Top technology helps Better Hearing improve patients’ lives

The Better Hearing Institute states that one out of every 10 Americans has hearing loss. For many, hearing aids of all shapes and sizes are the best option for improving hearing and increasing speech clarity.

The professionals at Better Hearing and Balance Connection, voted Best Audiologist/Hearing Center in the NWA Media’s Best of the Best poll, recognize that owning a hearing aid is the first step in the process toward improved communication. Dr. Gretchen Magee, owner of Better Hearing, says that patients in their offices will find a unique standard in technology to verify that hearing aids are providing appropriate help for an individual’s hearing loss. They will also set goals for follow-up appointments throughout the trial period.

Better Hearing and Balance Connection routinely uses the advanced technique of real ear verification called speech mapping, which utilizes various recorded speech passages to measure the performance of the hearing instruments while in a person’s ear. Other verification systems available use a series of tones to measure performance, but this practice is limited because the hearing instrument output is only measured at individual frequencies.

The doctors at Better Hearing chose to offer the technology that covers the entire range of speech frequencies and which they believe gives a better overall impression of hearing instrument performance. Speech mapping can fine-tune the process of increasing speech understanding and communication abilities.

Real ear verification is performed by placing a small microphone into the ear of a patient along with his/her hearing instrument. A standardized signal is presented, and the output of the hearing aid in the patient’s ear is measured using the integrated computer.

Better Hearing uses large television displays to help patients see the progress and use the information as a counseling tool in their own patient care. Better Hearing has accounts with more than 15 hearing-aid manufacturers and often can make programming changes directly to hearing aids. Measurement of hearing prior to this procedure is needed, but screening procedures can be completed in office.

All hearing-aid patients can use the testing to evaluate their current hearing-aid settings, whether they are on new devices from Better Hearing or older ones from other locations. The evaluation can let patients know within minutes whether their hearing aids are meeting targets predicted for their hearing loss.

Better Hearing and Balance Connection is a member of the Bella Vista Business Association. Better Hearing offers a hearing-care package with the purchase of most hearing aids. The free package covers batteries for five years, disposable supplies and office visits. More information is available online at betterhearingandbalance.net or by calling (479) 657-6464 in Bella Vista, (479) 715-6062 in Bentonville or toll free at (855) 657-6464.