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Hearing Aids Glossary

Discover the Hearing Aid Glossary Page: Here, we provide clear and straightforward explanations for some of the most intricate features found in hearing aids.

Feature:

T-coil or Telecoil

Significance:

Advanced

A telecoil, also known as a T-coil or induction loop, is a small device integrated into certain hearing aids. It is designed to pick up electromagnetic signals from specific sources, such as phones, public announcement systems, and induction loops.

Why is it important?

The main advantage of the telecoil function is that it can provide a direct and clear signal to the hearing aid user in situations with a lot of background noise or when the person is far from the sound source.

Feature:

Custom Programs

Significance:

Necessary

This refers to the maximum number of sound situation programs that the hearing aid has.

Why is it important?

The more customisable programs there are, the more you can adapt the settings of your hearing aids according to your sound environment easily and quickly. You only need to preset a program once to reactivate it later with a simple click on the settings application on your phone or directly on the hearing aid's push button.

Feature:

Frequency Bands and channels

Significance:

Necessary

The frequency bands of a hearing aid are features that allow adjusting the amplified frequencies according to individual hearing needs. They enable personalised amplified sound for better speech understanding and adaptation to each user's auditory preferences.

Why is it important?

These bands serve to adjust the hearing aid's amplification to your hearing loss across different frequency ranges of the sound spectrum. The more channels of adjustments there are, the more precise and fine-tuned the correction will be.

Feature:

Hearing Loss

Significance:

Necessary

It refers to the range of the hearing aid depending on the degree of the patient's hearing loss.

Why is it important?

It is essential to choose a hearing aid that corresponds to your degree of hearing loss in order to select the most suitable hearing device for your needs.

Feature:

Noise Reduction

Significance:

Necessary

Hearing aids, as advanced computers, process sounds through powerful algorithms to reduce noise and enhance speech. These algorithms are called noise reducers.

Why is it important?

This function facilitates speech understanding and improves listening comfort, even in noisy environments.

Feature:

Wind Noise Reduction

Significance:

Advanced

Wind blowing over the microphones of your hearing aids may cause an amplified 'shhh' sound, which can be quite bothersome and interfere with your conversation or block the speech and sounds you actually want to hear.

Why is it important?

Wind noise reduction minimises this irritating sound. If you lead an active outdoor lifestyle, this feature can definitely improve your quality of life and hearing.

Feature:

Directional Microphones 

Significance:

Necessary

Directional microphones can identify and focus on a specific sound direction to mask or block other sounds. Some advanced hearing aids are equipped with an automatic focus shifting directional microphones whereas older models require the user to manually change the directionality settings from an app on their smartphone.

Why is it important?

By focusing on the specific direction from where the sound comes, this feature offers an additional level of sound precision and comfort.

Feature:

Feedback Cancellation

Significance:

Necessary

Feedback cancellation in hearing aids is a sophisticated technology designed to eliminate the annoying whistling or squealing sounds (feedback) that can occur when using hearing aids. It works by quickly detecting and suppressing these feedback signals.

Why is it important?

It is a crucial hearing aid feature as it enhances overall sound quality and speech comprehension for individuals with hearing loss. By reducing feedback, it minimizes distractions and enables users to focus on conversations, enjoy music, and participate in social activities with greater confidence and clarity.

Feature:

Binaural Processing

Significance:

Advanced

Hearing is a unique sense that uses two sound sources to better locate movements in space, and our brain functions as a single system. To mimic the brain, hearing aids are interconnected, constantly exchanging information to function as a single system as well.

Why is it important?

Binaural processing, or 'inter-device' communication, improves localisation, spatialisation, and overall speech understanding in situations with significant background noise or when there are many different sound sources simultaneously.

Feature:

Bluetooth

Significance:

Advanced

Bluetooth communication allows you to connect your hearing aids to your smartphone and accessories, depending on the model. All hearing aid models offered on the Auzen website are equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, enabling you to connect your hearing aids to your smartphone*.

Why is it important?

With Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect your hearing aids to your smartphone, enabling hands-free calling and receiving calls directly through your hearing aids. Additionally, it allows you to connect your hearing aids to your tablet, television, etc., depending on the hearing aid models.

Feature:

Remote Adjustments

Significance:

Advanced

Teleadjustment allows the audiologist to make hearing aid adjustments remotely via a mobile application. At Auzen, all the hearing aids we offer allow for remote adjustments.

Why is it important?

You no longer need to visit an audiology centre every time you need to fine-tune your hearing aid settings. A simple teleconsultation (online consultation) with your Auzen audiologist allows you to refine the settings without leaving your home.

Feature:

Frequency Compression

Significance:

Advanced

Frequency compression allows 'shifting' inaudible high frequencies to an audible frequency range for the patient.

Why is it important?

Frequency compression offers better speech understanding in noise for hearing aid wearers.

Feature:

IP 68 Waterproof Rating

Significance:

Necessary

The IP (Ingress Protection) 68 waterproof rating defines the levels of protection for electronic devices against dust and water ingress.

Why is it important?

This allows hearing aid wearers to use their devices safely in situations where they could be exposed to water, such as rain, sweat, or swimming. It also increases the hearing aid's lifespan by protecting internal components from corrosion.

Feature:

Tinnitus

Significance:

Advanced

Tinnitus is an abnormal auditory perception that presents as buzzing, ringing, clicking, pulsing, or dull sounds in the ear or head.

Why is it important?

Some hearing aids are equipped with TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy), which helps reduce the perception and negative impact of tinnitus on the quality of life.

Still have a question about hearing aid or teleaudiology?

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