Removing ear wax

We have taken the liberty to list some steps in removing ear wax…

  • Take a small bowl, and add some warm water.
  • Add an equal or slightly lesser amount of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Fill the ear syringe with this mixture.
  • Lie on your side, and insert a small amount of the mixture into the affected ear with the syringe. (unaffected side to the ‘down side’)
  • Remain lying on your side for 5 to 15 minutes. You should be able to hear the Hydrogen Peroxide bubbling in your ear.
  • When the bubbling sound stops, place the second small bowl under your ear, and turn your head to drain the ear into the bowl.
  • Refill the syringe, and with the bowl under your eaer, squirt the mixture into your ear with a slight amount of pressure. You should be able to feel the pressure from the liquid, but don’t squeeze the syringe so hard that it causes pain.

Repeat this step until you are out of the water/peroxide mixture.

Hearing Aid battery recommendation

The batteries that Clear Tones Hearing sells are actually Rayovac batteries. Rayovac is considered a very good hearing aid battery.

What can affect the life of a battery? Dryness from colder air can sometimes dry out the battery causing premature failure. Also, humid or tropical environments can cause the battery to take on moisture and have a shorter life.

Another factor contributing to the life of a hearing aid battery includes noise exposure levels-a battery will drain less in a library versus at a restaurant. Sweat and perspiration can cause it to short out, and wearing the volume control at the maximum level also reduces the battery life.

If you suspect that your batteries are not lasting as long as they used to, please document the next 2 or 3 battery life cycles. This information is helpful when you come into the office.

Does it really matter?

I have heard many comments about hearing loss, but the most heart-breaking come from people who feel that is is not important to hear better-as if it doesn’t really matter.

Hearing enables a communication, and the lack of hearing promotes isolation. Is it crucial to communicate with others? Absolutely!

I saw a woman today who was not able to communicate with others. Granted, her health had failed her greatly. But chances are, several things in her life slowly deteriorated, and now she is just existing. A person does not have to have severe health challenges to move out of the communication arena.

When it becomes too difficult to understand speech, and when a person gets tired of constantly asking someone to repeat something it is easier to just withdraw from that situation. This is where isolation begins.

Recently I fit a 91 year old man with a hearing aid. It was his first one. He was very fortunate in that he probably has had hearing loss for a long time, and he still understands speech pretty well-and much better with the help of the hearing aid.

When a person has had hearing difficulties for a long period of time, they often lose the ability to understand speech, which also lends to one isolating themselves from others. This is a serious problem.

We are made to interact with people. When we lose the ability to do that, our drive to live decreases.

If you have a loved one who has hearing loss, please encourage them to do whatever they can to hear better.

How are we doing?

We have sold many hearing aids since the opening of Clear Tones Hearing in Peru Indiana.

Our goal is customer satisfaction!

We would be appreciative to get your feedback on the whole experience, from buying the hearing aid, fitting the hearing aid, to your your present experience.

We feel that our responsibility is to do our best to provide our customers with hearing aids that are comfortable to wear and that benefit the customer.

There are several things we can do to enhance the hearing performance, some of which is dependent on which hearing aid is purchased. The customer’s responsibility is to communicate with us if there are any problems or issues of dissatisfaction.

We really need your input, and we desire to make things as pleasant as possible. If you have any problems with your hearing aids, please let us know!

If a hearing aid is not worn, then we have not met our goal….which is to help you hear better!

One or Two?

Do I really need two hearing aids or is one enough? If a person has hearing loss in both ears, then two hearing aids are recommended.

Binaural summation is a technical terms describing that a person hears better with two ears than with only one.  The signal that goes to the brain is stronger, and the sound comes across louder when both ears hear it. Locating a sound also improves when both ears receive amplification. If only one ear is hearing well, it is harder for the brain to identify where a sound originated.

Interaural attenuation denotes how sound has to travel around the head to the other side if only one ear is receiving amplification. By the time the sound waves get around the head, the strength of that sound has diminished, which makes it hard to hear sounds from the other side.

