Hearing aids have not in the past always worked effectively with cellular phones, because of electronic interference between the 2 devices that triggered static, whistling or screeching noises, or lost words. Thankfully, advances in technology and new government regulations have made the issue “Will this phone work together with my hearing aid?” easier to answer. The regulations mandated new labeling requirements and ratings that help you to easily find a cell phone that works well with your hearing aid.

The first thing you need to understand is that hearing aids operate in two different modes – microphone or “M” mode, and telecoil or “T” mode. When your hearing aid is in M mode, it uses the built-in microphone to pick up audible sounds from around you and amplify them to make them easier for you to hear. In T mode, the hearing aid instead uses an inductive process to pick up electromagnetic signals inside the phone directly, without the need for a microphone. The T mode is important when shopping for a phone, because at least 60% of hearing aids sold in the United States have one.

The rating system for these two modes of hearing aid operation uses a scale that ranges from the lowest sensitivity (1) to the highest sensitivity (4). To be labeled as hearing aid compatible (HAC) a mobile phone must carry a minimum rating of M3 or T3.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants have a similar M and T rating system to certify how sensitive they are in each mode, and how resistant they are to radio frequency interference. When shopping for a phone, to determine its compatibility with your hearing aid, simply add its M and T ratings together with those of the phone to create a combined rating. If you get a combined total of 6 or more, that is thought of as excellent, a combination of hearing aid and phone that will be highly usable. A combined rating of 5 is thought of as normal, and suitable for most people. A sum of 4 is considered acceptable, but if you are a heavy mobile phone user, you may be disappointed or frustrated with this choice.

This combined rating system makes it easy to shop for a mobile phone online, because it easily allows you to determine how compatible it will be with your hearing aid. If you are able to shop in a store that allows you to “try before you buy” and actually use the phone you want while wearing your hearing aid, that is of course a better idea.

Although it seems to be a simple question to ask just how long hearing aid batteries will last, it’s actually not. How long hearing aid batteries will last depends upon numerous factors. Just how long a battery will last depends on who manufactured it, and can even vary between different models from the same manufacturer. The length of time your hearing aid batteries will last will also depend on the manner in which you use your hearing aid – hearing aids demand constant power when they are switched on, so the more hours of the day you use it, the faster you’ll use up batteries.

The hearing aid batteries themselves are a crucial factor. Batteries of the same size from different manufacturers will have different lives. And there will be variance within one battery manufacturer if they offer premium or extended-life lines. Battery type is another factor in longevity. For example, zinc-air batteries will begin to burn stored energy the instant you remove the tab on the bottom and will continue to lose power even if the hearing aid is turned off while other types will only discharge when they are in a hearing aid that is powered on.

If consider new hearing aids, it’s advisable to do some research on the different models and the types of hearing aid batteries they use to help you determine the best choice for your lifestyle. If you have an existing hearing aid and are looking for the longest lasting batteries for it, the Internet can be a fabulous source of comparative ratings and reviews.

Fortunately, when shopping for hearing aid batteries, their manufacturers have made things a little easier for you by standardizing their sizes and color-coding each size; the same color codes are used by all hearing aid battery manufacturers. The hours listed below for each battery size are approximations, but will give you a basic idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size ought to last given normal use:

• Size 10 – Yellow – 80 hours
• Size 13 – Orange – 240 hours
• Size 312 – Brown – 175 hours
• Size 675 – Blue – 300 hours

To ensure the longest life for your hearing aid batteries when they are in the hearing aid, turn the hearing aid off when you’re not wearing it. Store your unused batteries at room temperature, indoors, and in their original, unopened packaging to ensure their longest possible life.

A bit of background and an explanation of how analog devices work versus how digital devices work is essential to understand the differences between analog and digital hearing aids. Analog hearing aids came out first, and were the standard in the majority of hearing aids for a long time. Then with the arrival of digital signal processing (DSP) technology, digital hearing aids also started to emerge. The majority of (up to 90%) hearing aids sold in the United States today are digital, although you can still get analog hearing aids because some people have a preference for them, and they’re often cheaper.

The way that analog hearing aids operate is that they take sound waves from the microphone in the form of electricity and then amplify them, delivering louder versions of the sound waves to the speakers in your ears “as is.” Digital hearing aids take the sound waves from the microphone and transform them to digital binary code, the “bits and bytes” and “zeros and ones” that all digital devices understand. After the sound is digitized, the micro-chip within the hearing aid can process and manipulate the data in sophisticated ways before converting it back to analog sound and passing it on to your ears.

