Hearing loss may occur gradually or suddenly. Being familiar with the hidden signs of hearing loss is important for early detection and intervention.

A person is said to have hearing loss if their hearing abilities are less than those of someone with normal hearing, which is characterized by hearing thresholds of 20 dB or greater in both ears. This disorder, which can be mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, or profound, can affect one or both ears.

With time and exposure to loud noise, the nerve cells or microscopic hairs in the cochlea that carry sound signals to the brain may degrade. When fragile nerve endings are destroyed, electrical impulses cannot be transmitted effectively, which causes hearing loss.

When should you visit an audiologist and what are the five signs of hearing loss?

Ringing in the ears or tinnitus

It is estimated that one in five persons who have hearing loss also has tinnitus. This disorder, often known as ringing in the ears, happens when someone is exposed to extremely loud sounds (i.e gunshots, explosions).

Nearly 90% of people with tinnitus also experience hearing loss. The thing is, tinnitus frequently imitates the rhythm of your loss. If you have difficulty hearing high frequencies, your tinnitus could be perceived as a high-pitched ringing or buzzing.

If you encounter any strange hearing problems, seek medical treatment from an audiologist as tinnitus may be an early indicator of hearing loss or some underlying medical condition.

Muffled or distorted hearing

If anything as basic as congestion brought on by a common cold or an allergy is the cause of the muffled hearing, it may eventually go better on its own. However, you need to rule out more serious causes of muffled hearing, such as hearing loss, head injuries, or tumors.

Overproduction of ear wax is a typical contributor to hearing loss (cerumen). An obstruction in the ear canal can occasionally be caused by ear wax accumulation. The ear wax may harden and dry up over time, increasing the likelihood of impaction, which in turn could affect or impair your ability to hear.

Listening fatigue

Listening fatigue develops when your brain must concentrate to distinguish sounds from background noise before processing and transforming them into meaningful information. People who seem “tired of listening” are sometimes misunderstood to be obnoxious, disinterested, or insensitive.

When hearing loss is present, the brain has to perform harder than usual to compensate for the disability, which leads to stress and exhaustion.

Struggling to hear in mild-to-moderate background noise

If you have hearing loss, it could be more challenging to converse with others. If you have trouble hearing conversations in the presence of background noise, it’s possible that your ears have issues blocking out external sounds. Struggling to hear, especially in the presence of modest background noise, is frequently the first indicator of moderate hearing loss or auditory processing disorder (APD).

Less enthusiasm for social activities

Humans who have hearing loss are more likely to experience social isolation. People frequently opt to detach and isolate themselves rather than engage in social, professional, or business contexts where interaction is necessary when hearing becomes problematic. Hearing loss can cause psychological and social issues that affect one’s feelings and society if it is not remedied.

Many of life’s most cherished experiences, such as hearing a loved one’s voice or laughter, engaging in meaningful discussions with family and friends, admiring the sounds of nature, or watching your preferred TV shows or sporting events, can be challenging to enjoy and participate in if you have hearing loss.

Experiencing signs of hearing loss?

Get your hearing tested!

If you believe that you or a loved one is exhibiting early signs of hearing loss, make sure to schedule an appointment with an audiologist to get your hearing tested. RK Audiology offers comprehensive hearing testing in Austin, TX, and nearby communities.

Got more questions about hearing loss? Ask an audiologist today!

There’s a common misconception that prescription hearing aids are expensive. This leads people to consider cheap hearing aids to solve their hearing problems. The question is, are cheap hearing aids worth buying?

Are hearing aids that are less expensive any good? A large number of customers are enticed to test out hearing aids due to the low cost of these devices, which can be found on the internet.  Many reputable hearing aid manufacturers offer models at reasonable prices without sacrificing the quality of the products themselves. This is done in order to attract a larger customer base.

What do you need from a hearing aid?

Before purchasing a hearing aid, you need to give some thought to the functions that you value the most in such a device and take those into consideration.  need a more sophisticated device that comes with a variety of features such as automatic noise filters, directional microphones, etc.?

