The Best Hearing Technology for Usher Syndrome,

Transcript of the presentation during USH2020Connections Week, organized by the Usher Syndrome Coalition.
Watche the video presentation here, with caption or ASL.

by Shanna M. Dewsnup, Au.D.

Hi, I’m Shanna Dewsnup. I’m a doctor of audiology. And today, I’m going to be presenting to you on
the best hearing technology for individuals that have Usher syndrome. So just a little bit of
background on myself. My son was born with a moderate-severe hearing loss. And when he was about
13 years of age, we figured out that he had Usher syndrome.
The reason that I figured that out was that after I had him, I decided to go back to school for
audiology so that I could learn as much as I could about hearing technology so that I could help him.
And while I was in school studying audiology, we studied the syndromes that were associated with
hearing loss.
And Usher syndrome was definitely something that he seemed like he had symptoms of. And so we
had his eyes thoroughly tested. And when he was 13, they officially diagnosed him. At that point in
time, he was already down to 10 degrees of central vision. So that was when we were getting
basically a crash course in how to use a cane, how is he going to learn Braille?
So it was a little bit stressful. And at that point in time, I was already an audiologist. And so I just really
focused on, OK, now that the vision loss is known, we really have to focus on his hearing to really try
to maximize the hearing that he has so that he can be successful. And not saying you can’t be
successful if you can’t hear, but it definitely helps just navigating around this noisy world we live in
when you’re able to hear.
So one of the things that I do want to talk about today and just state is that I’m going to be talking
about different cochlear implant technologies and hearing aid technologies. And I just want to state
that I am not affiliated with any of them. And I’m not being paid by any manufacturer for any of my
recommendations in this presentation.
So the information I’m sharing is just based solely on what I have personally found to be the most
successful devices when treating individuals that have Usher syndrome. So So we, my husband and I
own an audiology practicen in Arizona called Happy Ears Hearing Center, and one of our big focuses
is working with all of the main manufacturers. So we’re not just set on one device. We work with all of
them, and that is just so important because it gives people options. And there are so many options
out there. And there’s also a lot of options, which can really be confusing as well.
So I hope that by the end of my talk today that everybody feels more comfortable with technology
and understanding what’s available.
The first thing I wanted to discuss was the difference in the credentials behind someone who treats
hearing loss. So I can’t tell you how often I have patients come in my office that say, I have these
hearing aids. I spent this much money on them, and I can’t hear.
And it’s so frustrating for me when I see somebody that has purchased something that’s not even
appropriate for their hearing loss or they’ve just been sold a device that they should have never been
sold to begin with. We have some that should have been recommended a cochlear implant, but
somebody thought they would just sell them a hearing aid instead of sending them to the right place.
So I just want to go over the difference, because it’s really, really important. And it’s important as
individuals with hearing loss and vision loss especially to understand who you are going to treat your
hearing needs.
So the difference between an audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist. So audiologists are
doctorate-level clinicians. So we’ve completed approximately eight years of education. So four years
of doctoral-level education, and audiologists have studied syndromes associated with hearing loss,
the anatomy, the acoustics of the ear. There’s so much stuff that we study. We study the technology,
the implant technology. And it’s very, very important to make sure you’re going to an audiologist.
A hearing instrument specialist is– and this is more specifically to the United States, because I know
in other countries they might be called a hearing instrument specialist when they’re actually a doctor.
So it’s different in the US. But in the US, a hearing instrument specialist is essentially a salesman.
And so if you see an HIS asked after someone’s name or a BC-HIS, that means they’re not an
audiologist. That just means that they’re a hearing aid salesman. So in Arizona, hearing instrument
specialists are only required to have a GED. They’re not required to have any formal training in
hearing whatsoever before they can get licensed to sell hearing aids.
So most of the time, they train under someone else that sells hearing aids, and they teach them the
very basics of a hearing test and fitting hearing aids at the most basic level. And a lot of patients that
we have come in our office, unfortunately because Arizona is a state that a lot of people retire to, a
lot of these patients that are fit by hearing instrument specialists are typically not fit appropriately.
So I just want to educate everybody on that, because when you have vision loss on top of the hearing
loss, it’s really, really important that you’re going to the correct professional to treat your hearing
needs.
