COVID-19 and Hearing Health

 During this challenging time we're in, hearing health is also experiencing difficulty with muffled voices behind mask wearing.

It seems like every business and health issue is under new restrictions since the Coronaviris hit us this year. 2020 has become the most difficult year for people who have a hard time hearing conversations - especially in noise.

Hearing Health has been hit harder than most other ailments since people are wearing masks which muffles their voice; this makes hearing loss patients struggle since most of their hearing aids were not programmed for muffled voices behind masks.

Since this is a problem with so many patients, we have implemented plans to give a little more boost in the voice range to offset this new hearing challenge. Of course it must be noted how low-level hearing aids (usually costing $3,000.00 or less) cannot handle our custom "voice boost" since they are not capable of advanced programming for this new problem.

But all the mid-level to top-of-the-line hearing aids have much better features (you still get what you pay for) to handle voice boosting for extra muffled sound behind the masks. This goes for social distancing too since it's obvious how a distant voice is harder to hear than a close up conversation.

In our office, we have designed this approach to be permanent or temporary since no one knows when this virus will subside enough to eliminate this new hearing challenge. Our custom programming software is designed to save every programming appointment so we can go back in time to upload a patient's former settings or even set it to something in between. So we can go back to pre-COVID programming at any time.

Feel free to call us if you'd like to set an appointment for this great remedy to today's muffled voice problem. If you have purchased your hearing aids from us directly, there is no charge for this custom service.

Common Questions about Hearing Aids

Got Hearing Aid Questions?

There are so many questions about the vast hearing aid market - especially - Which hearing aid is best for me? And what's the best price for Hearing Aids? We just uploaded many answers to those common questions on our website. If you don’t see the answers your looking for, please call or email us.

For these answers, click here:
CrystalClearHearingAids.com

Hearing Better in Noise Lately?

Since most people had still struggled to understand speech in noise, we went to Florida (and soon to Las Vegas) to learn more about new technology to hear better in noise:

While we're not "Vegas people" per say, or normally gravitate to the heat in Florida, one of the perks of owning a professional medical office is having our Hearing Aid manufacturers regularly send us all over the country (all expenses paid) to learn about the latest and greatest in Hearing Aid Technologies.

We recently enjoyed a 5-Star resort in Florida and a great side-trip-tour to the Everglades. Our next destination is Las Vegas for Sept/2019. (Of course we can't resist a show to see The Blue Man Group since were already there).

On this next trip (after a nice swim at the resort pool) we will be focusing on the advances of rechargeable Hearing Aids and new exciting developments on Hearing better in noise, which has been an ongoing struggle with many hearing loss patients.

Recently, hearing aids have finally become better at separating noise from speech in busy restaurants etc. Previous hearing aids have had some level of noise reduction, but not enough intelligent noise reduction without impairing the sound of the person talking with you, while in those environments. Thus, they did take down a little noise, but they also made the person speaking with you sound a bit muddy; like they were under water.

The key to noise reduction (and this takes incredible processing) is to reduce noise without reducing the person's voice who's speaking with you.

As mentioned earlier, most hearing aids have not been doing a good job at this demanding task; the top manufacturers like ReSound have been getting our past concerns, and thus spending millions on figuring out just how to make a hearing aid so smart, that is "knows" the difference between noise and the human voice. And not just a any human voice, but the voice that is speaking with you.

It's very difficult for a Hearing Aid processor to actually take out the distant human voices of those who are not speaking with you, while retaining the voice of those who are talking with you. After all, those distant voices are a large part of the noise that's hindering your understanding of speech.

One of the many things that impressed me as a professional audio engineer of 35 years, was this new ability of the ReSound Linx Quattro series to record the actual noise environment that you enter, analyze it, and then reduce it so you can understand the companions who are speaking to you.

So this new advancement is not just analyzing any noise, but the actual noise you are presently in. This is huge since environmental noise can vary from one place to another. So thanks to this modern technique, you can now have the actual noise you would had been struggling with be reduced as you enter into it; and at the same time, have your companion's voice enhanced for ease of understanding their words.

So when you hear of someone complaining that their hearing aids amplify all the noise and voices together (making it very hard to understand words) now you can tell them there is new technology that has transformed the way people comprehend speech in noisy areas.

This new "wow" factor has taken our hearing aids to a whole new level of listening enjoyment and speech understanding...

We look forward to the next learning experience as part of our commitment to help people hear better in noise!

My Head Aches and I'm Stressed out!