If you have a clear idea of what features you need from a hearing aid, the process of weighing the various options that are available to you will be much less confusing.

There is no guarantee that cheap hearing aids will fix the problems with your hearing, so don’t waste your money on them. Consider it in this light: in order to address a patient’s unique hearing loss, a hearing aid needs to be programmed and fitted by an audiologist. An audiologist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats hearing loss. Buying a cheap pair of hearing aids without getting a hearing test or without seeing an audiologist is expected to yield unsatisfactory results.

Most of the cheap hearing aids available online are merely amplifiers disguised as hearing aids. Yes, they provide amplification but addressing hearing loss is not all about simple amplification. For a hearing aid to work properly, proper programming, fitting, and adjustments are needed and should be performed by an audiologist or hearing care professional.

Getting what you paid for

If you get cheap hearing aids online, you should anticipate receiving far less than what you spent. This is due to the fact that cheap hearing aids are often made in bulk batches without following quality standards. As a result, cheap hearing aids are greatly de-featured and offer zero to little hearing improvement.

Why you should invest in a good pair of hearing aids

Hearing aids that are accessible only with a prescription from an audiologist offer a wider number of advantages and features than less expensive hearing aids. Hearing aids come with a better level of after-sale service, warranty, and support.

If you want to experience the most significant enhancement in your hearing and get the most out of your money, you should opt for a hearing aid that was created by a recognized manufacturer. If you look at the long-term benefits, investing in hearing aids from a reputable brand is better than buying cheap hearing aids that could make your hearing worse.

Audiologists at RK Audiology are ready to assist you in selecting a hearing aid that is tailored specifically to meet your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Bottomline

In conclusion, it’s best to consider the features and functionality of a hearing aid aside from its price. Don’t be tempted to purchase a hearing aid just because of its insanely low price and aggressive marketing ploys.

Most cheap hearing aids lack the essential functions that prescription hearing aids offer. Hearing aids that can be acquired online for a low price generally lack proper fitting and evaluation, both of which play a significant part in the success of hearing aids.

At RK Audiology, we will make sure that your hearing aid is correctly suited to your ear, snugly fit, and all set to meet your unique hearing needs. We offer numerous models of hearing aids in store, sourced from the most reputable manufacturers in the business so that we can offer you access to a greater selection of hearing aid solutions to meet your needs.

Curious about the latest hearing aid technology? Ask an audiologist for insights.

Hearing aids play an important role in helping a person with hearing loss function better in every aspect of life. As a popular choice of hearing solution, hearing aids can be considered an investment. The price range of hearing aids varies depending on the brand, material, technology, power, etc., but one thing is for sure – you need to make an effort to ensure that your hearing aids will last.

In this blog post, we’ll share with you various factors that affect the lifespan of your hearing aids as well as tips on how you can take good care of these compact, highly-intelligent, delicate devices.

Proper Cleaning and Maintenance

Since hearing aids get in contact with skin and the inner parts of the ear, it is susceptible to moisture, sweat, dirt, etc.

Proper cleaning and maintenance of hearing aids will significantly help extend their life span. Clean your hearing aids before going to bed by wiping off any visible dirt with a soft, dry cloth.

Air-dry hearing aids after cleaning. The #1 enemy of hearing aids is moisture. It’s a big help to let hearing aids air dry for several hours (preferably throughout the night) and have the battery compartment open (if applicable).

If you see dirt or moisture build-up on parts of your hearing aid that you cannot seem to reach, bring your hearing aids to your hearing care provider for professional cleaning and maintenance.

Proper Handling and Usage

Hearing aids are subjected to wear and tear every day. Practicing proper handling and storage when the hearing aids are not in use can help determine how long your hearing aids will last.