So being able to hear is so important. And whether you’re hearing through a cochlear implant,
whether you’re hearing through hearing aids, it just opens your world a little bit more. Hearing loss
can be very, very isolating for people, especially when they have vision loss on top of it. So I just want to go over some of the things that are just really important to know when you’re going to someone to
treat your hearing.
Programming hearing aids in particular should be done with Real Ear Verification. So Real Ear
Verification just means that that provider is putting a little microphone down inside your ear while
they’re programming that hearing aid. Typically, you’re going to listen to a speaker, though there’s
usually a speaker in front of you. And you will listen to it. Say, carrots are part of the parsley family or
you might hear just random gibberish coming out of the speaker.
So there’s different ways that we check the Real Ear Verification, depending on the equipment the
provider is using. But it has to be done with a probe microphone down in the ear. If someone’s putting
you in a sound booth, and they’re just saying listen to some words with your hearing aids on, that is
not Real Ear Verification.
So Real Ear Verification is something that we do on babies when we’re fitting them with hearing aids,
because they can’t tell us if the hearing aid is too loud or if the hearing aid is too soft. And it’s really
the only accurate way to program a hearing aid. So just make sure if you wear hearing aids and
maybe you’re not hearing very well, that the provider that you’re going to has done Real Ear
Verification, because it makes a huge difference.
Accessories for hearing aids really enhance the quality of sound. So most hearing technology on the
market, whether it’s a cochlear implant or whether it’s a hearing aid, they have accessories that go
with them that help to bring more sound in. So make sure you’re going to somebody that has
knowledge in different products and that they don’t just work with one brand.
Because I see so many people that are just like, oh, they only recommended this brand. And they
didn’t tell me there was other brands. And a lot of times, the reason why that happens is that
particular office or wherever you went to get your hearing aids, that might be the only brand that
they sell. And so that’s why that’s the only option that you got.
So there’s different types of hearing loss. And when you have different types of hearing loss, you
require different types of treatments. So for someone that has mild to moderate to severe hearing
loss, typically in most cases, they’re in a traditional hearing aid.
Someone who has severe, profound, or really profound hearing loss, typically those patients are in
cochlear implants, unless for some reason they just can’t have a cochlear implant. So those are the
different options that you have when it comes to hearing loss treatment.
Not all programming is equal. So this is so important too, because even with cochlear implant
technology or with hearing aid technology, it’s really, really important when you have a vision loss
that you’re able to hear things going on around you in your environment. So you don’t want to just
hear what’s directly in front of you.
And that’s really important too, because if you’re walking on a busy street, and someone’s coming up
behind you on a bike or someone’s trying to get your attention, and your hearing devices are saying,
oh, there’s lot of sound so I’m going to focus on what’s in front of me, that’s going to actually not help
you when you have vision loss. Because you need to be able to hear things going on around you.
So the picture on this slide just depicts that that particular hearing device or the hearing devices this
person is wearing are in forward-focus mode. So they’re just really narrow focus, like a tunnel, and
that’s what the hearing aids are focusing on when that noise level gets to be a little bit loud and
constant.
Omnidirectional is a configuration where the hearing aids are picking up sound in a 360-degree field
around your head. And so if you’re walking on that busy street and someone says something behind
you, you want to be able to hear them. You want to know that they’re there.
You don’t want to be startled, and maybe you don’t want someone to think you’re ignoring them
either. And so if someone’s coming up on a bike or a skateboard, you want to know that there’s
somebody coming up on you so you can move out of the way.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants can be programmed to omnidirectional. And for a lot of users
that have worn hearing aids before, when you get used to hearing all those sounds in the
environment, it’s really hard to adjust to new hearing technology, because the new technology has
the noise reduction features in it. And when it has noise reduction, everything all of a sudden seems
quieter.
And some people that are used to hearing sound, they don’t want things quieter. They want to hear
what’s going on around them. So just make sure that the provider or the audiologist that you’re going
to knows and understands Usher syndrome.
Because a lot of providers, even audiologists, are guilty of it, just program those hearing aids to that
particular manufacturer’s proprietary software setting, which is meant for people that are lateidentified hearing loss patients.
So those are the people that maybe in their 40s or 50s come in and say, oh, I’m starting to have
difficulty hearing. And those are the people that when you give them sound, they don’t like hearing
all the noise. They don’t like to hear all that stuff.
