The Importance of Regular Hearing Screenings

Hearing is an essential part of our lives, and it allows us to communicate with others, listen to music, and stay alert to our surroundings. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 466 million people have hearing loss, and this number is expected to increase to over 900 million by 2050.

Contents

Benefits of Early Detection of Hearing Loss

Tips for Scheduling and Preparing for a Hearing Screening

Know When to Get a Hearing Screening

Find a Qualified Healthcare Professional

Prepare for the Screening

Know What to Expect

Common Misconceptions about Hearing Loss

"Hearing loss only affects older people"

"Hearing loss is only caused by exposure to loud noises"

"Hearing loss is a normal part of aging"

"Hearing aids are bulky and uncomfortable"

Importance of Seeking Professional Help

Schedule Regular Hearing Tests with Arcade Hearing Aid Center

Hearing loss can occur due to various factors, including age, genetics, exposure to loud noises, and medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While some hearing loss is inevitable as we age, early detection can make a significant difference in how well we can manage it. Regular hearing screenings are essential for identifying hearing loss early and ensuring that appropriate interventions are implemented promptly.

Benefits of Early Detection of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can have a profound impact on our quality of life. It can lead to social isolation, communication difficulties, and reduced job performance. In children, hearing loss can delay speech and language development, which can have long-term consequences for their academic and social development.

Early detection of hearing loss is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it can help to identify the underlying cause of the hearing loss, which can help patients and their providers decide the appropriate treatment. Secondly, it can prevent further damage to the auditory system, as untreated hearing loss can lead to further deterioration. Finally, early intervention can reduce the negative impact of hearing loss on quality of life.

Tips for Scheduling and Preparing for a Hearing Screening

Getting a hearing screening is a simple and painless process that can be done by a trained healthcare professional like those at Arcade Hearing Aid Center. Here are some tips for scheduling and preparing for a hearing screening:

Know When to Get a Hearing Screening

It is recommended that adults get a hearing screening at least once every ten years until the age of 50, after which they should get screened every three years. Individuals with a history of hearing loss or exposure to loud noises may need to get screened more frequently.

Find a Qualified Healthcare Professional

Hearing screenings can be done by various healthcare professionals, including audiologists, hearing aid specialists, and primary care physicians. It is essential to find a qualified professional who has the necessary training and experience to conduct a thorough hearing screening.

Prepare for the Screening

Before the screening, it is important to prepare by bringing any relevant medical records, medications, and a list of symptoms or concerns. It is also a good idea to bring a trusted friend or family member for support.

Know What to Expect

During the hearing screening, the healthcare professional will ask questions about your medical history, examine your ears, and conduct a series of tests to evaluate your hearing. The results will be explained, and if necessary, a referral to an audiologist or other specialist will be provided.

Common Misconceptions about Hearing Loss

There are several common misconceptions about hearing loss that can prevent individuals from seeking help. Here are some of the most common misconceptions and the truth behind them:

"Hearing loss only affects older people"

While it is true that hearing loss is more prevalent in older adults, it can affect individuals of all ages, including children.

"Hearing loss is only caused by exposure to loud noises"

While exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss, it is not the only cause. Medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can also cause hearing loss.

"Hearing loss is a normal part of aging"

While some hearing loss is inevitable as we age, it is not a normal part of aging. Hearing loss should be taken seriously and addressed promptly.

"Hearing aids are bulky and uncomfortable"

While older hearing aids may have been bulky and uncomfortable, modern hearing aids are discreet, comfortable, and come with many advanced features.

Importance of Seeking Professional Help

If you suspect that you or a loved one has hearing loss, it is essential to seek professional help. A qualified healthcare professional can conduct a thorough evaluation, identify the underlying cause of the hearing loss, and recommend appropriate interventions.

Untreated hearing loss can lead to several negative consequences, including social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline. It can also increase the risk of accidents and falls, which can have serious consequences, especially for older adults.

In many cases, hearing loss can be managed effectively with hearing aids or other assistive devices. These devices can help to improve communication, enhance quality of life, and prevent further damage to the auditory system.

Schedule Regular Hearing Tests with Arcade Hearing Aid Center

Regular hearing screenings are essential for early detection of hearing loss and ensuring that appropriate interventions are implemented promptly. By scheduling a hearing screening, you can take an important step towards preserving your hearing and improving your quality of life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, hearing loss can be managed effectively, allowing you to continue to enjoy the sounds of life. Call to schedule with Arcade Hearing Aid Center today!

Hearing Aids

Suffering from hearing loss can be difficult and frightening, but technology has made great strides in combating this issue through the use of hearing aids. At Arcade Hearing Aid Center we assess your need for these products, help to find the perfect style for you, and provide repairs and battery replacements when the time comes for them. In addition, all of our hearing aids include a 45-day trial period.

Hearing Aid Evaluation

While they’re all designed to serve the same purpose, there are quite a few different styles of hearing aids, and the perfect hearing solution for you will be determined by a number of different factors, including your level of hearing loss, your lifestyle, financial factors, and more. At Arcade Hearing Aid Center, we will provide you with a comprehensive hearing aid evaluation to determine which style is best suited for your needs.

Preliminary Diagnostic Tests

Before your evaluation, you will go through some diagnostic hearing tests. If it is determined that the hearing loss is permanent, we may recommend a hearing aid for one or both ears. If you decide that you’d like to give hearing aids a try, we will demonstrate all of the different styles and the various features that each one offers.