Two Ways to Potentially Rid Headaches & Stress

Of course having your vision checked to reduce headaches is something most people already know. But what about your ears? Can hearing loss and/or ringing in your ears cause fatigue and headaches? The short answer is yes, according professional medical experts.

One patient of a local hearing health clinic owned and operated a recording studio for over thirty years; mixing loud music on a day-to-day basis took it’s toll and caused a mild hearing loss and significant tinnitus.

Loud sounds can cause hearing loss and tinnitus: So can certain medications, accidents (especially head trauma) and of course aging can cause hearing problems. If you’re curious as to which medications that can cause hearing loss, you can Google “medications that can cause hearing loss”.

So if you get a little blurry vision, you make an appointment for an optometrist; If your not hearing well, you should also have your ears checked since your hearing health is just as important to wellness as your eyes. And according to a John Hopkins study, hearing loss can actually cause more significant health issues than vision loss.

Most doctors do not address three important aspects of you daily health: Eyes, teeth and hearing. That’s because most medical offices do not have adequate eye, dental and hearing test equipment nor the licensed staff to conduct those tests. This is why you should regularly see an optometrist, a dentist and a hearing health professional. Each of these offices specialize in improving your overall health in those respective areas.

Most persons don’t know that hearing loss (even a mild ones) can cause significant “straining” to hear people talk. They are also likely to exert some effort just to hear the T.V. and speech in noisy environments like restaurants, churches and social gatherings. Any strain on the body can cause unnecessary fatigue and in some persons that fatigue and strain can cause headaches and stress: most medical experts agree how these factors usually cause more illnesses.

There’s a deeper issue with Hearing Loss that affects your brain too. Since your brain does the actual hearing and understanding, when you have hearing loss, you’re starving your memory because your hearing and your memory are directly tied together.

To prove this point, most people with hearing loss are struggling to fully understand their favorite movies and T.V. shows. They get half way into the show and don’t understand why a certain character is acting up or why a certain event just took place - it’s because in the beginning of every show there are clues and things that set up the plot and if you’re not hearing well, you are not going to understand that plot. Thus, the hearing loss person is asking their loved ones to explain things in the movie they are watching.

Any constant strain on the body or especially missed information is not good for one’s health.

Treating hearing loss will also alleviate frustration in communicating with others; Especially loved ones. One way to detect hearing loss is when people are constantly having to repeat themselves or when a person has to turn the T.V. up to loud levels. Another common miscommunication is a loved one may state “I’m going shopping at the store” and the hearing loss person will reply: “Why are you mopping the floor?”
Hearing loss causing social and physical problems have been a major subject of study by doctors and researchers for decades. As mentioned in a previous article, some forms of Dementia have been clinically proven to be linked to hearing loss, according to a John Hopkins University study; readers can Google the search words “Hearing loss and dementia” to learn more about the extensive study; the study claims that untreated hearing loss can bring a five times greater chance of developing dementia compared to those with no hearing loss.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“One out of every four older Americans has undetected or untreated hearing loss. Older adults with hearing loss don’t realize how much the quality of their lives has been affected,” said Jim Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. “As someone with significant hearing loss, I can personally attest to how the right hearing aids have dramatically improved my ability to work and play, my relationships with family and friends, and my self-esteem.  We encourage all adults and their families to take a hearing test and find out what they’ve been missing.”

A 1999 NCOA survey on hearing loss and older adults found that when people began to treat their hearing loss, many saw improvements in their lives, including their family relationships (66%), mental health (36%), sense of independence (34%), social life (34%), and even sex life (8%).

Read more at: http://www.ncoa.org/improve-health/community-education/hearing-loss-its-a-family.html

Can a Hearing Aid be too small?

Many individuals insist on wearing the smallest hearing aid they can get, but will that really benefit their entire hearing experience?

If a person has a mild to moderate hearing loss than the answer is probably yes; probably is used here because only a licensed/qualified hearing care professional can answer that question properly after a hearing test and evaluation has been completed.

If someone's hearing loss is more significant than mild to moderate, then the answer is more than likely no, but again, this answer can only be addressed after a hearing test. There is still a possibility (but lessor of one) that the new small and discrete hearing aids may address all of a person's needs even if they have a more significant hearing loss.

Today, small and discrete means CIC, which stands for Completely in the Canal, so the hearing aid is totally invisible, unless someone was to get close and peak inside your ear canal.

Fortunately, at Crystal Clear Hearing Aids, our hearing tests and evaluations are free of charge and we can give expert advice if these tiny marvels of technology are right for you or not.

