Austar Hearing: Your Trusted Partner in OEM/ODM Hearing Solutions

What are some common misconceptions about deafness? There are some widely held but false beliefs about deafness. These misconceptions can affect how people with deafness perceive themselves, interact socially, and seek treatment. Here are eight common misconceptions about deafness:

1. Believing that deafness means being completely deaf:

Deafness varies in severity and type, ranging from mild hearing loss to complete deafness. Many people may only have partial hearing loss and still be able to perceive some sounds.

2. Believing that deafness is exclusive to the elderly:

Deafness is not limited to the elderly; young people and children can also develop deafness due to genetics, illness, accidents, or medication side effects.

3. Believing that sign language is the only way for deaf people to communicate:

While sign language is a common means of communication for deaf people, not all deaf people use it. Many communicate through lip reading, written language, electronic hearing aids, or other assistive technologies.

4. The belief that deafness cannot be cured or improved:

Modern medicine and technology offer a variety of treatments for deafness, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, medication, and hearing training. Early intervention and treatment can often significantly improve hearing.

5. The belief that deaf people are unable to integrate into society or work:

Deaf people are fully capable of integrating into society and participating in various occupations. Many occupations do not strictly require hearing, and the widespread availability of assistive technology and barrier-free environments has made it easier for deaf people to function in the workplace.

6. The belief that deaf people cannot enjoy music and art:

While deaf people cannot directly perceive the melody and rhythm of music like hearing people, they can still appreciate music and art through vibrations, rhythms, and visual elements. Furthermore, some deaf people have developed unique musical and artistic expressions.

7. The belief that deaf people are intellectually retarded:

There is no necessary correlation between deafness and intelligence. Deaf people may face challenges with language learning and social interaction due to their hearing impairment, but this does not necessarily mean they are intellectually retarded. Many deaf people have achieved outstanding achievements in academia, the arts, and science.

8. Believing deafness is unpreventable:

In reality, many cases of deafness can be avoided through preventive measures. For example, avoiding prolonged exposure to noise, promptly treating ear infections, using medications prudently, and obtaining genetic testing to identify genetic risks.

In summary, misconceptions about deafness often stem from a lack of understanding of its complexities and biases. By raising public awareness and understanding of deafness, we can create a more inclusive and supportive social environment for people with deafness.

For users who have never worn hearing aids, they may experience discomfort such as ear itching, ear pressure, unnatural sound, ear fatigue, etc. when wearing them for the first time. Don't panic! These initial discomforts are normal. So what exactly causes these discomforts, and how to deal with these reasons, so as to get through the "running-in period" of hearing aids, say goodbye to ear discomfort, and enjoy a clear world.

1. Ear canal pressure or pain

As a foreign object, the ear canal needs time to adapt to its pressure. For custom hearing aids, this discomfort is more common, and possible reasons include: inaccurate ear impressions and incorrect wearing methods. When taking ear samples, users may chew, talk, etc., or the ear sample material may expire, resulting in the size or shape of the ear impression not matching the ear canal. This makes the custom machine shell not fit the user's external ear canal, causing ear canal discomfort or even pain when wearing. When wearing for the first time, some users will force the earplug or custom machine into the external auditory canal to prevent the hearing aid from falling off, causing the top of the earplug or custom machine to contact the wall of the external auditory canal, causing pressure on it and causing pain. The correct way to wear it is to place the earplug or custom machine normally in the ear canal to ensure that there is no sound leakage.

2. Ear itching

Some users may feel ear itching, which may be caused by friction between the hearing aid and the skin of the ear canal or an allergic reaction. Since most hearing aid earplugs or custom machine shells are made of anti-allergic materials, most allergies are not caused by hearing aid materials, but by continuous pressure on the skin of the external auditory canal when wearing hearing aids for a long time, which may change the lymphatic circulation in the ear canal, leading to the release of histamine, causing itching. In addition, if the size of the earplug selected for the user is inappropriate or the shell of the custom machine is thick when selecting a hearing aid for the user, it may cause more obvious pressure or friction on the ear canal, exacerbating the itching of the ear. Therefore, in order to alleviate the itching when the user wears the hearing aid, the fitter needs to ensure that the hearing aid or earplug is of the right size. If necessary, the ear mold can be re-customized or a smaller earplug can be selected.

3. Stuffy ears

When wearing hearing aids, stuffy ears are a common discomfort. This feeling is similar to the "blocked" feeling when blocking the external auditory canal with your fingers. This stuffy feeling may be caused by many reasons, such as wearing the hearing aid too tightly, the ear canal is not breathable, and the earplug is aged and degenerated. When the ear canal is completely blocked, such as wearing a hearing aid or earplug, the low-frequency reflection of the sound in the ear canal will be enhanced, making the wearer feel that his voice is amplified, resulting in a stuffy or echoing effect. Especially when the size of the custom machine or earplug is not suitable, it is easy to cause wearing too tight, aggravating the stuffy feeling. If the user has good low-frequency hearing, the low-frequency gain should not be compensated too much. The custom machine needs to open the vent, and the behind-the-ear machine can use an open earplug to increase the leakage of low-frequency sound and relieve the stuffy feeling. In addition, the aging and stiffness of the earplug can also cause it. Under normal circumstances, the earplug is elastic, soft, and breathable, but the aging and stiff earplug loses this part of the function, resulting in pressure on the ear canal when worn, resulting in a stuffy feeling.