But when you have someone that’s more an implant since they were a child or that’s worn hearing
aids since they were a child, they’re so used to hearing the sound in the environment around them
that they don’t like that noise reduction when it kicks in.
So make sure you’re going to somebody that uses Real Ear. Again, that’s so important. And make sure
that that provider is programming your main program in omnidirectional mode when you have a
vision loss, because you need to be able to hear when you’re crossing streets. You need to be able to
hear what’s going on around you.
You can still use noise reduction programs as a second or third program option. You just want to make
sure that you have a setting that you can wear when you’re in that outdoor environment, in that busy
world, so you can hear what’s going on around you. So cochlear implants have the same technology.
They can set them up the same way.
So out of all of these devices, how do you know what to get? So I’m going to go into that. There’s
device brands and then there’s also things to consider. So cochlear implant brands, they have on-theear processors, which means basically it hangs on the ear and then there’s the coil that connects up
here. They have off-the-ear processors now. So nothing’s on the ear. It’s just up here.
Hearing aids, they have the little wire that goes down in the ear that’s behind the ear, which is called
a receiver in the ear. They have over-the-counter hearing aids. Those are the very cheap, basic
hearing aids. And that is definitely something to keep in mind, because I know that’s something that
keeps being advertised as over-the-counter hearing aids.
They’re cheap, they’re this, they’re that. Be very careful what you spend your money on, because an
over-the-counter hearing aid, it’s more like a Band-Aid for somebody that has a mild, very easy, slight
loss to treat. It’s not meant for somebody that has vision loss or someone that needs a lot of other
programming capabilities.
So just be careful as you’re seeing all these ads come out, because we see them all the time. Make
sure that you’re doing some research on that and talking to your health care provider, because overthe-counter is typically not what I would recommend for someone with Usher syndrome.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids are more powerful. BTE-style hearing aid with an actual ear mold. So
honestly, I know a lot of people like the little wire receiver in the ear style for Usher syndrome. That
behind-the-ear style with an ear mold, I just think is– it’s just a better option for a whole bunch of
reasons, but security. It’s molded for the ear. It gives you all that power that you need to hear some of
those sounds that are typically hard to hear. You don’t have as much feedback, things like that.
So out of the devices, do you want battery powered or do you want rechargeable? Is it Bluetooth
compatible, meaning can you connect it to your phone so that you can listen to music and stream
audio and stream phone calls?
And then what kind of accessories does it come with? So a lot of hearing needs come with
accessories and same with the cochlear implant processors. So what accessories should you get?
What are they? What can they do, things like that. So we’re going to go into that.
So some of the common things that we hear a lot are common complaints with hearing loss. I can’t
hear well in noise. I can’t hear conversations in the car. That’s really important for someone with
vision loss, because if you’re taking an Uber, if you’re taking a Lyft, if you’re in a taxi, you want to be
able to hear that taxi driver. And you want to be able to hear what’s going on in that vehicle.
And so not being able to hear in the car is the big one. I know my son at night, if he takes an Uber, he
can’t hear what they’re saying if he’s in the back seat. He has a hard time, and he can’t really see. So
it’s definitely, you know, I’m not sure if male, female may feel more nervous than the other, but I
know as a woman, I don’t like being in the car by myself in an Uber, let alone if I had problems
hearing and vision, I think I would be very nervous myself.
So difficulty understanding television, family members, not being able to hear when you’re in the
pool. I mean, the list is here. I mean, I hear it all the time. And so these are things that when you have
hearing loss can be very isolating and frustrating. But when you add vision loss to that, it can just be
that much more isolating. And so hopefully we can go into some of these accessories, and you guys
will see what really will help you.
Three cochlear implant brands in the US. So Cochlear, Advanced Bionics, and MED EL. Cochlear is
known for their accessories and their connectivity. So they have the new Nucleus 7 processor, which
fits on the ear. And they also have a waterproof case now that you can wear so that you’re able to
wear your processor when you’re in the pool. So if you’re with friends or family that you’re still able to
be part of that conversation.
They have a Mini Mic. The Mini Mic 2, it basically just means that somebody can wear it. So if you’re in
a restaurant, whoever you’re with can wear it. It puts their voice right in the processor. And it
bypasses the noise. In a taxi, you could ask the taxi driver or the Uber driver to wear it. And then just
make sure that you get it back from them.