Even if they are not right for you, there are new generations of Hearing Aids that are almost completely invisible, that will suit any hearing loss as long as there is some hearing left in your test results. The above photo is called a RIC (Receiver in the Canal) which has a lot more power and capability than it's mini counterpart.

I wear this style of hearing aid and even when I see an old friend that I haven't seen in awhile, they don't see my hearing aids; I have to tell them I'm wearing them...I always get the same reaction: "Wow! I didn't even see them. I had no idea you were wearing hearing aids."

If you're considering small discrete hearing aids like the one's in the first photo above, it's important to know the basic rule of hearing loss and hearing aids. A significant loss requires more power and though tiny hearing aids have a lot more power these days, they may lack some of the volume boost for your loss and lifestyle, and they also may not have some of the very cool features that are found in the RIC style: such as blue tooth streaming of your phone calls into both of your hearing aids. The tiny one's are also not rechargeable since there is not enough room to squeeze a rechargeable battery system into the little space. Only the RIC style comes standard in the rechargeable feature (at our office) which makes it nice to say, bye, bye batteries.

The best way to know what's best for you is to call and schedule a free appointment to get a professional opinion and an in-office demonstration to actually see just how small and discrete the new hearing aids are; regardless of the size and style.



David Longeuay is a hearing aid wearer and was a full time audio engineer from 1980 until he opened up Crystal Clear Hearing Aids in 2016. He and his wife Sheri (also a hearing aid wearer) now have two offices: one in Anaheim and one in Lake Arrowhead, Ca.

Only one Hearing Aid?

It makes sense to save a bundle by just getting one hearing aid instead of two...Right?

"No, you need two hearing aids to balance yourself out"

 Actually, if you have hearing loss in both ears, than treating just one side will do you a huge disservice. It's a bit like walking with one shoe on and the other barefoot - we all know what will happen: you will soon experience hip and back problems and you could even fall over when taking stairs or uneven ground.

Treating just one ear does similar potential damage to your brain; after all, we hear with our brains. Our ears are only the conduit to deliver sound to the auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain that processes sound.

Our amazing bodies were designed symmetrically. The body likes two equal eyes, two equal sized legs etc. Our brain is so accustomed to even-sided organs, that even the slightest disruption can cause not only fatigue, but also an onset of potential health problems. Especially balance problems! That's why the elderly fall often - many of them have untreated hearing loss or treated it too late in life.

Another perfect example would be having just one eye glass - of course no optometrist would ever suggest it since they too know how the body needs equality on both sides. And if you had only one, imaging the headaches you'd get!

We Hear with our Brain

 I've even noticed this with Tinnitus. (Ringing in your ears). A few patients have come to my office with ringing in only one ear; or at least it seemed that way. However, in many cases, one hearing aid in that affected ear was not completely effective. That's because up to 80% of sound travels from one ear to the opposite side of their brain - so sound coming from your left ear routes most of the information to the right side of the auditory cortex. There is a massive and complex cross-network in your brain's hearing and that helps localize sound from all directions.

Speaking of that annoying ringing or buzzing in your brain:

Millions suffer from Ringing in the ears, known as Tinnitus

So far, we have found only one way to treat that annoying Ringing in Your Ears, otherwise known as Tinnitus.

Since Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss (even mild loss like what I have) the top Hearing Aid manufacturers like ReSound have developed a highly sophisticated masking technique found only in hearing aids. So while treating your hearing loss (of any degree) we also have an 80% effective success rate to get rid of (or at least reduce) Tinnitus.

For me, this removed more than half of my daily fatigue and I have far less headaches than ever before.

It all starts with your hearing test, known as an audiogram; our intelligent Hearing Aid software takes your hearing loss information and uses a special pleasant white noise (like a nice ocean noise) to feed just the right information, which basically tells your brain to stop ringing. You should see the faces of our patients who have responded favorably to this amazing treatment! What a relief is an understatement!

Visit our website for more information: www.crystalclearhearingaids.com

Four Major Health Benefits

When it comes to treating hearing loss, many people opt out because they are not aware of the major health risks associated with untreated hearing loss.

Of course they are expensive; but when you compare the cost of hearing aids (which can run from a few thousand up to six thousand) to that of your cell phone cost over the next seven to ten years, then a cell phone is actually more expensive and they certainly don't offer the same health benefits.

And if treating your hearing loss with hearing aids prevented (or a least delayed) or reduced the health risks listed above, then the costs is more than justified.

Many of the patients who come to our office were driven by loved ones who seem to see (or hear) more clearly than the hearing loss recipient on how hearing aids can help the person they interact with on a regular basis.

