FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is the OTC Hearing Aid?Answer:
OTC hearing aids are self-fit hearing aids designed for adults aged 18 and over who have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. If you have a tight budget and a mild hearing loss, then the Earsmate best OTC hearing aids may be a good fit for you.
On the August 16 of 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Of the USA released its final rules establishing a regulatory category for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
Question: What is the payment way/method?
Answer: You can pay by Paypal, or T/T HSBC Bank or L/C for order in the Earsmate hearing aid store.
Question: What is the shipping way/method?
Answer:
There is the Express shipping way of DHL/UPS/FedEx/TNT,which is expensive shipping freight but short shipping time about 5-7 days.
Also,it is the post shipping way with cheap freight but long shipping time about 30 days.
For the bulk quantity order,the shipping by Airplane or by Sea is available too.
Question: What is the lead time or delivery time for order after payment?
Answer: For samples or small order,it is about 2-3 days for delivery after payment.
For bulk order,
the delivery time is about 5-7 days if Qty 100 - 500pcs
the delivery time is about 9-12 days if Qty 500 - 1000pcs
the delivery time is about 13-17 days if Qty 1000 - 5000pcs
Question: Do you have OEM service ?
Answer: Yes,the OEM service is available.We can make your customized color box,print your logo on color box or print logo on hearing aid body.
Question: What pieces do all hearing aids share?
Answer: It is a great idea to know the similarities of all hearing aids before trying to judge the differences.
There are four primary similarities with all hearing aids: A speaker, a microphone, a battery and an amplifier. No discredit to all of the hearing aid companies out there but at the end of the day, their product is simply some combination of these four things.
Question: What is the different styles of hearing aids to choose?
Answer:
There are five principle styles that all hearing aids are designed around.
1.Open fit(OF or RIC) – these leave the ear canal open and are really best for people with light to medium hearing loss.
2.In the ear(ITE) – the most common fit – these fill the ear canal and are good for those with severe hearing loss.
3.Behind the ear(BTE) – these hearing aids provide the most power and are almost a necessity for people with severe hearing loss.
4.In the canal(ITC) – good for mild to severe but not ideal for people who are not very good with small knobs and buttons.
5.Completely in the canal(CIC) – these are perfect for medium to mild hearing loss. They are small so they don’t get wind disturbance at all but the smaller batteries lead to more frequent changing.
The five main hearing aid styles are interesting to consider. From afar hearing aids can all seem similar. Far from it. There are many distinctions.
Question : Why you can hear the whistle voice when wearing the hearing aids?
Answer:
Earplugs and ear contact area is strictly closed, the amplified sound is leaked from the cracks and returned to the microphone to enlarge to produce the whistle. This phenomenon is similar to our common howling that the microphone close to the speaker.
(1) The hand or an object close to the hearing aid, due to a part of the sound-reflecting in your palm or the object and returns to the microphone to further amplified.
(2) The hearing aid is not completely inserted into the ear canal or not tight seal with the ear canal wall, the amplified sound leaks and returns the microphone.
(3) A lot of earwax in the ear, due to the earwax embolism, the amplified sound reflections to the earwax again and to the microphone, can also generate a feedback.
Question : What is the types of Hearing Loss ?
Answer:
Not all hearing loss can be corrected through the use of hearing aids or alternative listening devices. The type of hearing loss determines the specific treatment required.
There are four types of hearing loss:
1.Conductive: This could be caused by something as simple as earwax buildup!
2.Sensorineural: This is caused when tiny hairs in the cochlea are missing or damaged.
3.Mixed: This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
4.Central: Strokes and central nerve diseases are often the cause of this type of hearing loss.
Question:Why are the RIC Hearing aids?
Answer:
Recently, in the Europe and the United States Hearing Aids market, a new high-tech product called mini RIC hearing aid has become the newest category of hearing aids with the fastest growth in demand. From pocket hearing aids, BTE hearing aid, ITE hearing aid to this mini hearing aids (RIC hearing aids), this may be one of the most revolutionary innovations in the history of hearing aids industry.
Moreover,there are some reasons why is the RIC Hearing aids for users:
1.The Ric hearing aid body is more smaller than the regular BTE Hearing aid because of the Ric hearing aid receiver is in the ear canal not in the hearing aid body,so the Ric hearing aids are more discreet and invisible than the BTE hearing aid.
2.The Ric hearing aids have the thin running wire connected the receiver,it is more beautiful than the BTE hearing aid with the tube.
3.The Ric hearing aids receiver are more closer to the tympanic membrane, so the sound is more natural and clearly.
4.the RIC hearing aids Receiver with a special anti-earwax device to make the wearer feel more comfort and reliability when using the hearing aid in humid environments.
Question:Which people are suitable for the RIC Hearing aids?
Answer:
According to the different requirements of Users on hearing aids, we can classify these Users into three groups as per their needs:
The 1st group: Need hearing aid to hear clearly, no requirements on the appearance, the price is cheap and can work for talking.
The 2nd group: Need hearing aid to small or invisible and beautiful, meanwhile the sound quality should be OK at certain requirements, but they can tolerate the hearing aid wearing discomfort to some extent.
