When it comes to hearing loss, there is no better solution than hearing aids. At the first sign of hearing loss, we recommend that you come visit us at Desert Valley Audiology for a hearing test. If a hearing loss is detected, we will work with you to find the best hearing aids to meet your hearing needs.
Hearing aid technology has advanced significantly in the past decade. These days, Made for iPhone hearing aids are available from many major hearing aid manufacturers. Even if you’re not particularly interested in wireless compatibility, you’ll find that most hearing aids have incredible listening features that improve speech recognition and directionality.
There’s no denying that technology in general has come a long way. If you’re a smartphone user, then you know the power of apps to streamline your daily life. From calendars that notify you of appointments to video chats to help you stay in touch with your loved ones, smartphone apps help us stay connected.
Here are a few apps that could supplement your hearing aids or help improve your hearing.
Made for iPhone Apps
At Desert Valley Audiology, we are proud to offer a number of Made for iPhone hearing aids: Starkey’s Halo 2, Phonak’s BEYOND, and ReSound’s LiNX 2 and 3D. Made for iPhone hearing aids are designed to connect wirelessly to your iPhone (or Android), allowing you to stream phone calls, Face Time, music, movies, and other media directly to your hearing aids. In other words, your hearing aids become stereo headphones.
Hearing aid manufacturers have designed compatible apps for their Made for iPhone hearing aids, which are easily downloadable to your smartphone. These user-friendly apps allow you to control your listening experience, fine-tuning the sound, adjusting the volume, and changing between channels. Depending on the model, the app tags a GPS-location with your preferences and make automatic adjustments when you return. Certain models offer a “find my hearing aid” function, if you happen to misplace them.
To learn more about Made for iPhone hearing aids, contact us at Desert Valley Audiology.
Sound Meter App
When it comes to hearing loss prevention, that old saying sticks: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With new studies indicating that modern life is louder than before, how do we make sure that our ears are safe? Younger populations of Americans are facing a rise in hearing loss, due to exposure to loud sounds. Occupational hearing hazards also pose a risk for those of us working in noisy environments.
To monitor sound levels in your environment, search your Apple store or Android app store for a sound meter app. Here are a few suggestions. There are many different ones available, usually for free or a small cost. The sound meter app picks up sound in your environment and gives you the reading in decibels.
Keep in mind that sounds at 85 decibels for more than 8 hours have the potential to permanently damage your hearing. Consider using hearing protection, such as earplugs, and give your ears a break every few hours.
Deaf Wake
It is recommended that you take out your hearing aids when you to go to bed. If you wear rechargeable hearing aids, you’ll place them in the charging station overnight. People who use hearing aids with traditional batteries tend to store them in a dry, safe space or use a dehumidifier overnight to remove any moisture collected during the day. As such, it may be difficult to hear your alarm in the morning.
The Deaf Wake app is designed to wake you up, using different functions on your smartphone: LED, vibration, camera flash, or a flashing screen, along with sounds. With Deaf Wake, you may customize your alarm style and save them for different instances. At $1.99, this app is worth it – especially if it means you don’t miss a flight or an important business meeting!
Subtitles Viewer!
For the movie aficionado, Subtitles Viewer! is a useful app if you’re at the cinema. While at home, it’s easy enough to turn on captions or subtitles. Subtitles Viewer! Pro connects to opensubtitles.org and has access to a number of movies and TV shows, available in languages such as English, French, German, and Spanish. The Pro version is especially useful for an unlimited number of subtitles – often times including new releases.
For other exciting apps to help you here, go here.
You don’t have to live with untreated hearing loss! For more information and to schedule a hearing test, contact us at Desert Valley Audiology.