-sounding hearing aids that can operate the most efficiently in the widest range of listening environments. 

Digital Hearing Aids Contain:

  • A Microphone – The component responsible for picking up the sound.
  • An Amplifier – The component that makes the sound louder and clearer.
  • A Receiver – The “speaker” that creates the sound that you hear.
  • A Battery – The power source of your hearing aid. 

Is a Digital Hearing Aid Right for Me?

Oftentimes, people who are experiencing hearing issues rely on the internet to tell them whether or not they need hearing aids — as well as what type of hearing aid would be best for them. In reality, it is simply not that simple. Your auditory system is extremely complex, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for people who have hearing loss. Because of this, there are a few things that you should do before you buy a digital hearing aid. 

See Your General Physician

When it comes to hearing loss, the solution is not always the use of a hearing device like a digital hearing aid. Instead, the loss of hearing can sometimes be a correctable issue. Seeing your general care provider will help to rule out preventable hearing issues like earwax buildup or an ear infection. If they can’t diagnose a preventable issue, they may refer you to an audiologist for further testing.

Seek a Referral to a Reputable Audiologist 

The first thing that anyone should do when they notice changes in their ability to hear is to schedule an appointment with their local audiologist. If you live in the Detroit-area, we strongly suggest that you schedule an appointment with Dr. Seymour or Dr. Pinnock, here at Platinum Hearing Aids. In doing so, you can learn more about your unique hearing needs and what hearing device might be the best solution. 

Ask About a Trial Period

When you see your audiologist, here at Platinum Hearing Aids, it is important to ask if there is a trial period for digital hearing aids available. If they believe that digital hearing aids are right for you, they can refer you to reputable brands that have, or may not have a trial period. 

Plan for The Expense

While hearing aids are often a necessary hearing device for someone with hearing loss, they can also be rather expensive. Be sure to contact your audiologist to discuss the cost of digital hearing aids and other hearing devices. Your audiologist will be able to inform you of out-of-pocket costs, as well as what the cost of the hearing device might be after insurance. 

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

To answer your question — the best way to tell whether or not a digital hearing aid is the right hearing device for you is to consult your local Detroit audiologists at Platinum Hearing Aids. So what are you waiting for? Request an appointment with our experienced team today. 

Hearing Aids Detroit

Signs of Hearing Loss

More than half of the people over the age of 75 struggle with hearing loss. That being said, senior citizens aren’t the only ones that struggle with hearing loss. One in five Americans that are over the age of 12 will also struggle with hearing loss. And, according to the Hearing Health Foundation, more than 90% of children who are born with hearing loss will be born to parents with typical hearing.

While hearing loss is extremely common, it isn’t something that people are forced to live with. Over the years, there have been various solutions designed to help with hearing loss, one of the most common being hearing aids. 

Platinum Hearing Aids provides high-quality hearing aids to people of all ages within the Detroit area. In today’s blog post, we are going to go over a few of the signs that you want to keep an eye out for that are associated with hearing loss. If you do notice any of these signs in a loved one, make sure to schedule a hearing test with the team at Platinum Hearing Aids, and we would be more than happy to provide you with some further insight.

Difficulty Understanding Words

One of the first signs that people notice in their loved ones is an overall difficulty understanding and hearing words during a conversation. In many instances, this will first be noticed when conversations are taking place in a setting with quite a bit of background noise, but it will become all the more noticeable when there it has become difficult to understand others in even the quietest of settings.

Watching Mouths 

When individuals have a difficult time hearing what someone is saying, they often turn to watching the speaker’s lips rather than fight to listen. Lip reading is incredibly difficult at first, making the loss of hearing all the more frustrating. Even so, most people will resort to lip reading when they can’t hear, so if you notice that they’re more focused on your mouth while you’re talking, chances are it’s because they can’t hear you very well.

Loud Volume

Aside from struggling to hear during conversations, many individuals who are struggling with hearing loss will also turn the volume up on the devices that they’re using. From the TV to the radio, it’s extremely common for individuals struggling with hearing loss to hear at the standard volume level. So, what do they do? They turn it up! At times, individuals with hearing loss will watch TV so loud that other members of the household wind up with a headache. If that’s the case for your household, it’s definitely time to consider hearing aids for your loved one.

Muffled Speech

Changes in hearing are the first things that people think to look for, but that’s not the only thing that will change when there’s a decline in hearing. Another common area affected by a loss of hearing is speech. For many, speech becomes muffled when hearing starts to go, often because there’s a lack of confidence in what they’re saying because they can’t hear it back. 

Frustration in Social Situations

After reading all of the different early signs of hearing loss, you probably have a clear idea of why frustration would be something that most individuals would feel after a social event. Between struggling to follow a conversation, separating background noise from the words that someone is saying, and trying to read the lips of the speaker, it’s not surprising that someone hard of hearing is going to be exhausted. After a while, this frustration becomes more and more common, at which point it’s ideal timing to schedule a hearing test for a pair of hearing aids.

Trust the Team at Platinum Hearing Aids

A decline in hearing abilities looks different for everyone. While seniors are the most common age range that struggles with hearing ability, they’re certainly not the only ones that need to be aware of these signs. If you notice any of these signs with your child, your partner, your parents, or a friend that you care deeply about, consider bringing up that they are showing signs of a decline in hearing. More often than not, this will open up a conversation about the struggles that they’ve been having with their hearing.

In the case that a conversation does start about your loved ones hearing or you think a loved one could benefit from some hearing aids to help counter hearing loss, look no further than the team at Platinum Hearing Aids in Detroit. For years we have worked to provide people in the area with high-quality guidance and hearing aids so that they can enjoy the highest quality of life. Whether you’re interested in learning more about hearing aids or you’d like to get a hearing test scheduled, contact our office, and a member of our team will get you taken care of.