Ask an expert

Although most people living with tinnitus learn to adjust to it over time, 1 in 5 people find that it significantly affects their quality of life. There are several ways to manage tinnitus and reduce the impact it has on your life. Many of these approaches aim to treat the secondary effects of tinnitus, such as hearing difficulties, insomnia, social isolation and depression. While a phantom sound will still be present, dealing with the aforementioned issues can significantly improve your quality of life. Your audiologist may be able to suggest alternative treatments such as sound therapy, which uses background noise to mask the sound of tinnitus and can also provide relief for those who experience difficulty sleeping or concentrating as a result of tinnitus. In addition, tinnitus retraining therapy (which involves retraining the auditory system to ignore phantom sounds) can also provide relief for people with tinnitus.

With several major brands and more than 1000 different devices on the market, choosing the best hearing aid for you can seem like a daunting task. Although personal preferences will vary, some of the most popular and well-regarded brands currently include ReSound, Oticon, Phonak, Starkey and Bernafon. Audiologists will recommend the style of hearing aid that is most suited to your needs. This decision can be influenced by the type and degree of your hearing loss, the physical characteristics of your ear, and personal needs such as your eyesight and dexterity. They will also consider your lifestyle and listening needs to determine which features are required to meet your goals. These factors may influence the brand which they recommend to you.

Tinnitus is the technical term for hearing a sound which has no external source. Sometimes this is referred to as a ‘phantom sound’. Most often, this is heard as a constant high-pitched ringing noise, however it is also common to hear other noises like buzzing, cicadas, clicking, and humming, to name a few. With expert advice, tinnitus can improve.

An audiologist is a health professional who specialises in diagnosing, treating and managing hearing and balance problems. Their duties can include performing hearing tests, evaluating any hearing loss or vestibular (balance) disorders, prescribing and fitting hearing assistance technologies, and providing rehabilitation techniques such as auditory training and listening skills improvement. Since hearing and balance problems are sometimes caused by other medical conditions, audiologists can also refer their patients to a specialist, such as an ear, nose and throat surgeon, to receive the appropriate treatment.

Your hearing is priceless, but it doesn’t have to be expensive with personalised solutions for every budget. There are several different sources of funding for hearing aids in New Zealand. Your audiologist will be able to advise what type of funding you may be eligible for and can help you apply.

Most New Zealanders are eligible for a Government subsidy of $1,022 for a pair of hearing aids, meaning you could get a pair of hearing aids for as little as $495. If your hearing has been impacted from the type of work you have undertaken, you may be able to apply for funding through ACC. Veterans’ Affairs also provide financial support to eligible people for the cost of hearing aids and associated costs. If you want additional features that aren’t strictly essential to your hearing needs and they are not covered by your funding, you can simply choose to pay the difference to your service provider.

Tinnitus is not a disease, but is best thought of as a symptom, like pain. It is a very common symptom of hearing loss. Sometimes it can be caused by a temporary hearing loss (for example, due to waxy ears or an infection), but most commonly is caused by some permanent damage to the hearing system.

Tinnitus can also be caused by stress, neck/back strain, head injuries, certain medications, and some medical conditions. If you have tinnitus, it is important to see an audiologist for a full hearing test, even if you feel that you can hear well.  Every person is different, but with the right advice and management, tinnitus can improve.

At Bay Audiology we offer a full range of hearing aid styles from a number of different brands. Whether you’re wanting something small and discreet, or prefer something larger and easier to handle, your Audiologist will work with you to choose the most appropriate solution for your needs. Everyone is different, and there is no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to hearing aids. The best style for each individual can be different, depending on the extent of their hearing loss, dexterity concerns, eyesight problems, the size and shape of the ear, and the amount of ear wax produced. The range of hearing aid styles include custom, behind the ear and receiver in the ear hearing aids - your Audiologist will work with you to choose the best solution for you.

When it comes to hearing aids, there are more options to choose from than ever before. In fact, the sheer number of options on the market today means that you could spend anything from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. However, price does not always reflect a difference in results; choosing the “best” hearing aid will ultimately depend on your specific needs, including the type and severity of your hearing loss, as well as your lifestyle, budget, and manual dexterity. These factors will all help to determine the best style (e.g. in-the-ear vs behind-the-ear) and most important features (e.g. telecoil, directional microphone) for your specific needs. Hearing aid accessories such as TV streamers, remote controls, and phone clips can be used in addition to your hearing aid to help improve performance in different environments.

At Bay Audiology, we offer a worry free 60-day money-back guarantee. This entitles you to a full refund within 60-days of purchase or an exchange to find the right fit for you and your lifestyle. Additionally, all hearing aids come with a manufacturer's warranty. Bay Audiology offers a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty for hearing aids from Starkey, Bernafon, Oticon, Phonak and ReSound. Other manufacturers may have a different warranty period. Bay Audiology also offers additional warranty packages which is greater than the manufacturer's warranty for their clients.

It is recommended that you do not wear hearing aids to bed for a number of reasons. It is important that your ear takes a break from your hearing aid. This will give your ear canal the opportunity to air out. Additionally by removing your hearing aid overnight and leaving the battery door open, your hearing aid will dry out and also extend the lifetime of the battery. Alternatively, if you have a hearing aid dehumidifier, simply remove your hearing aid batteries and place the hearing aids in this container to dry them out overnight.