It's nice how the medical community and insurance companies are so much more proactive on screening for diabetes, heart disease, mammograms... So now it's time to also become more aware of the potential dangers of untreated hearing loss and do something about it.

Hearing loss & the brain

Ever notice how some adults get distracted or tired easily? It may have to do with changes in their brains that are related to hearing loss. Here's a peek inside the brain of someone with hearing loss.

How does hearing affect the brain in the first place?

First we should look at how the brain processes sound in adults. Researchers have studied and continue to study how and where sounds are processed and perceived by the brain. They've found that there's a link between hearing and cognition-the brain's process of perceiving and understanding.

Thanks to magnetic imaging, scientists are able to watch the brain and see how it activates in response to certain sounds. They've discovered that we don't hear with just one part of our brain. The process of hearing also stimulates other brain areas.

For example, when a researcher said a simple word, it activated the auditory cortex. The auditory cortex was where that word was technically heard. But a few other areas of the brain also lit up in the cerebral cortex. Those areas were where that word was understood, perceived  or cognitively connected.

Scientists believe there's a dual-track association between hearing and cognition. Sound activates the auditory cortex, the cerebral cortex and cognitive processes influence how we hear.

We rely on cognitive elements of the brain, like working memory and life experiences, to understand a conversation in a noisy place. Surprisingly, only 10% of understanding speech in a noisy environment is by the actual hearing capacity.

So what happens to the brain when hearing is impaired?

Because there is a decline in sound stimuli and sensory deprivation, hearing loss can lead to  structural and functional changes in the brain. There can be reduced connectivity, brain signal decline, deterioration of the auditory cortex (which is the part of the brain that hears) and a reduction in overall brain volume. These structural and functional changes can affect the brain's capacity to process and perceive sounds and may contribute to cognitive decline.

The brain is forced to compensate for these losses by activating alternative circuits. It enlists accessory neuron networks and that means increased cognitive effort is needed to weed out irrelevant sounds, like background noise, and more concentration is needed for hearing.

A high cognitive effort reduces the amount of brain resources available to process everything else. So things like concentration, memory and planning may be affected. It's easier to get distracted. And constantly decoding and processing sounds can take up a lot of mental resources and can be tiring.

How can this type of cognitive decline be prevented?

Treatment of hearing loss can help keep the brain functioning at an ideal level and can contribute to a good quality of life. There are many hearing solutions and are they are highly effective. In fact, 95% of people with hearing loss can be helped by hearing aids.

It's important to identify and treat hearing loss early. The longer treatment is neglected, the more challenging it can be for the brain to relearn and repair itself. Like physical therapy after a surgery, consistent use of hearing aids is essential in a successful treatment plan.

Certain portions of this article were taken from a blog at Amplifon

Preventing Painful Accidents—I Didn’t hear it coming!

“I was walking in a parking lot, didn’t hear a car backing up and it missed me by inches.”

Many people would argue the fact that hearing aids are not that important for mild to moderate hearing loss until they realize hearing loss can put a person at high risk of nearly being hit by a car, not heeding the warning from a person behind them, not hearing their window at home being opened by a burglar and many other life-threats that good hearing warns us about.

I have also had several patient’s who had balance issues and have taken terrible falls until they began wearing hearing aids. After all, our balance which is located in the ‘semicircular canals’ is connected right next to our cochlea, which is our main organ that distinguishes sounds and distributes them to the brain. (We really hear with our brain…the ears just “transmit” sound to the brain).


I have mentioned to many people the fact that if correcting their hearing deficiencies could prevent even one fall and prevent a hospital visit, the price of a hearing aid would seem much smaller; especially if it would save a broken bone or hip replacement in the future.


It’s not that treating hearing loss with hearing aids will guarantee normal balance and always prevent falls, but they have been added to the long list of health benefits like better balance; and  the very common onset of dementia…persons who don’t treat their hearing loss have a five times greater chance of developing dementia and cognitive decline along with other health issues; like the annoying ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) that has proven to diminish healthy and enjoyable living.

Personally, wearing hearing aids have reduced my overall tension and fatigue by more than seventy percent. Since wearing hearing aids allows us to hear details and sentences without straining, there’s much less stress from people being upset with us for having to repeat themselves…and your brain will be under a lot less strain throughout the day since you won't have to lean in and squint your eyes to read people's lips.

Now that I enjoy stress-free hearing, I have been able to get up earlier in the morning and stay up later at night; and I rarely get tension-headaches anymore. I can also engage in conversations at family gatherings and restaurants without nodding my head in agreement, when I really didn’t hear what they were saying.