4. Your own voice sounds strange

Some users feel that their voices sound strange after wearing hearing aids, which is caused by many factors.

• When wearing hearing aids, earplugs or ear molds will block the external auditory canal to a certain extent, changing the acoustic characteristics of the ear canal. This makes it impossible for low-frequency sounds that can usually be emitted through the ear canal to be discharged normally, just like covering your ears with your hands to speak, which will produce muffled sounds, echoes or hollow feelings.
• Hearing aids will amplify all sounds. Usually, we hear our own voices through a mixture of bone conduction and air conduction. But hearing aids mainly amplify the sound of the air conduction part, which breaks the original sound balance and causes an imbalance in sound perception.
• For those who have long-term hearing loss, they may have gradually forgotten what "normal" sounds are like. When they suddenly hear clear sounds through hearing aids, especially their own voices, they will feel a little strange.

5. Unnatural sound

When you wear a hearing aid for the first time, the sound may feel unnatural, even a little sharp or harsh. This is because the brain needs to readjust to the sound, and long-term hearing loss will cause the brain's ability to process sound to gradually weaken. When wearing a hearing aid, the brain needs to relearn how to process the amplified sound signal. Therefore, even with a hearing aid, the sound may sound a little strange or unnatural at first. In addition, there is a difference between the way hearing aids amplify sound and the natural way the human ear processes sound. As an auxiliary listening tool, hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, then adjust and amplify the sound signal through a processor, and finally transmit the sound to the ear canal through a speaker. This process is different from natural hearing and may cause the sound to sound a little "electronic" or unnatural. For example, hearing aids may amplify certain frequencies of sound and ignore other frequencies, which is different from our natural sense of balance in hearing. This situation can be improved through adaptation during the adaptation period and hearing rehabilitation training, which can help the brain better process sound signals and improve speech comprehension.

6. Auditory fatigue:

Auditory fatigue refers to the fatigue of the brain after a long period of hard work to process sound. For people with hearing loss, the brain needs to work harder to understand the sound after not receiving complex sounds for a long time, especially in a noisy or complex environment. Long-term listening can easily lead to auditory fatigue and even headaches or dizziness. Therefore, for first-time wearers, they should choose a quiet environment to communicate, and give themselves some quiet time after long-term auditory activities to let the brain and ears rest.

The above discomfort is usually temporary. Most problems will gradually ease with the increase of wearing time and the advancement of the adaptation process. It is recommended that you start with only one or two hours a day, gradually increase the wearing time until you can wear it all day, and gradually transition from a quiet environment to a complex environment. However, if you feel uncomfortable after wearing a hearing aid, and this discomfort has not improved after a period of adaptation, it is recommended that you go to a professional fitting center in time and consult a professional fitting technician or audiologist. Use professional equipment and technology to debug the hearing aid to improve the comfort and clarity of wearing. Say goodbye to ear discomfort and enjoy a clear world.

With the US FDA allowing the sale of OTC hearing aids, the global market has changed – hearing aid distributors must understand the impact. The most important topic for hearing-impaired users: Are OTC hearing aids effective and worth buying?

For hearing aid users

Overall, OTC hearing aids provide a cost-effective hearing solution for users with limited budgets and minimal hearing loss. OTC hearing aids are suitable for people with mild to moderate to severe hearing loss, do not require a prescription, are inexpensive, usually between $100-$600, are easy to operate, suitable for daily use, and are convenient to purchase online and offline. However, OTC hearing aids cannot be customized to meet the needs of patients with severe hearing needs. It is advisable to consult with an audiologist before purchasing to ensure that you choose the most suitable hearing aid.

For Hearing Aid Distributors

When the elderly come to choose hearing aids, we need to consider them comprehensively from multiple aspects to ensure that they can get the hearing aids that are most suitable for them and improve their quality of life. For this reason, AUSTAR Hearing has compiled an ultimate guide to choosing hearing aids for the elderly, hoping to help our customers.

First, we need to judge according to the user's hearing loss. If the hearing loss is mild, it is not advisable to choose a high-power hearing aid to avoid the sound being too loud and causing discomfort, especially when listening to loud sounds. If the hearing loss is severe, you cannot choose a low-power hearing aid, otherwise it may not meet their hearing needs, and the hearing aid gain may not be able to improve the user much when it reaches the full-speed gain level. At the same time, the hearing aid continues to work at the full-speed gain level, which is very likely to cause sound distortion, blur or howling, affecting speech clarity.