The phone clip. So phone clips are great for people that don’t have smartphones or they don’t have a
compatible smartphone that can connect to a Bluetooth device for their processor. So that phone clip
just acts as an intermediate device so that you’re still able to pair to the Bluetooth and still stream
music, video, conversation through the phone, what have you.
Cochlear also has a TV streamer. And the TV streamer streams television directly to the processor so
that it just makes it clear. It makes it so much clearer that you can actually hear the dialogue. The
new Nucleus 7 has a phone app.
So if you have an iPhone, you can change the programs. You can take a look at the battery life. You
can adjust your volume. You can connect to your T coil. There’s all kinds of things you can do through
the apps on the phones now. So that’s something that’s pretty cool that Cochlear came out with, if
you like connectivity.
And they also have a basic remote control. So that’s for someone that maybe doesn’t have a
smartphone. They don’t want all the bells and whistles. They just want it to be simple and easy. That
remote control is just a very simple remote control, and it makes it easy. All of the cochlear implant
processors have a battery option as well as rechargeable option. And the new Nucleus 7 is a smaller,
slimmer product. So it’s not as big and bulky as some of the older implants that Cochlear had.
Cochlear is also compatible with ReSound hearing aids. And so certain ReSound hearing aids allow for
bimodal streaming, which basically means that if you have a hearing aid on one side and the implant
on the other, you get sound in stereo at the same time. So that way, you’re not just streaming
television to one ear. It’s actually streaming to both at the same time.
Cochlear also has an off-the-ear processor, which basically means it doesn’t sit on the ear. It just sits
on the magnet. And they also have a waterproof case for that as well. They have a simple remote
assistant. It’s still compatible with the Mini Mic, the phone clip, and the TV streamer, like the previous
version.
And it also has a simple remote control. So this has the wireless capability. It only uses disposable
batteries. So it’s not rechargeable, and it only has a remote control option. So it doesn’t have an app
or anything that connects to a smartphone.
Advanced Bionics has the Naida Q90 on-the-ear processor. They also have a waterproof case so it
can be worn in the pool. And then the Naida Q90 now has what’s called the Naida Connect, which is a
Bluetooth device that you attach to the battery door. And it allows you to connect to a smartphone
through Bluetooth and also through the TV connector.
It also has a compilot accessory, which is worn around the neck. And that pairs to a TV station that
connects to your TV. The nice thing about the compilot, even though you have to wear it around your
neck, is that it has tactile switches on it. So with vision loss, it’s a little bit easier to navigate.
And it has an audio port on the bottom of it so you can plug it into any type of audio source. So if
you’re having trouble hearing someone or maybe you’re in a big meeting and you need to plug into a
telecoil or you need to plug into something to be able to hear what’s going on in the room around you
or what the speaker is saying, these are great for that.
The Phonak devices are compatible with the Advanced Bionics devices. So that also allows for
bimodal capabilities, just meaning that you’re going to get it in stereo. And Advanced Bionics
connects to the Rogers system, which is something that Phonak has, which is like an FM system but is
now available for adults.
FM systems really help to enhance speech in noisy environments. And basically, they have a little
Roger desk, which is shown on the right side at the top of the slide. And you can put that on a table
and aim the microphones at different people who are talking or have them aim the microphones for
you if you can’t see the lights very well. And that just allows you to hear their voice over restaurant
noise and things like that. So we can set those devices up to block out all the noise or to still allow
some of that noise to come through.
Advanced Bionics also has the Neptune processor, which is waterproof and takes a normal battery. So
it also can take a rechargeable battery as well. And it has tactile controls. So there’s different
switches you can attach to the top of that Neptune that allow you to feel the Volume button, the
Program button, On and Off, et cetera.
It has visual indicators, and it also has acoustic indicators. It also has an audio jack. So that’s
something you can plug into at conferences or plug into a computer, anything that you want to
stream through an audio chat. It has removable controls.
And the nice thing about the Advanced Bionics products is that if you wear two processors, if you
have one for each side, if you accidentally put the wrong one on the wrong ear, they will
automatically reprogram themselves so that they’re still correct. So it’s a pretty cool feature that they
have and something that I think is great, especially for kids, if you accidentally get them mixed up.