The easiest way to store your hearing aid battery is to keep them in their original packaging, as this will ensure they are easy to locate. When you have finished with the hearing aids for the day store the hearing aid at normal room temperature with the battery door opened.

Throughout the day, earwax, dirt and moisture will accumulate inside your ear canal. Although perfectly normal, these substances can affect the clarity of your hearing aid and, if left long enough, can even damage their components. For this reason, it’s generally a good idea to give your hearing aids a clean as part of your daily routine. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe your hearing aids and earpieces, making sure your hands are also free from dirt and moisture. You can also buy specialised picks and brushes to help clean those harder-to-reach places; but remember not to use any water, cleaning fluids, solvents or alcohol, as these can damage your device. Placing your hearing aids in a specialised dehumidifier is also a great way to dry out their digital circuitry while you sleep. This kind of daily cleaning, combined with routine maintenance from a hearing specialist, will help you to enjoy years of better hearing.

Every morning before putting the hearing aid on, you should brush the device with the provided brush. Every night when you go to sleep use a soft cloth or tissue to remove the debris and dust from the day. If you notice a build-up of ear wax in the tube, use the soft brush and ear pick provided to remove the debris. When showering or washing your face, be sure to remove your hearing aids and keep them from getting wet. A good investment is also a hearing aid dehumidifier, as a build-up of moisture may damage your hearing aid. Avoid chemical wipes or alcohol wipes when cleaning your hearing aids. Cleaning may also vary between styles, so be sure to ask your clinician on the best way to clean your hearing aids. If you have any difficulty with cleaning your aids, or aren’t sure what to do, please visit any of our clinics and we will be happy to assist.

Hearing aids include five key components: microphones, an amplifier, a speaker, a battery, and a microchip that has been specially programmed to suit the wearer’s needs. The microphones pick up sounds, which are then analysed and processed by the microchip. After being amplified, the sounds are sent to the loudspeaker which transmits the amplified sound into the ear. Here, the sounds are transformed into electrical impulses which are picked up by the brain and processed as sound.

Broadly speaking, hearing aids come in two forms: analogue and digital. Analogue hearing aids simply convert sound into an electric signal, amplify the signal, and then feed this back into the ear. Nowadays, digital hearing aids are much more sophisticated, and much more common. They process incoming sounds, refine these sounds for clarity, and then release each sound at an appropriate level. In effect, digital hearing aids are able to amplify more important sounds while reducing background noise.

Just as people that wear eyeglasses aren’t necessarily blind, the vast majority of people that wear hearing aids are not deaf. Most people with hearing aids will have some degree of natural hearing left. Hearing aids will improve their natural hearing by amplifying sound to an audible level.

Hearing loss is different for everyone, and the degree of benefit received from hearing aids is influenced by the severity of the hearing loss, the duration of the hearing loss (the sooner you act, the better), and your brain’s ability to process sound. In cases of severe/profound hearing loss, the goal of hearing aids may be to improve awareness of sound for safety reasons. In very severe cases, people may require a cochlear implant to receive benefit. This looks like a hearing aid but works in conjunction with a surgically implanted device in the inner ear.

Hearing can also be improved in some cases with assistive listening devices, auditory training, and coaching in communication strategies. Your audiologist will be able to advise you on this, or may refer you to a hearing therapist.

Tinnitus is quite common and affects millions of people around the world. Fortunately, this means that resources, professional advice and support groups are fairly easy to find in countries such as ours. For most people with tinnitus, the sound is merely an annoyance. But in severe cases, tinnitus can also cause problems with sleeping and concentration, interfere with personal relationships, and even lead to insomnia, irritability, poor work or school performance, and psychological distress. There is a lot of misinformation online, so if searching for resources it is best to discuss this with your hearing care professional.

Waterproof hearing aids are frequently discussed by people who enjoy swimming or water sports, those who perspire heavily, live in humid climates, or work in dusty environments. Although most standard hearing aids offer some level of dust and water protection, in these scenarios, this generally isn’t enough to protect their delicate circuitry from damage. While many hearing aid companies have developed water-resistant hearing aids, there hasn’t been as much success in creating fully waterproof devices. Talk to your audiologist to discuss the latest developments in water-resistant and waterproof technology, or to discuss other ways to protect your hearing aid from moisture.

Unfortunately, hearing aids are not completely waterproof, but most hearing aids on the market today are moisture-proof, meaning a stroll in the rain or a sweaty workout won’t damage your hearing aid. These water-resistant hearing aids are able to endure a small amount of moisture for a short period of time. If your hearing aid is not water-resistant and gets excessively wet, try these at-home methods of drying out your hearing aid. Try to dry the remaining components either with a dehumidifier if the hearing aid still will not turn back on, visit your local hearing clinic.

Although hearing and balance are connected, your balance is not affected by the presence or absence of hearing aids. In other words, hearing aids do not cause any dizziness. If you are experiencing dizziness or vertigo-like symptoms, visit your audiologist for a full audiology assessment.

Throughout your hearing health journey you may be recommended to change hearing aids or you may wish to change styles. Donated hearing aids will be cleaned, reconditioned and reprogrammed so they can be fitted to people who are suffering from hearing loss and may not be able to afford hearing aids. Bay Audiology use these donated hearing aids to provide hearing health services free of charge to people in Samoa who otherwise wouldn’t have access to audiological care.