Ear Impressions

Once you’ve decided on the style of hearing aid you would like, we will take impressions of your ears in order to give your hearing aids a custom fit that is both comfortable and as effective as possible.

Order & Program Hearing Aids

Hearing aids must be ordered from the manufacturer and then programmed by your audiologist, so you can expect the process to take a few weeks altogether. We offer a 45-day trial period for all hearing aids so you can make sure you are completely satisfied with your choice.

Types of Hearing Aids

Here are some of the different types of hearing aids that your audiologist in Santa Monica may recommend to you:

Digital

Whereas analog hearing aids are designed to amplify sound waves, digital hearing aids receive sound waves and then convert them into an exact digital copy.

Modern digital hearing aids are more programmable and flexible than ever before, and they can process more complex sounds than ever before, too.

If you visit our hearing specialists in Santa Monica for hearing aids, virtually all of the options offered will be digital. However, there are multiple styles of digital hearing aid to choose from.

In-the-Ear

In-the-ear hearing aids are small, custom-made devices that fit into the ear, rather than around it. They are made using an impression of your ear, which means that they will fit comfortably. They will also be colored to match your skin tone, providing discretion.

There are four different styles of in-the-ear hearing aids: invisible-in-the-canal (IIC), completely-in-canal (CIC), in-the-canal (ITC), and full shell in-the-ear (ITE). The style that is best suited for you will depend on your level of hearing loss, need for discretion, desired features, and desired battery size.

The IIC and CIC styles are highly discreet and great for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The ITC style is also great for mild-to-moderate hearing loss and offers greater battery life, but is somewhat less discreet.

The ITE style is the least discreet, but it has the best battery life, the maximum number of controls and features, and can even help those who are faced with severe hearing loss.

Behind-the-Ear

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are designed to fit around the outer ear. They have tubing on them that directs sounds into the ear. These hearing aids are less discreet than the in-the-ear style, but they are still sleekly designed and colored to match with your hair or skin tone, making them fairly difficult to spot.

There are three different styles of behind-the-ear hearing aids: mini behind-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), or behind-the-ear with an ear mold. The style best suited to you will depend on a few different factors, including desired features and controls, battery type, and the degree of hearing loss you’re faced with. We have helped thousands of people choose just the right hearing aids.

lady having a behind-the-ear hearing aid installed

Bluetooth-Enabled Hearing Aids

Your hearing aids can now become their own wireless headset for your smartphone through the power of Bluetooth connectivity. Simply connect your hearing aids to your smart device and you can use them to stream audio directly. That means you no longer have to switch out your hearing aids for headphones ever again!

Learn More About Bluetooth-Enabled Hearing Aids

Hearing Aid Fitting

When you’re ready to receive your hearing aids, your hearing specialist will program them for you and help you understand how the devices work. We will teach you how to put your hearing aids on and take them off, how to swap out the batteries, and how to care for and clean them. For this appointment, we recommend bringing a family member, close friend or loved one who might benefit from knowing how your hearing aids work.

Once you are up to speed with the way that your hearing aids work, you will try them on for the first time. Adapting to the changes in your hearing isn’t always easy, so your audiologist will be there with you to make any adjustments and help you through the early stages. We will take care of any immediate changes you would like to make, as well as performing some testing to ensure that your hearing aids are working properly.

Remember that it may take a little while for you to adjust to all of the new sounds you’ll hear. It’s completely normal to have mixed emotions about them. Studies have shown that having a positive attitude about your hearing aids can make the adjustment period shorter and smoother, so try to stay optimistic! We offer a 45-day trial period to ensure that you are satisfied with your decision.

Major Hearing Aid Brands

Arcade Hearing Aid Center offers hearing aid products from most of the major manufacturers in the industry. These include Resound, Siemens, Oticon, Widex, Starkey, Sonic, Phonak and more.

It’s important to us to offer our clients a wide array of options for their hearing aids, as each individual has their own specific needs. The only way to meet each and every one of those needs is to give them the full range of choices!
Just reach out to us and we’ll be happy to guide you toward the best hearing aid option for you.

Hearing Aid Maintenance

If your hearing aids are in need of cleaning or repair, Arcade Hearing Aid Center will help you out. We’re able to service and repair all major brands. And remember, it’s important to schedule a deep cleaning once every six months!

Hearing Aid Batteries

It’s important to stay ahead of the game when it comes to your hearing aids’ battery supply. Arcade Hearing Aid Center will help you do just that.

How Long Do Hearing Aid Batteries Last?

You might be surprised at how often you need to change out your hearing aid batteries, but remember that you will have your hearing aids on for most hours of the day, every single day. In other words, the batteries don’t exactly drain quickly — they just get a whole lot of use!

You can expect your hearing aid batteries to last anywhere from 3 to 22 days. The wide range of time is based on a variety of factors, including the style of hearing aids you are using, the type of batteries they require, how frequently the hearing aids are used, and more.

16 hours of daily use will typically get you about five days to one week of use, so you should always try to keep a six- to eight-week supply on hand and safely stored.

If you are looking to buy hearing aid batteries in Santa Monica, Arcade Hearing Aid Center has you covered. We have batteries of all types, sizes, and colors. Just let us know what hearing aids you use and we’ll provide you with the battery supply that you need.

Schedule Your Appointment

LOCATION & HOURS

Arcade Hearing Aid Center

1911 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403

(310) 829-6444

M-F 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday by Appointment Only

The Importance of Regular Hearing Screenings

Benefits of Early Detection of Hearing Loss