We don’t think of the dangers that can rise from hearing loss until we or someone we know has a bad experience related to it.  From Dementia to almost being hit by a car, to frustrated loved ones that are tired of us blasting the T.V., hearing loss can cause havoc in our lives; especially with loved ones who have to constantly share the burden.

And the old stigma of bulky/ugly hearing aids are over! So are the batteries! The new hearing aids are not only smaller, smarter, deliver more natural sound like a human ear, but they are now rechargeable. Just plug them in like a cell phone at bedtime and the charge lasts all day and into the night.

Today’s modern hearing aids are so beyond the old negative reputation they had, they now live up to the expectations that modern digital devices feature. So much so that we’re certain you’ve seen dozens of people in public and on T.V. shows who wear hearing aids without noticing them, and without realizing they have significant hearing losses. No one knows I’m wearing them until I point them out.

BLUETOOTH has also entered into the modern hearing aid, so you can stream just about anything to them: Your T.V., Smartphone, Music and more! No more cranking up the television that was annoying your loved ones. Your family and friends can listen to the T.V. at their preferred volume and you have your own separate volume streaming right into your hearing aids. Phone calls are streamed into your hearing aids for hands-free conversations and music has never sounded so good!

Hearing Loss and Dementia: Are you at Risk?

Click here to read a larger poster of this article.

Can hearing aids help decrease the risk of developing dementia, alzheimers, memory loss and cognitive decline?

Yes. While there's no guarantee hearing aids will prevent mental health issues, treating hearing loss with professionally recommended hearing aids can significantly reduce your risk of these and other health problems.

We know eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise reduces all sorts of potential health risks; Treating your eyes usually reduces headaches and unnecessary stress; and now it's time people realize the importance of also treating their hearing loss to complete their healthy lifestyles because your ears are just as important as your other critical organs.

But more than that, I can personally testify how my hearing aids have reduced a lot of stress, since I no longer have to strain to hear things...it was similar to the strain my eyes endured before I finally broke down and purchased my first set of reading glasses. 

Many of my patients have thanked me for the same type of relief after their two-week hearing aid check up. My father-in-law no longer walks with his cane since hearing aids helped his balance issues.

Since opening our office in Anaheim Hills, we have become more dedicated to not only helping people hear better, but to also inform them of many 'hidden' health risks. Learn more on our website: CrystalClearHearingAids.com

NEW rechargeable Hearing Aids are here!

My first question was, how do they sound? It's nice that we can do away with batteries, but that would be pointless unless they sound good. And what about charge time? I only have to charge my cell phone once a day...how long can a small hearing aid charge actually last? And finally, what if I'm camping, out of town and forget my charger or flying on a plane for an extended time? Do I have to loose my hearing ability until I get to my charger? And then wait until it charges up?

To my surprise, the new rechargeables sounded many times better than their battery counterparts! And being a professional audio engineer for over 35 years (owning and operating a recording studio) I'm hard to please with audio and I have a very particular opinion about sound quality.

Evidently, Uniton made a wise decision to perform several new feats of technological advancements when they released their new Moxi Fit R. (R for rechargeable of course).

First, they greatly improved the sound by upgrading the chip. (The chip processes the sound and has everything to do with the quality of hearing). I was astonished when I heard the new Moxi Fit R's since I'm a hearing aid wearer and I've tried many of the top brand premium hearing aids for myself. The Moxi Fit R's sounded more natural, clearer and much smoother than anything I've ever heard.

They still have the life-saving tinnitus masker, which eliminates the annoying ringing in my ears; that was developed from years of mixing loud music for my recording studio clients. (I think seeing Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and dozens of other loud rock concerts didn't help either).

The next bonus was the charging time. They stay charged all day and into the night, so I just plug them in right next to my cell phone for charging once a day!

But there's another really cool feature: these tiny marvels of technology actually take batteries too! That surprised me since almost nothing that's rechargeable can also independently take standard (hearing aid) batteries.

Other rechargeable brands have lost the edge by being too large (to hold the recharging electronics) and I haven't seen any others that can additionally take standard batteries either. Unitron advertises they are the smallest rechargeable hearing aids in the world and that's important to everyone. Every time I show my hearing aids to a potential patient, they are quite surprised that I was even wearing them. I always get a kick out of speaking with them for at least five to ten minutes before I show them off...that way they know first hand how these nearly-invisible hearing aids are usually only detectable if you tell someone you have them on.

Uniton has certainly created a game-changer in the hearing aid industry by developing a great sounding hearing aid, easy recharging ability and all the other features such as optional T.V. & smart phone streaming and lots more.

