Daryle Conlin

Conviently located on the upper level of the Amsterdam River Front Center.  2440 Riverfront Center Amsterdam, NY 12010. Open by appointment.

1 (518) 210-5440
e-mail me

Help for those who are hearing impaired--
from the hearing instrument specialist.

What is a hearing aid?

A hearing aid is a small electronic device that you wear in or behind your ear. It makes some sounds louder so that a person with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more fully in daily activities. A hearing aid can help people hear more in both quiet and noisy situations. However, only about one out of five people who would benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one.

A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and then sends them to the ear through a speaker.

How can hearing aids help?

Hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss that results from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. The damage can occur as a result of disease, aging, or injury from noise or certain medicines.

A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. However, there are practical limits to the amount of amplification a hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into neural signals. In this situation, a hearing aid would be ineffective.

How can I find out if I need hearing aids?

You may have hearing loss if you experience any of these symptoms:

• You hear people speaking but strain to understand their words.
• You frequently ask people to repeat what they said.
• You don't laugh at jokes because you miss the punch line.
• You frequently complain that people mumble.
• You need to ask others about the details of a meeting you just attended.
• You play the TV or radio louder than your friends, spouse and relatives.
• You cannot hear the doorbell or the telephone.
• You find that when people look directly at you while they speak to you, it makes it easier to understand.

If you have any of the above symptoms, we recommend an appointment to obtain a comprehensive audiometric evaluation.

An audiometric evaluation (AE) is the term used to describe a diagnostic hearing test.  An AE is more than just pressing the button when you hear a "beep." Rather, an audiometric evaluation allows the audiologist to determine the type and degree of your hearing loss and it indicates how well (or how poorly) you understand speech in quiet and in noisy backgrounds. Speech sounds are the most important sounds we hear and the ability to understand speech is extremely important.  Your ability to hear and understand speech in quiet and in noisy situations can be accurately assessed by your hearing care professional (audiologist, ENT, hearing aid specialist). The AE also includes a thorough case history (interview) as well as visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum and more.

Call me, I will help you to decide if you need hearing assistance.

1-518-210-5440