Both analog and digital hearing aids carry out the same work – they take sounds and boost them to enable you to hear better. Both varieties of hearing aids can be programmed by the dispensers of the hearing aids to produce the sound quality desired by the user, and to create configurations ideal for different listening environments. The programmable hearing aids can, for example, have one setting for listening in quiet rooms, another setting for listening in noisy restaurants, and still another for listening in large auditoriums.

Digital hearing aids, due to their ability to manipulate the sounds in digital form, often have more features and flexibility, and are often user-configurable. For example, digital hearing aids may offer numerous channels and memories, permitting them to save more environment-specific profiles. They can also employ sophisticated algorithms to identify and reduce background noise, to eliminate feedback and whistling, or to selectively prefer the sound of human voices and “follow” them using directional microphones.

Cost-wise, most analog hearing aids continue to be less expensive than digital hearing aids, however, some reduced-feature digital hearing aids fall into a similar general price range. There is commonly a perceivable difference in sound quality, but the question of whether analog or digital is “better” is up to the individual, and the ways that they are used .

Many businesses and gathering places have made themselves wheelchair accessible, but what about that extra assistance for people with hearing problems? Installing a hearing loop clarifies speech and other sound for patrons with telecoil compatible hearing aids, is less expensive than other modifications and may increase visitors or customers. If you’re having a difficult time hearing the speakers at church, the dialogue at the local theatre, or at any other place you frequent, it may be possible to have a hearing loop put in with a little effort.

Churches and other places of worship. While many places of worship are fitted with hearing amplifiers, many are incompatible or inconvenient and there are many places without them at all. If this is the case, let the congregation and worship leaders know of the benefits of a hearing loop, such as being able to push a button to customize your ability to hear the sermon clearly through your own hearing aid.. Introduce the idea in a newsletter or bulletin by explaining how a hearing loop works and how easy it is to install.

Theaters and public gathering places. The guidelines for the Americans for Disabilities Act require that assembly areas have a method of audio amplification for their visitors and this requirement is filled with the installation of a hearing loop. To promote this need, you can write to or meet with the people in charge of these public spaces and business to explain the need and benefits. Installing a hearing loop can allow the business to tap into a new segment of the population which sometimes has limited entertainment options.

Information you’ll need. When you approach the managers of these venues, you’ll want to be prepared with information so you can build understanding and awareness. Educate them in what a hearing loop is, how it works and how much it costs. Have a prepare list of benefits from the patron’s perspective and the venue’s perspective. Explain to them the benefits of their increased business. Even if they do not engage in the idea the first time, make yourself available as a resource for further information and inquire if you can touch base with them every couple of months to continue the discussion.

Listening to a person speaking in a hushed room is very different from attempting to hear a conversation in a packed diner. Many digital hearing aids are equipped with various listening programs to help adjust to changes in listening environments. These listening programs give your hearing aid the flexibility to help you hear at your best in a wide range of situations.

When you first receive your hearing aid, your hearing professional will program your device with an external computer. The software will give him or her the ability to “fine-tune” the way your hearing aid processes sound and to create a series of distinct listening programs for different scenarios. Once you begin using your hearing aid, these programs may be selected manually or automatically (depending on the your particular device and its configuration) to suit your listening environment.

There are many different types of listening programs that can be accessed through your hearing aid. There are programs that help block out distracting background noise, programs that reduce feedback, programs that can shift high frequency sounds into lower, more comfortable frequencies, and programs that can make speech patterns clearer in quiet environments. These are just a few of the programs you can take advantage of – talk to your hearing professional to find programs that are most relevant to your situation.

The method you use to access these different programs varies from device to device. Some hearing aids are sold with a small external controller that allows you to switch from program to program as well as access other features. Other devices may be controlled by a small switch, while still others may automatically determine which program is best suited for your situation.

Young children with hearing issues may be good candidates for hearing aids with multiple listening programs. Having a number of available programs allows parents to quickly find a setting that is most comfortable for their child. This can help audiologists determine what settings will lead to the best hearing experience for the child.

The multiple listening programs feature in hearing aids can play a significant role in allowing the hearer to enjoy a more natural listening experience.