Click here for a FREE week trial: www.crystalclearhearingaids.com

Is Hearing Loss Common with all ages?

What is Poor Word Recognition?

David and Sheri Longeuay have treated people from five years of age, all the way to one hundred; and they wanted share some of their interesting experiences with helping people hear better.

In some cases, children who have numerous ear infections can develop hearing loss. If that’s your child or a child you know, it would be very prudent to visit an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor) to make sure the child does not inherit permanent hearing loss.

Our oldest child had ear infections several times per year, says David, and we opted to have small PE tubes (called Myringotomy) in her ears to drain the accumulating fluid in her middle ears. That ended her problems and now that she’s an adult, she has perfect hearing.

In other cases, we have had young adults who either had similar ear infection issues as children or they had developed hearing loss from a medical problem or excessive noise exposure.

Of course we all know our younger generation are really pushing the envelop with headphones, loud concerts and loud hobbies like motorcycles and off-road vehicles; If their hearing seems impaired, they should have a hearing test to determine if there is a diminishing problem so they can alter their hobbies to protect further harm to their hearing.

Some people have told us: “First of all, I don’t hear that bad unless I’m in a noisy place or in front of a T.V.”

But in reality, when you speak with their loved ones or friends, you find they have their T.V. too loud and they frequently ask people to repeat themselves; their reasons for avoiding treatment for hearing loss are numerous.

Some people dread the idea of someone noticing they have a Hearing Aid on until they see how near-invisible they are:



Hearing Loss is far more noticeable
than wearing a Hearing Aid...Huh? What? Can you repeat that? These responses let people know you have hearing loss without doing anything about it.

Some people have had a hearing loss for so long that they don’t realize just how bad it really is and they begin to develop what’s called Poor Word Recognition.

One of our patient’s stated: ‘I didn’t realize how obvious my hearing loss was until several co-workers asked me if I had my hearing checked lately; Then my boss insisted I get them checked, due to a few customer complaints about me ignoring them...Ouch!’

Another patient stated: ‘I thought my husband was developing a mumbling problem. When he asked me to have my ears checked, I told him I’m only forty one! I’m too young to have a hearing loss’.

One person told us: ‘I began to realize that every person around me couldn’t be developing a mumbling problem. How could I hear life’s sounds, but not understand speech very well?

David and Sheri explained I had developed poor word recognition and my hearing loss was so gradual, I hadn't noticed how “life’s sounds” were getting duller and duller’.

Poor word recognition can make “I’m going Shopping at the Store” seem like “I’m going Mopping on the Floor”. “S” and consonant sounds like “Ch” “Th” are usually the first sounds to become hard to hear, so basic conversations can easily get distorted for people with hearing loss.

Many of David and Sheri’s patients have stated how much they were educated when they came in for a hearing test. Turns out that many people who wondered if they can hear okay, have developed poor word recognition. And it’s usually their loved ones who understand this more than the patient, says David.

Since some people speak softly and some with poor pronunciation, many hearing loss sufferers are nodding in agreement to conversations they don’t fully hear or understand.

Hearing loss can happen at any age and there are many different causes.

The most embarrassing time one young mother told us was when an acquaintance made a derogatory statement about a good friend of hers and she nodded like she understood what they had said. Later her daughter who was present said, “mom, why did you agree to that awful statement about your best friend?”

Most of our patient’s who have a complete hearing exam had never heard of poor word recognition, says Sheri. And some were skeptical until they walked out into the world with a one-week-trial hearing aid demo, and their loved ones mentioned how much better their communication skills were.

At least half of our patient’s loved ones are the ones who thank us the most, says David.

Even with new hearing aids on, many words may still not compute in a person’s brain properly at first. Some people who are under seventy five years of age, at least stand a decent chance of relearning ‘forgotten’ words due to hearing loss. And those who have treated their hearing loss with hearing aids at a younger age, can prevent poor word recognition altogether. Also, the elderly who do not regain proper word recognition with new hearing aids, will in some cases at least avoid getting worse.

Other comments David and Sheri receive regularly: ‘Now I know when my poor little doggy wants in the house...I actually hear birds singing all the time...and the sound of people laughing in the distance...I had no idea these things had slowly slipped away. With hearing aids, I finally understand how the beautiful world around me was so dull and lifeless before’.

Just to make sure, Crystal Clear Hearing Aids provide free hearing tests. It usually takes less than an hour of your time.