The 3rd group: Need the hearing aid comfortable, clear, beautiful appearance. This group of Users’ needs will be the main customer of RIC hearing aid.
Question: What is the Causes of Hearing Loss?
Answer:
One of the most common "myths" about hearing loss is that only "old people" suffer from it! In fact, the reverse is true! The majority (65%) of people with hearing loss are younger than 65 and six million people in the U.S. between 18 and 44 suffer from hearing loss (Better Hearing Institute website).
The truth is that there are several causes of hearing loss with "exposure to noise" ranking high among the reasons. The primary causes of hearing loss are six ways as follows:
·*Exposure to noise
·*Family history of hearing loss
·*Medicine
·*Aging process
·*Disease
·*Head trauma
Question:Do you know your Hearing Level and the Loudness?
Answer: Please refer to the table as details in Decibel (dB) below:
| Hearing Aids | IIC,CIC,ITC,ITE,BTE,RIC Hearing aids/Analog/Digital/Rechargeable | |||||
| Hearing Level | Slight Loss | Mild | Moderate | Mild-Severe | Severe | Profound |
| Loudness(dB) | 16-25dB | 26-40dB | 41-55dB | 56-70dB | 71-90dB | 91+dB |
| Max.OSPL90 (dB) | 105dB | 115dB | 125dB | 130dB | 135dB | 140+dB |
| Max. Gain(dB) | 25dB | 40dB | 55dB | 60dB | 70dB | 80+dB |
Question:How do I know if Need a Hearing Tested or not?
Answer:
If you answer yes to several of these questions, you may need to get a hearing test:
-Is it hard to hear or understand others?
-Do you get frustrated trying to hear things?
-Do people get frustrated because they need to repeat what they say to you?
-Do you turn up the TV or radio louder than those around you would like?
-Do you have trouble hearing what people are saying in restaurants or at the movies?
-Is your social life, school, or job limited by your problem with hearing?
Question:How to do the adaptive training with hearing aid?
Answer:
You might think the voices are not real and clear enough for the first using. Because you Have become accustomed to the original hearing status. You would heard some unfamiliar voice for the first using because haven't adapt yet. The main way to solve this problem is make some necessary adaptive training, beginning time not too long, the volume is not too large, slowly adapt.
Hearing aid adaptation training is not complicated, the general principle is to adhere to wear, step-by-step adapt:
(1) The daily wearing time should be from short to long;
(2) The volume adjusting should be from small to large;
(3) The communication environment should be from quiet to complex, from simple complexity.
So step by step adapt, in order to make you as soon as possible to through the adaptation period, and make the role of hearing aids to maximize.
Question:What can the Hearing aid DO?
Answer:
Hearing aids come in different shapes and sizes but work in a similar way. They have a built-in microphone that picks up sound, which is processed electronically. The resulting signals are then passed to a receiver – like a tiny loudspeaker – where they are converted into louder sounds that you can hear.
Hearing aids will help you hear everyday sounds like your phone and make it easier to follow conversations. You may also be able to enjoy listening to music, the TV and radio again.
If you have tinnitus, you may find it disturbs you less when you wear hearing aids.
In brief,the hearing aids can:
1.make sounds louder
2.make conversations easier
3.help you hear on the phone
Question: Is necessary to treat the hearing loss?
Answer:
The answer is surely YES,the hearing loss impacts all aspects of our life
Hearing plays a major role in our quality of life, from our emotional well-being and physical health to our careers and leisure activities.
Firstly,Hearing loss impacts our emotional well-being
When we hear our best, there’s nothing stopping us from enjoying the sounds of laughter, music, nature or conversations with family and friends. Hearing these sounds help fuel us, and undeniably make moments more memorable and life more enjoyable.
But,when hearing is impaired, those sounds we've taken for granted fade — leading to a cascade of changes that could impact us emotionally,such as:
1.Hearing loss might cause embarrassment
2.Missing favorite sounds might lead to sadness
3.Missing critical information could create anxiety
4.Not hearing conversations clearly might lead to feeling left out
5.And feeling left out can lead to depression and social isolation
Secondly,Hearing loss impacts our physical and mental health
When hearing is impaired, our sense of space shrinks, warning cues get missed, and we withdraw from social activities or situations.
This leaves our physical and mental health vulnerable,saying:
-Adults with hearing loss are up to 5 times more likely to develop dementia
-Hearing loss is linked to a three-fold risk of falling
-Accidental injuries are up to 50 percent more likely for people with hearing loss
Thirdly,hearing loss impacts everyday life
When hearing is impaired, those connections, interactions and moments can be muted and strained, which has an impact on our quality of life,including:
+Missing a grandchild's first words or a family dinner story
+Feeling left out of a conversation or a good joke
+Limiting once-fun social activities
+Feeling less independent, less confident and less secure
+Frustrating loved ones with constant requests to repeat what was said
+Not living life to the fullest because hearing loss is holding you back
Question: What is the symptoms of hearing loss ?