When not in use, keep your hearing aids in a safe and dry place. Most hearing aids come with their own protective case (some may double as a charging case). Protective cases of hearing aids are designed to protect them from sudden impact or moisture. Some hearing aid cases also come with a built-in dehumidifier to ensure that any residual moisture will be gone.

Avoid putting hearing aids inside a pocket, pouch, or bag that may put these tiny gadgets in jeopardy of getting squished or broken.

Avoid dropping hearing aids at all costs. If possible, put on your hearing aids while sitting down so that in case you drop them, the distance from the floor will not put so much impact on the device.

Regularly change batteries

This is applicable to hearing aids that are powered by disposable batteries. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to how long one set of batteries can be used.

Avoid using old batteries on your device to prevent sub-par performance. Make sure to put in the right battery size with the right voltage to avoid any detrimental effects.

Professional hearing aid repair and service

If you notice that your hearing aid is not working as it should, bringing it in for a professional checkup might be in order. Audiologists are trained and knowledgeable in checking hearing aids to accurately diagnose what could possibly be wrong with the hearing aid.

If you cannot seem to address the issue through basic troubleshooting, don’t attempt to fix it on your own. You must absolutely not tinker with the device, to the point of opening its screws, crevices, etc.

You might put your hearing device’s warranty at risk if you tinker with the hearing aid, so it’s best that you bring it to your hearing care provider for proper care, repair, and/or maintenance

Hearing Aid Maintenance and Repair | Austin, TX

RK audiology offers professional hearing aid maintenance and repair services in Austin, TX.

Contact us today to know more about our audiology services!

Got more questions about hearing aids? Ask an audiologist for expert advice!

Hidden hearing loss gains more attention day by day. However, most people have never heard of it. How does this curious condition work? And how does it change how we think about hearing?

How does hidden hearing loss differ from traditional hearing loss?

When we think of hearing loss, we’re often thinking of a loss of sound. If you’ve ever observed or taken part in a traditional audiogram, you know the test involves playing sounds at various pitches and volumes. The test subject must then indicate which sounds they heard by raising their hand or pushing a button.

The type of hearing loss revealed by this test happens because of damage to hairlike cells in the inner ear, aptly named hair cells or stereocilia. Here is how those cells come into play:

1. Sound waves enter the ear canal—the outer ear—and vibrate the eardrum.
2. In the middle ear, the eardrum creates a chain of vibration through three bones—commonly referred to as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup (or malleus, incus, and stapes)—that then passes into the inner ear, to the snail-shaped cochlea.
3. These vibrations enter the fluid-filled cochlea, where different frequencies determine which part of the cochlea the fluid vibrates.
4. The vibrations cause waves in the fluid, which move hair cells lining the cochlea, creating signals that travel through the auditory nerve and into the auditory centers of the brain.

If those cells are damaged, you lose hearing at a certain volume or perhaps just certain pitches, e.g, low tones or higher tones.

With hidden hearing loss, however, it is not the hair cells that are damaged, but cells in the brain itself. Imagine that you are trying to figure out a problem with your computer. After some tinkering, you discover that the fan isn’t working properly, or perhaps some wires have come loose. These are hardware issues, and damage to the outer, middle, or inner ear (where the hair cells are) works much the same way. However, your problem may be related to software. If something has damaged a piece of software on your hard drive, you may lose pieces of the data for that software, and that’s what is happening with hidden hearing loss.

An analysis of music shows that different parts of the brain light up for different aspects of music besides just tone and pitch, such as rhythm, memory, and emotion. Likewise, synapses—cells that bring information to different parts of the brain—are vital to the hearing process. If these synapses become damaged, the information often comes through incomplete, garbling the message.

Ultimately, this means a person might have no problem understanding someone during a conversation in a quiet room, but may struggle to hear in a noisy environment, such as a stadium full of a roaring crowd or even a busy restaurant.

Do I have hidden hearing loss? What can I do about it?