Avoiding Hearing Loss

If you already have hearing loss, there’s no way to restore it unless there’s a treatable medical condition that caused it. But if it’s not a medical condition, rather just age-related or noise-related hearing loss, 95% of the time it can be successfully treated.

If the damage hasn’t been done yet, and you have normal hearing they’re are ways to prevent severe hearing loss; And you shouldn’t think just because you could take loud noise in your youth, that you can still take it later in life without the possibility of permanent damage; aging affects every aspect of our health including hearing.

The sad part about hearing loss is it’s almost always permanent…the only exception is certain medical conditions that can be treated such as middle ear infections and certain other conditions that your doctor can advise you on.

The World Health Organization estimates one billion young individuals around the globe are at risk of hearing loss because of unsafe listening practices; Especially with the popular listening devices, loud headphones, concerts etc. 10% of our current population already has hearing loss.

A few of the easy measures: Using ear plugs when you’re exposed to loud noise is highly recommended. Avoid being too close to speakers at a friends house or a live act at the local bar and concerts. Think more about loud noise exposure before you’re exposed to it so you can do something about it when it suddenly happens. Do you go shooting or hunting? Avoid inexpensive hearing protection! Gun shots are so potentially damaging, you need quality protection to help prevent hearing loss.

Here’s a list of probable risks that generate sound above 85 decibels (DB) which is the maximum level for safe hearing:

90-100 DB: Lawn movers— especially older ones - If you mow your lawn or use heavy equipment, use ear plugs.

80-110 DB: Attending local fairs—Those race cars can hurt your ears if you’re too close and the small entertainment venues can get loud too.

80-100 DB: Hair driers near your ear without ear plugs can also put you at risk.

Taking a helicopter ride or working near loud airplanes or vehicles.

120 DB and above: Shooting ranges and just about any military position

90-110 DB: Subway trains

115 DB: Baby’s cry - Be careful when holding a crying baby near your ear.

110 DB: Car horn

100 DB: Snowmobiles and other off road vehicles

We are exposed to so many noises that can cause hearing loss; Care should be taken in the same way you wear glasses for your eyes. Preventive maintenance can potentially help you avoid the need for hearing aids for many years.

But if hearing loss has already occurred or you’re not sure how severe your hearing loss may be, having your ears checked is FREE at Crystal Clear Hearing Aids. And there’s no pressure to purchase anything when you visit us.

Treating your hearing loss can save other health issues that have been known to increase when hearing loss is present:

Dementia—Up to 5 times greater risk of getting dementia when hearing loss is not treated
Headaches
Frustrated loved ones when you ask them to repeat themselves often
Depression and feeling secluded
Accidents: Like not hearing a quiet car in a parking lot
Discrimination: toward the person with Hearing loss
Compensation behaviors: When pretending you hear, people pick up on your miscommunication
Anger and frustration: in relationships and co-workers
Depression: and depressive symptoms
Anxiety
Social phobias

Noise at work has been such a culprit for hearing loss that the U.S. government has finally enacted a ‘Noise at work” act in 2005, which mandates employers to provide ear plugs to employees who are exposed to loud noise on the job.

Of course most of us don’t have ear plugs readily available so it’s a good idea to keep a pair in your purse, pocket, car and at work.

Hearing Loss can Lead to Health Problems

More than 26 million people suffer from hearing loss; and they may be at risk of cognitive problems and even dementia.

According to the National Institute on Deafness, over 36 million Americans have hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition facing older adults; Unfortunately, only 20% of those individuals who might benefit from treatment actually seek help. Most tend to delay treatment until they cannot communicate even in the best of listening situations.

Tragically, the impact of hearing loss is not simply measured in decibels. A survey conducted by Hearing Loss experts looked at the positive benefits of amplification and showed that hearing aid use positively affected quality of life for both the hearing aid wearer and their significant other. Furthermore, many other significant health issues have been linked to Hearing Loss.

Tragically, the impact of hearing loss is not simply measured in decibels. A survey conducted by Hearing Loss experts looked at the positive benefits of amplification and showed that hearing aid use positively affected quality of life for both the hearing aid wearer and their significant other. Furthermore, many other significant health issues have been linked to Hearing Loss.

Dementia and HL

Dr. Frank Lin at Johns Hopkins University found a strong link between Hearing Loss and risk of developing dementia. Individuals with mild hearing loss were twice as likely to develop dementia, those with moderate hearing loss were three times more likely, and those with severe hearing loss had five times the risk. While this study could not definitively conclude that treatment with hearing aids would reduce the risk of dementia, there was a positive correlation between degree of hearing loss and the risk of dementia (Lin et al., 2011).

