What’s new in Hearing Care?
At the 2019 ACAud National Congress, we learnt about what’s new in hearing care.
As well as learning about the latest hearing devices (hearing aids continue to get better at helping you hear in noise and working with your Bluetooth devices, such as your smartphone) the speakers touched on four big issues.
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Training your brain
Leading audiologist and researcher Therese Walden, spoke about the development of Online Auditory Training. One such program is Clearworks4ears. This program can improve your hearing ability and train your listening and auditory brain skills by playing fun computer games. This is designed for individuals with and without hearing devices.
Working with your local hearing care professional, you’re able to customise the program and track your progress over time. Talk to the hearing clinicians at Smart Hearing Solutions to find out if this program might work for you.
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Teleaudiology (Remote hearing care & fitting assistance)
Teleaudiology, the provision of hearing healthcare using technology, isn’t a new idea. For many people living in remote parts of the country, it’s rare that they get to speak to their doctor or hearing care clinician face-to-face. For them, being able to access vital healthcare via their computer or smartphone, has been a real godsend.
Teleaudiology saves both the client and the hearing care provider a lot of travel time. And often it’s more convenient for people to be seen in their own home. At Smart Hearing Solutions, we’re starting to offer online video consultations for both new and existing clients. Read more about teleaudiology.
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What’s old is new again
The good news for people needing help with their hearing is that comprehensive testing and hearing care professionals spending more time with their clients is BACK! Following the ACCC’s investigation into practices of the hearing care industry, hearing care is getting back to basics. There’s less emphasis on pressured ‘sales’ tactics, common in some of the larger hearing chains.
There’s more emphasis on clinicians getting to know their clients better and giving them more options to help them make better decisions about their hearing health. Of course, the team at Smart Hearing Solutions have always had a customer-centred approach to hearing care!
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The emergence of ‘Over the Counter’ hearing solutions
For many people with mild hearing loss, or those who have ‘normal’ hearing, but have trouble hearing in noisy environments, a hearing aid may not the answer. They’re looking for a low-cost alternative that they can use without having to have a full hearing assessment.
Non-programmable personal sound amplifiers (PSAP’s), such as Nuheara’s IQbuds™, are now available ‘over the counter’ from Smart Hearing Solutions.
They’re intelligent, truly wireless earbuds that give you control to hear what you want to hear in the world around you and connect to your digital devices. Available on our website for direct order.