Since the term hidden hearing loss has only been around since 2009, and few people visit audiologists, it is very difficult to know how many people this condition affects. To complicate matters, testing for this kind of loss is still in the early stages. The Associated Press (AP) created a test in 2017; however, this is not a scientifically backed medical tool. Rather, this test provides an interesting look into how background noise affects hearing.

The test itself is a simple audio clip. It starts out with no background noise while a male voice comes on at intervals, telling the listener to repeat the sentences he says. “White” background noise is then introduced and increases every couple of phrases.

At first, the background noise sounds much like the inside of a car as it travels down a highway: soft, muted, and hazy; more an impression of noise than anything else. As the background noise increases, these impressions continue, resembling different environments or types of white noise: television static, rain, and others come to mind.

One assumes that with each increase, it will become more and more difficult to understand the phrases. However, response to the clip showed that people often missed phrases at random intervals—for example, missing one closer to the beginning and then having no trouble until later. This implies that hidden hearing loss is not a linear progression, and damage to these synapses affects very specific parts of the brain while not affecting others. This means testing will have to look for different criteria than traditional hearing tests.

It may be a while before we have effective tests for diagnosing this type of hearing loss, but you can still start managing this issue. Researchers are looking into treatments and you can do your own interventions, such as asking your conversation partners to talk slower (rather than louder), being strategic about where you sit in noisy environments, or getting set up with one of the many new technologies that incorporate background noise canceling and other methods.

Worried about your hearing? Ask an audiologist for a professional opinion.

Your audiologist can help you figure out the best interventions to manage your hearing loss and prevent it from getting worse. Schedule an appointment today!

Ear wax removal is an important part of hearing health, and here at RK Audiology, we’re stepping up our game with the new EarigatorTM from Nupurtech. This new piece of technology is easy to use, and a safer, more comfortable way to clean ears. Clients have even referred to it as an “ear spa.” Here’s a quick breakdown of this new technique.

How the EarigatorTM works

The EarigatorTM nozzle flushes body temperature water into the ear, dislodging impacted cerumen (earwax) that can cause hearing difficulties. The catch basin is shaped to fit snugly under the ear, preventing the removed earwax from getting on clients’ clothes, hair, or body. In addition, a smock is worn by the client during the procedure, which takes as little as five minutes.

Why the EarigatorTM is so effective at earwax removal

The EarigatorTM is part otoscope, part irrigator, allowing your audiologist a more accurate view as they are cleaning your ears. This is also helped by the LED light and magnifying glass attached directly to the nozzle.

The nozzle spray itself can be adjusted for both temperature and pressure, allowing the most comfortable experience for you, the client. It is made more comfortable by its simple and thoughtful design: a trigger nozzle to help the audiologist control the pressure more easily, a shield to reduce splashback, and a well-designed catch basin. These small, simple features make this the safest and most effective earwax removal technology available.

It’s so effective, it’s even used in emergency rooms.

Our new earwax removal procedure

At RK Audiology, we are always looking for the safest and most effective ways to serve our clients. The EarigatorTM has allowed us to create a more streamlined procedure that will continue to keep you safe and comfortable. We love feedback from our clients on how we can improve our services, so let us know what you think!

1. As always, we start with a sterile environment, following the latest CDC guidelines. 
2. We begin by reviewing your ear health history with you – including discussing any history of pain or discomfort, and/or any previous ear surgeries. This is the perfect time to ask questions. 
3. We use video otoscopy to view your ear canals and eardrums. With our large monitor, you will see what we see during your ear cleaning appointment. 
4. The water is pre-prepped to a comfortable temperature.
5. We have you wear a smock and the water basin is placed in position under the ear to be cleaned.
6. The audiologist will check water temperature and begin the procedure, cleaning one ear at a time.
7. Once the procedure is complete, the audiologist will dry your ears and view both ears again using the video otoscope, giving you and the audiologist a ‘before’ and ‘after’ view.

Check out our brand new page for ear cleaning. You can make an appointment to get your ears cleaned with this brand new tool by taking our Online Hearing Test and then scheduling an appointment today.