MED EL has great cochlear implant products as well. Their product is called the Sonnet II. It’s worn on
the ear. It has a volume control that’s automatic, directional microphones, which just means that
that’s the type of microphone technology that helps you to hear better in noisy situations. Wind noise.
It also has a waterproof water wear accessory so you can wear them in the pool. It’s rechargeable,
and it has an audio link that connects to the phone and other devices.
MED EL products are meant to be simple and easy. They do have a remote control with tactile
buttons, which is great for people that have visual loss. But they are meant to be more automatic and
hassle free.
So if you’re one of those people where you don’t want all the accessories, and you don’t want the
connectivity and capabilities with all the different devices that go along with it, then this one’s more
simple and easy. So if you have a smartphone, if you like to be connected to TV and other things like
that, then some of the other implant companies are better for that type of setup.
The Rondo II is the MED EL off-the-ear cochlear implant processor. It’s wireless. It has a Bluetooth
neck loop that you can connect to with the audio in it. So you could directly plug that in as well. It has
automatic volume control. It’s water-resistant, rechargeable. It has wireless charging. So you actually
just basically set it on a little dock and it charges itself. And then hearing loops with direct audio
inputs.
Cochlear implants have hearing aid components as well. So all three of the manufacturers have an
acoustic component. And what that means is that if you still have usable hearing after you have
surgery to get a cochlear implant, they can put the hearing aid component on that implant.
And you can still hear through it like a hearing aid with some of those natural sounds that you were
used to before. But then the implant is giving you the high frequencies or whatever sounds you were
missing.
So we have some amazing surgeons in Arizona that– it’s amazing. We see audiograms before and
after surgery that look almost identical. So they’ve been able to preserve a lot of that residual
hearing, and it’s not like it was in the past when you get cochlear implant surgeries, where the ear
would just be wiped out.
So the electrodes are smaller and sleeker. And they don’t damage the cochlea as much when they’re
doing the surgery. And so a lot of that hearing is actually able to be preserved. So that’s pretty
awesome.
So for people with Usher syndrome, my personal top-four choices four hearing aid brands are
Starkey, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound. And I’m going to go into why that is. So Starkey is an Americanmade manufacturer. They’re based out of Minnesota. And they have a new product out, which is
called the Livio Edge AI. So AI for artificial intelligence.
So they have a couple really new innovative products out right now that I really like, especially for
people that have Usher syndrome, that I just think they’re just amazing. So they have the OrCam or
the MyEye2. The MyReader2 for people who are blind. So basically, it attaches to the glasses. So if
you have a pair of glasses on, you can attach it to your glasses.
And the smart camera on that little device takes a picture of the text or whatever object is in front of
you, and it streams the audio directly to your hearing aids. So it’s only compatible with the new Livio
Edge AI hearing aids, but because of the artificial intelligence, it actually reads from that camera.
And it reads and communicates with your hearing aids.
So that was something that I just thought, wow, that is awesome. Like, the technology just blows me
away sometimes with how things are changing. But Starkey has definitely got some really cool things
coming our way.
They have a little remote microphone, which also you can have somebody wear, whether they’re
someone presenting. You can have it connect to your phone through Bluetooth if you need to. So
these hearing devices are meant for people that have moderate, up to I would say severe to
profound hearing loss.
They have a rechargeable option, and they do connect to smartphones. So you can use the app on
the phone to answer your phone calls, to adjust your volume, change your programs. It’s just, it’s
really cool. And then they don’t have a behind-the-ear style with an ear mold, but they do have a
power ear mold that’s integrated into that little wire that goes in the ear.
That’s depicted at the center, at the top of the screen. And that is something that they can make an
ear mold of your ear and build specifically for you so that that hearing aid is strong enough and that
there’s not the risk of feedback.
On the very top right of the screen is the table mic. So this is a brand-new device. I’ve tested it out in
a really, really busy expo hall, and it works amazing. So the little lights on the top switch around. So it
has an automatic mode, where you can put it on the table in a noisy restaurant or in a big expo hall,
and if people are talking with you at the table, it automatically shifts the microphones around to
whoever’s talking.
And so that goes directly to your hearing device. And it actually has more microphones built into it
than the Phonak Roger Select. So the Roger Select, I was a huge fan of for a long time.
