Archive for June, 2009

California Hearing Aid maker fined $1.2 million

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Rest assured, the FDA is policing the companies that manufacture hearing aids. This is very good to know. Makers of hearing aids need to know that they are being monitored and held to a very high standard. These are expensive and complicated devices that can damage hearing and health if not built 100% as ordered by the FDA.

A good example of a company trying to break the rules and being caught occurred in California in 2008. The FDA had approved the parts and process being used by Advanced Bionics. However, they learned that the company had changed vendors for a few of the key pieces of the hearing aid without going to the FDA for approval. Clearly Advanced Bionics hoped to save costs and not draw the attention of the FDA.

It didn’t work out well for the company. The FDA caught them and fined them well over one million dollars. This is huge becasuse not only does it punish this company it also sends a message to all hearing aid makers: We are the FDA and we are watching you. Step out of line and you will be whacked!

Nice work FDA - thank you from Hearing Aids 1000.

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Used Hearing aid market

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Can anyone shed some light on buying and selling used hearing aids? Is there a strong market out there? Certainly the idea of saving some money by not having to buy an expensive new hearing aid is appealing but it also seems ripe with problems. The beauty of most hearing aids is that they are customized for the individual who is slated to use them. Even if the past owner is willing to part with the hearing aid at a low price there will still be a great deal of work and money that needs to go into getting the aids into working order.

But aside from the difficulty of fitting a used hearing aid for a new person, is there additional challenges? Is it legal to sell used hearing aids? In the research that I have done, I have seen nothing to suggest that it is not legal. You can find a great deal of used hearing aids for sale on Ebay and other marketplaces - but of course this does not insure that it is legal.

All used health related products creates a pretty gray area. Again, the price is very appealing but there are so many risks that come with it that it is hard to know if it is a good idea. If anyone has a positive or negative story around used hearing aids, can you please share it? Thanks!

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Self Programming hearing aids - yes or no?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

One of the key factors that drives the cost of hearing aids so high is that each hearing aid has to be programmed to the individual. Everyone has slightly different needs and hearing damage. So in an effort to cut the cost down companies have developed self-programming hearing aids. Clearly the idea is great on paper but do they work. Like with any purchase, you want to buy something that works for a long time versus saving money on the front end by buying some junk. Let’s dive in a bit.

The prevailing idea seems to be that self programming hearing aids are not a hit because they are too complicated. Upon first hearing their name ’self-programming’ I assumed this meant the aid did the programming. Upon further inspection, the truth is that the individual who owns the heairng aid programs it. The problem is that these are too complicated to program. Most hearing aid users are graduated in age and not all of them are comfortable with technology. This is the major block for self programming hearing aids.

Additionally, these hearing aids are not easy to find. They are not as common as standard hearing aids. Please tell me if you have had a positive experience with SP hearing aids. If I don’t hear from anyone, we will assume they are a bust for now!

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Hidden hearing aids for women

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

I need some help here. The topic I am about to write about feels a bit charged and I want to handle it properly. The topic is the creation of devices designed at women to ‘hide’ hearing aids. To me, these seem sexist and a bit old fashioned. Am I being too sensitive here?

What did we ever think of the eye glasses with the attached hearing aid? There was even a necklace that somehow hid a hearing aid?? I don’t wear a hearing aid (my Dad does) so I can’t 100% speak for how it feels to have to wear one. You tell me. Is hiding them good or should they be worn proudly similar to eye glasses?

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The basics of hearing aids

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Every once in a while it is helpful to go over a quick recap of the basics of hearing aids. How they work and the various kinds that exist

All hearing aids involve some form of a microphone that brings the sound in. All hearing aids fall under two categories - analogue and digital.

In analogue hearing aids the sound is captured then reproduced via electricity. The process works well but it has its limited. It is much like taking a photocopy of an image and it deteriorates in the same way.

Digital hearing aids take the sound and convert it to a series of digits (ones and zeros). The digital method is a bit colder but it never erodes.

One way to think of digital versus analogue is in the light of the record recording industry. Think back to the lush warm sounds of the Beatles and Boston records in the 70s. These were recorded with analog. The tighter and colder sounds of today’s recordings are all done in digital.

Hearing aids are now offering new technologies as well including allowing people to use their hearing aids as phones. This is a wonderful advance in the world of both phones and hearing aids.

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Long wait for hearing aids in England

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Based on an article written a few years ago, there is a horribly long wait for hearing aids in England. The wait can be as long as four years for patients who qualify. The BSHAA has learned that over a 200 weeks at a hospital in Wales. This is just not acceptable. I am certain that these individuals could use their own money to purchase directly from the manufacturers but this makes no sense. They are paying taxes at a level that should earn them fast access to health care and the tools they need including hearing aids.

Health insurance is a massive problem around the world and this goes to show that access to hearing aids is being slowed on a global level. This 200 week wait for hearing aids in England was from over 3 years ago. I am scared to imagine how long the wait is now. Do any of our English readers have insight into how the system is performing now?

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Give a gift card for a hearing aid!

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Hearing aids are not cheap and millions of people are in need of hearing aids. One solution, find someone in need of a hearing aid and give them a gift card!

www.uthearingaids.com is just one of hundreds of audiology groups that offer gift cards. The gift cards they offer can be used for hearing aids but also for exams and office visits. These truly are wonderful gifts because we all know that in tough economic times like these it is very easy to ignore ones health but that can actually lead to much bigger financial problems in the future.

Find a local hearing aid clinic that you like and see if they are offering gift cards. If so, be nice and give one to a person in need. Help them help themselves!

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hearing aids in Ireland

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

In Ireland, there is a government agency taxed with helping people test their hearing and if needed provide the people of Ireland with hearing aids. This agency is the HSE - Health Service Executive.

The HSE of Ireland has hearing professionals who generally administer the tests and diagnosis for all the citizens of Ireland but they also sub out these services to other hearing professionals of Ireland.

The HSE is obligated to provide services to those seeking hearing aids and assistance to those holding medical cards and their dependents as well as preschool and primary school children.

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The future of hearing aids

Monday, June 8th, 2009

I read an interesting snippet on the future of hearing aids today. They propose that hearing aids will be designed for everyone. Aids to help hear/remember names. Hearing aids will be for people other than simply those who have lost hearing!

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Over 50 years old? You probably need a Hearing aid

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Almost every doctor and every article written agree - hearing loss occurs after age 50. Fifty years is a long time. On some level, you can’t blame your hearing auditory system for losing a ’step’ or two.

So the question is not, am I losing some hearing ability or do I need a hearing aid. Rather, the question is, when can I admit that I am losing my hearing and would probably be better off with a hearing aid.

It is human nature to ignore the signs of aging but this is not good. Life is better with hearing aids when they are needed.

There is no doubt that some individuals will break this rule and hear like children for their entire life but these people are lucky exceptions to the rule. The rest of us will at some time give money to Phonak or Siemens or Oticon or another brand to purchase a hearing aid. It is just the way it is.

So if you are close to 50 years old or have a loved one who, give it a real thought. How are you hearing? How are they hearing? Would life be better for all involved if a hearing aid was part of the equation. These are difficult questions but they need answers!

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