Balance and equlilbrium also play a part in wearing one or two hearing aids. If you have hearing loss in both ears, we highly recommend treating both ears with better hearing.

How does LISTENING affect our lives?

Because listening is such an important aspect of our daily lives, and because our auditory system has such an profound impact on how we function, it is fair to say that anyone could benefit from an auditory stimulation program such as The Listening Program.

Specifically, TLP was designed for children (ages 2 and older) and adults who have auditory perceptual/processing concerns.

In adults, auditory problems may manifest as difficulty retaining auditory information, inattentiveness, sound sensitivity, or speech/language and voice concerns. For individuals who have hearing loss, an auditory stimulation program is important to aid in improving the functional use of their hearing.

Although hearing levels may remain the same, as indicated on the audiogram, TLP may help to train the individual’s listening skills so that existing hearing may be used more efficiently.

Clear Tones Heaing does not benefit financially if you buy this product, we just believe it will help.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss or NIHL

NIHL? Yes, this is also known as noise induced hearing loss.

The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). The hum of a refrigerator is 40 dB, normal conversation is 60 dB, and city traffic is 85 dB.

Sources of noise that can cause NIHL include small firearms, motorcycles, and not surprisingly firecrackers, all emitting sounds for 120-150 dB. Long or repeated exposure to sounds 85 dB or above can cause hearing loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the time before NIHL occurs.

Another factor to consider for NIHL is distance from the source of the sound and the length of time exposure has occured. Exposure to these types of sounds can cause damage to the hair cells as well as the auditory nerve. Tinnitus often accompanies this type of hearing loss, which is a ringing in the ears.

Preventing hearing loss

One of the most common causes of hearing loss is noise. Many of you already have hearing loss, but this information can be especially helpful to younger people that you care about.

The inner ear contains thousands of hair cells. When these hair cells become damaged, hearing loss occurs. A single shot from a shotgun at close range can actually cause permanent damage in an instant. Many recreational activities are big contributors to hearing loss: video arcades, motorcycles, snowmobiles, music concerts, and movie theaters.

Occupations that are conducive to hearing loss include firefighters, police officers, factory workers, farmers, construction workers, military personnel, and musicians.

If you find yourself in loud noise situations, try to limit your exposure to loud sound. Wear hearing protection. Avoid medications that can be harmful to your hearing.

Since prevention is so critical, make sure that family and friends are aware of the hazards of noise. Remember: 1/3 of hearing loss is PREVENTABLE with proper hearing protection.

Clear Tones Hearing Updates, Website & Blog

We are very happy to announce that Clear Tones Hearing’s website has recently undergone a fresh start!

Our website is located at www.cleartoneshearing.com and we have included relevant hearing loss information as well as information pertaining to our quality hearing instruments available and hearing loss resources. Stop by and take a few moments to review the site, you can find so much helpful information.

Our website will be updated regularly and if you have any questions about a hearing loss concern, please feel free to contact us. We are Miami County’s only hearing loss provider and as such we are here to serve our community.

Our new blog will be utilized to keep our current customers updated with new products, sales events and other related events. 

Again, please contact our office with any concerns you have or if you would like to schedule your FREE hearing test! 

Hearing fun facts

Here are some Fun Facts for you….

  • Cicadas hearing organs are in their stomachs
  • Where do crickets have their hearing organs? Answer: Their KNEES!
  • Male mosquitoes hear with thousands of tiny hairs that grow on their antennae.
  • Fish do not have ears but they can hear. The ridges on their bodies alert them to pressure changes.
  • Snakes do not have ears. What part of their body is sensitive to sound vibrations? Answer: Their Tongue!
  • In World War One, parrots were kept on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Parrots have a remarkable sense of hearing, and they would actually hear enemy aircraft before the human ear could hear it. Their purpose was to warm the public of eminent danger.