To help people in the Menlo Park and Los Altos communities recognize the value of investing in hearing aids, we’ve made a list of some of the benefits you can expect.
Hearing Conversations Despite Background Noise
The design of modern hearing aids focuses on enhancing conversation rather than background noise. One manufacturer made millions of recordings of sounds such as a refrigerator hum in a quiet room, the rush, and rumble of a subway, the crowds and clatter of a restaurant – samples from every sound environment they could think of.
They then took those recordings back to the lab and “taught” the hearing aid to distinguish the difference between speech characteristics and noise. The deep neural network they created allows for improved hearing in noise.
This resulted in one of the smartest hearing aids on the market…something you can’t find in over-the-counter or online hearing devices!
Hearing the Little Things
Since hearing loss tends to come slowly over a number of years, many people don’t realize they have stopped hearing the little sounds in life that mean so much to us.
Comforting sounds like songbirds singing, crickets chirping, and the wind blowing through the trees add quality to life. We remember a patient telling us how happy he was to hear the squirrels “barking” again!
Advanced Sound Processing Technology
Advanced hearing aids today are smarter than ever before. Hearing aid engineers are developing devices that give you better spatial awareness of sounds.
One long-time hearing aid user described it like this: “With my older hearing aids, everything sounded like it was right here in front of me. These new hearing aids make sound seems like they are where they are supposed to be.
For example, I hear that fan running, but I can tell it is over there. It doesn’t seem like it is in front of me anymore.” Another hearing aid wearer told us, “With my old hearing aids, I could hear the birds. That was great. But now, with these new hearing aids, I can tell where the birds are.”
Hearing aids are doing a better job of making sounds in the environment more “normal.” This results in more relaxed listening and less fatigue.
Discrete Wearing
Today’s hearing aids are tiny computers. It’s simply remarkable that engineers are able to pack so much technology into such a small package. Some users qualify for invisible-in-the-canal (IIC), completely-in-the-canal, or nearly invisible-in-the-canal (ITC) type hearing aids that provide incredible discretion. One of our favorite stories is when one of Dr. Baxter’s patients came home with his new hearing aids.
He didn’t tell his wife or daughter he was getting hearing aids that day. He simply came home and asked, “Do you notice anything different about me?” They tried to guess but couldn’t figure it out.
His wife even guessed, “You got hearing aids!” but when she looked at his ears didn’t see them! To be fair, we think everyone should get hearing aids that are fire-engine red or electric blue! But we get the fact that many people want their hearing aids to be discreet, and we can deliver on that.
Ongoing Hearing Care Support
The most important aspect of your hearing aid investment includes the ongoing hearing care support you receive from your audiologist and our amazing staff. In addition to maintenance and troubleshooting, your hearing care provider can provide in-office or remote assistance to optimize the performance of your hearing aid.
However, of greater importance is the time we spend understanding your specific needs so we can recommend the best hearing treatment plan for you.
Pacific Hearing Service Wants You to Get the Most Out of Your Investment
We know that hearing aids custom-designed for you, along with a customized hearing care plan, will change your life by reconnecting you with the sounds you want to hear. We think that’s a pretty good investment!
Contact us for more information. You may also schedule a tele-audiology consultation or an in-office appointment (following proper health and safety protocols) to learn more about hearing aid options.
For another look at how and why we do more than just provide hearing devices, see our interactive web page at https://pacifichearingservice.com/pacific-difference.html.