Depression and HL

Several studies have also documented the impact of untreated hearing loss with depression due to social isolation and feelings of rejection. Many other health issues have also been attributed to HL.  

If you're Having trouble Hearing...

Here's a short inspiring video of how a new technology Hearing Aid helped a grandma hear what she had been missing:

PLAY

"I Said You Need Your Ears Tested!"

NOT YOUR FATHER’S HEARING AID?

Is it possible to enjoy a Hearing Aid that's nearly invisible...?

"So small, no one sees them!"

DRAMATICALLY improved “Hearing Aids” are now available.

NEW Advances that most people don’t know about…

1. NEW ‘HEARING AIDS’ are very small and not easy to see. They also come with color choices to match your hair. The miniature (Discrete) wire that goes in your ear, has a transparency that is almost undetectable.

2. With BLUE TOOTH features, you now have the ability to wirelessly stream your T.V. or Smart Phone directly into your hearing aid. No more turning up the T.V. louder than your loved ones can take… Listening to music from your Smart Phone can stream directly into your NEW Hearing Aid too.

3. NEW SMART TECHNOLOGY chips allow the premium models to automatically adjust your hearing pleasure to your environment:
Crowded/Noisy restaurants will have the background noise attenuated while the person you are talking with is “Singled Out” for nice clear conversations: Even if you turn your head to another person! WATCH A VIDEO EXAMPLE HERE

Crystal Clear Hearing Aids help choose the right hearing aid for you! We've done the research and have tested the top brands of hearing aids to make sure they suit your needs and your budget.

There are many other great features: Receive a FREE demonstration by calling us at (714) 630-7800 or visit our website at: 

For more information visit: www.crystalclear-hearingaids.com

You're are going to LOVE the way you HEAR!

Hearing Loss myths...

There are a lot of myths about hearing loss - here's a few things to keep in mind:

Myth #1: Hearing aids will make me look “older” or “handicapped...”

Looking older is clearly more affected by almost all other factors besides hearing aids. If you have to make people repeat their sentences, you're are already bringing attention to your inability to hear well. It is not the hearing aids that make one look older; If hearing aids help you function like a normal hearing person, your life will change dramatically and people will treat you more favorably!

Hearing aid manufacturers are well aware that cosmetics are an issue and that’s why some NEW hearing aids fit totally in the ear canal and other models are nearly undetectable.

But more importantly untreated hearing loss is more obvious than wearing a hearing aid. Smiling and nodding your head when you don’t understand what’s being said makes your condition more apparent than the largest hearing aid available!

Myth #2: Your hearing loss cannot be helped.

In the past, many people with hearing loss in one ear, with a high frequency loss, or with nerve damage have all been told they cannot be helped.

This might have been true many years ago, but with modern advances in technology, nearly 95% of people with a common hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids. The consequences of hiding hearing loss can be dangerous.

Untreated hearing loss is far more noticeable than wearing hearing aids. If you don’t hear a car backing up toward you, miss a punch line to a joke, or respond inappropriately in conversation, people may have concerns about your mental acuity, your attention span or your ability to communicate effectively. 

The personal consequences of denying hearing aids can be life altering. At a simplistic level, untreated hearing loss means giving up some of the pleasant sounds you used to enjoy. At a deeper level, you could be at risk of Dementia, accidents and people shying away from you.

Myth #3: I’ll just have some minor surgery like my friend did, and then my hearing will be okay. Many people know someone whose hearing improved after medical or surgical treatment. But only some types of hearing loss can be successfully treated. With adults only 5-10% of surgeries help Hearing Loss.

Myth #4: Hearing aids will make everything sound too loud.

This was actually true in older hearing aid technology. It used to be necessary to turn up the power in order to hear soft speech (or other soft sounds). Then, normal conversation indeed would have been too loud. With today’s modern digital hearing aids the circuit works automatically, only providing the amount of amplification needed based on the input level. In fact, many hearing aids today don’t have a volume control because they’re unnecessary on certain models.

Rest assured the Better Hearing Institute researched thousands of people like you and found that hearing healthcare professionals receive customer satisfaction ratings of 92%. And 9 out of 10 people indicate that the quality of their life has improved with hearing aids. 

Now that Hearing aid manufacturers have learned more about personal preferences, they've made hearing aids easier to wear, less noticeable and they've added automatic features with state-of-the-art digital sound…

For more information visit: 
www.CrystalClearHearingAids.com

You'll LOVE the way you HEAR!

Some of this text was taken from articles of the Better Hearing Institute.