Answer:
The symptoms of hearing loss can vary depending on the type of hearing loss, the cause of hearing loss, and the degree of loss.
In general, people who have hearing loss may experience any or all of the following:
1.Difficulty understanding everyday conversation
2.A feeling of being able to hear but not understand
3.Having to turn up the TV or radio
4.Asking others to repeat often
5.Avoidance of social situations that were once enjoyable
6.Increased difficulty communicating in noisy situations like restaurants, lively family gatherings, in the car or in group meetings
7.Tinnitus, or ringing and/or buzzing sounds in the ears
Question:How to find the best suitable hearing aids?
Answer:
“Which hearing aid is best for me?”here,you can learn what to consider when choosing a hearing aid.
As someone with possible hearing loss or having a history of wearing hearing aids, you may have mulled over the decision to buy new or buy again more than once. But, we humans tend to be fickle and possibly presumptuous about placing a plastic device inside our ears for an extended time. We may worry about how the hearing aid will look once fitted or if it will really help with our hearing loss. But understanding our anxiety can help when we go to research what to look for when purchasing a hearing aid — and this may relieve some of our concerns.
For the most part, hearing aids come with fundamental parts that transfer sound from the environment around you into your ear. The contention may come when we start to decide or research the number of different hearing aid styles available to us, which can vary in size, shape, and the way that they are fitted onto or into your ear. Some hearing aids are small enough to go inside the ear canal, which allows them to be barely visible — or what popular terminology refers to as invisible hearing aids. Other hearing aids only partially go inside the ear canal; thus, these are more noticeable to the eye. On average, the smaller the hearing aid, the less power it may output given its engineering for a smaller form over total power output. A smaller hearing aid might also have shorter battery life and because of its precedence on being small, it may cost us more.
Here are typical hearing aid styles you might find almost anywhere:
1.Completely in the Canal Hearing Aids (CIC)
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to be fit inside the ear canal and generally improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
2.In the Canal Hearing Aids (ITC)
In-the-canal hearing aids generally are custom molded and are fitted partially in the ear canal, but may not go as deep as the completely-in-canal hearing aid. This hearing aid is also sufficient for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
3.Half-Shell Hearing Aids
Half-shell hearing aids are usually smaller versions of the in-the-canal hearing aid. They are custom molded and generally fit into the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. These are appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
4.In the Ear or Full-Shell Hearing Aids (ITE)
In-the-ear or full-shell hearing aids are also custom made and fill up most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to severe hearing loss.
In-the-ear or full-shell hearing aids offer the following characteristics:
· Noticeable to others because of its larger size and fit.
· May occasionally pick up more wind noise because of the aforementioned size.
· Easy to adjust and has easy-to-use features such as volume control.
· Easier to use and insert into the ear.
· Employs larger batteries, which can last longer and are easier to store and handle.
5.Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE)
Behind-the-ear hearing aids are able to “hook” over the top part of your ear and rest behind the ear. This hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it, and transfers that sound to an ear mold that goes inside your ear canal. This hearing aid type is appropriate for almost any type of hearing loss — and it is consider for most ages as well.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids offer the following benefits:
· The largest size and most visible to the eye; however, newer versions try to streamline the bigger size.
· Amplification capabilities that are stellar and provide high output volume.
6.Open Fit Hearing Aid
Open fit hearing aids are primarily very small behind-the-ear style hearing devices. Larger behind-the-ear hearing devices can also be augmented to a more open-fit style. Sound is transmitted through a small tube or wire to a dome or speaker in the ear canal. These hearing aids leave the ear canal open, so they are better and more suited for mild to moderate high-frequency hearing losses whereas low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.
Question: What is the characteristics of CIC and ITC Hearing Aids?
Answer:
1.Completely in the Canal Hearing Aids (CIC)
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to be fit inside the ear canal and generally improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids offer the following characteristics:
· Barely (if it all depending on the situation) noticeable in the ear; thus, helping out those with concerns over general appearance of the hearing aid in the ear.
· More resistant to wind noise because of its placement inside the ear canal.
· Convenient to use with telephones generally.
· Employs a smaller sized battery because of its design, which may not last as long as others.
· Might not have an exhaustive feature set because of its smaller design; features reduced may be volume control or directional microphones.
2.In the Canal Hearing Aids (ITC)
In-the-canal hearing aids generally are custom molded and are fitted partially in the ear canal, but may not go as deep as the completely-in-canal hearing aid. This hearing aid is also sufficient for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
In-the-canal hearing aids offer the following characteristics:
· Not as noticeable in the ear; thereby, the look is proper attire for many who are concerned with how the hearing aid looks when fitted.
· Still convenient to use with the telephone.
· Includes extra features that the completely-in-the-canal hearing aid might not offer.
· The smaller form of this hearing aid may pose a difficulty when trying to adjust certain things on it.
· May be troublesome to users with smaller ears.
Question:What Is The Aging Deafness
Answer:
The hearing ability declines gradually with aging called the aging deafness
The features of aging deafness:
1. Appear after reaching a certain age, without clear reasons, Happening and developing unconsciously by a certain age with no definite reasons.