Second, we need to consider the user's hearing needs. Understand the daily activity scenarios of the elderly, such as whether they often go out and whether they need to use hearing aids in noisy environments. If the elderly often move in noisy environments, it is recommended to choose a hearing aid with powerful noise reduction function. In addition, if the elderly need to use the phone or listen to music frequently, they can choose hearing aids with Bluetooth function to facilitate connection to smart devices.

Third, the style of hearing aids is also important. Behind-the-ear hearing aids are large in size, but easy to operate, and suitable for elderly people with poor hand dexterity. At the same time, if the user has otitis media or external otitis, it is recommended to wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, which are more comfortable and not easy to damage the hearing aids when pus and water flow. In-ear hearing aids are small in size and highly concealed, suitable for elderly people who pay attention to appearance and those who pursue high concealment and comfort. In addition, choosing hearing aids with high concealment and comfortable wearing can reduce psychological pressure. Ensuring that the appearance of hearing aids does not embarrass the elderly will help improve their social acceptance.

Fourth, the convenience of operation should not be ignored. Choose hearing aids with simple operation, such as large buttons, clear function labels, and one-button operation functions, which are convenient for the elderly to adjust the volume and switch programs in daily life. Some high-end hearing aids also support Bluetooth wireless connection, which can be connected to mobile phones or other devices to improve the clarity and fluency of listening to songs and making calls when wearing hearing aids, and bring users more personalized setting options.

Fifth, in terms of functional requirements, the noise reduction function can help the elderly better distinguish human voices in noisy environments and improve clarity. Hearing aids not only need to amplify the sound, but also ensure the clarity of the sound and avoid distortion. The multi-channel processing function can make the hearing aid process the sound segmentation more refined, and can amplify or attenuate the sound of different frequencies in a targeted manner, so as to better meet the hearing needs of the elderly.

Finally, consider the budget and after-sales service. Comprehensively consider product performance, quality and after-sales, and choose a reasonably priced hearing aid to avoid blindly pursuing high prices or choosing low-priced and low-quality products. Choose a brand or merchant with perfect after-sales service to ensure that the elderly can get support at any time during use.

By comprehensively considering the above factors, we can choose the most suitable hearing aids for the elderly, help them better adapt to hearing loss, and improve their quality of life.

AUSTAR Hearing: Trusted Hearing Aid Manufacturer for 20+ Years

Choosing the right hearing aid for your child is a key step in the rehabilitation process of hearing-impaired children. In addition to paying attention to the performance indicators of hearing aids, such as sound amplification, noise reduction, battery life, etc., parents also need to consider many other factors to ensure that their children can use hearing aids comfortably and safely, so as to better integrate into the social and learning environment.

1. Comfort of wearing hearing aids

Children are in a critical stage of growth and development, and the shape and size of their ear canals will continue to change with age. Although customized hearing aids are highly concealed, the shape of the ear canal changes rapidly during the development of children, resulting in the need for frequent return of the hearing aid body shell to the factory for redoing, which not only increases the long-term cost burden, but may also affect the child's acceptance of hearing aids due to frequent replacement of the shell. In addition, customized hearing aids are smaller in size, and for children, there may be problems with poor fit and difficulty in wearing.

Therefore, it is recommended for children to choose behind-the-ear hearing aids and match them with suitable soft ear molds or hard ear molds. This combination can effectively reduce friction and irritation to the ear canal skin and improve wearing comfort. At the same time, parents need to regularly check the fit of the ear mold or earplug, and replace the ear mold or earplug of the appropriate size in time as the child grows, to ensure that the hearing aid always fits the ear canal and plays the best effect. In addition, the appearance color of the hearing aid should not be ignored. Choosing the color that the child likes, or the color tone that is similar to the child's skin color, can not only attract the child's attention, but also to a certain extent improve their acceptance and self-confidence of wearing hearing aids, making them more willing to actively use hearing aids.

2. Safety of hearing aid use

Being active and lively is the nature of children. Although this characteristic is cute, it also brings special challenges to the safe use of hearing aids. Children are full of curiosity about the world around them, which makes them face more safety risks when wearing hearing aids. These risks may not only affect the children themselves, but also other children. The shell design of most hearing aids is sturdy and durable, and can withstand a certain degree of collision and extrusion, thereby effectively preventing safety hazards caused by accidental damage. However, for younger children, it is recommended to choose hearing aids that can be set with a safety lock to prevent children from disassembling the battery compartment or removing the battery by themselves, and avoid accidents such as accidental swallowing or accidental injury.

3. Durability of hearing aids

Children are inevitably exposed to water and dust in their daily lives, so the waterproof and dustproof performance of hearing aids is crucial. Choosing hearing aids with a high waterproof and dustproof rating can effectively reduce equipment failures caused by accidental water ingress or dust accumulation, thereby extending the service life of hearing aids. In addition, children have rich daily activities and sweat a lot, and a large amount of sweat accumulated over a long period of time may cause erosion to hearing aids. Therefore, parents should do a good job of daily cleaning of hearing aids and regularly go to professional stores for deep cleaning and maintenance to ensure that hearing aids are always in good working condition and extend their service life.

4. After-sales support for hearing aids