I was not a huge fan of the price tag. So the Roger Select devices from Phonak are pretty costly. They
range from $2,000 to $3,000 just for that little device. Starkey’s table mic is about $400. So it’s much
cheaper. It has actually more functionality, I feel, than the Roger device has at this point in time.
So just another really cool app that– or cool device that you can use with your hearing aids to help
enhance sound. So these hearing aids also have Bluetooth capabilities. They have a Find My Hearing
Aid function, and they also have a caretaker app, which is nice if you have a spouse or somebody
that, you know, for safety issues, if you want them to also have access to the app for your hearing
aids on their phone, they can have access to that as well.
It can also– one thing with this brand, their AI devices can transcribe conversation into text that can
be saved in the app. So if you’re wanting to record something, and you’re just not following along as
fast as you’d like to be, you can actually record it and play it back to yourself later. So I just think
that’s amazing. And it’s just a really great product from Starkey.
Oticon is another brand that has really great power behind-the-ear products. So their new Xceed line
is actually stronger than the Phonak Naida. So Phonak is known for their power products and they’ve
always had Phonak Naida BTE hearing aids. My son has worn them for years. Oticon came out with
their product, which is called the Xceed.
The SP and the UP, so super power and ultra power. And I actually have a few cochlear implant users
that prefer this particular product over the other products, because of the amount of power they can
get out of it. So if you’re one of those people that you want more power, you want more volume, and
it’s just maxing out that hearing aid, this is a really great option.
And it also has Bluetooth capabilities so you can stream television to it. You can stream Bluetooth
from your phone. You can stream music, and you can also connect to a little mini mic connect clip,
which can also be worn by somebody and put that sound directly in your ear. So if you’re not quite a
cochlear implant candidate, these are amazing devices.
And Oticon is also known for their spatial sound. It’s a function that actually automatically adjusts so
that you’re still able to hear in that 360-degree field around you but still focuses and pulls some of
that information that’s really important out of that sound as well. So these have been really, really
successful for individuals that have Usher syndrome. And so far, we just have been really happy with
their products. They’re a great company. They stand behind what they do. Their customer service is
amazing.
So in the past, I wasn’t a huge fan of Oticon when it came to fitting people that had severe highfrequency hearing loss, because they would whistle a lot. But they fixed that. It’s not an issue
anymore, and these power products are really, really good hearing aids.
Phonak. So Phonak finally, they came out with their Marvel line last year, which is a really great new
direct to Android, direct Bluetooth device. But they just came out with the Naida M Super Power. So
for those people that love Phonak products, and they love the Naida hearing aids, which a lot of
people do, they now have that Naida Marvel product, which connects directly to your smartphone.
And it allows for remote and telehealth appointments.
So we can actually patch in and program those hearing aids without you even needing to come in the
office. So when you have a vision problem, sometimes that’s kind of nice, because you don’t have to
hitch a ride or take a taxi.
We can actually just do it remotely with you. Those particular hearing aids connect directly to the
Roger devices now. So you don’t have to have a battery door boot that you have to attach to the
hearing aid in order to connect to it.
And then Phonak also has a newer product called the Partner Mic, which is similar to the other
microphones that the other companies have. And it has noise reduction built into it, and it’s meant
for somebody to wear. So that’s another really great product for people that have trouble in noise
and just want to be able to their spouse or significant other or friend.
Their friend can wear that, and it puts their voice directly into the hearing aids. They also have a TV
streamer, which was shown on the Advanced Bionics page. And it’s the same thing. It wirelessly sends
the TV to the hearing aids.
And ReSound. So ReSound is another great product which connects to cochlear products. Their new
Enzo Qs are their power behind-the-ear hearing aids. And they’re meant for people that have
moderate to profound hearing loss. And these particular devices connect through an app on the
phone. They also connect wirelessly with all of the same streaming devices, whether it’s a
microphone, the phone clip, or the TV streamer.
And they have app controls, FM capability, and direct streaming. So the nice thing about ReSound
products is you don’t have to wear anything around your neck. It’s just a wireless direct signal. So
ReSound products, again, are compatible with Cochlear-branded implants. And so if you have a
Cochlear-branded implant, you’re probably going to lean a little bit more toward the ReSound hearing
devices if you want to be able to hear in stereo.
So success with hearing devices. There are so many options for hearing aids and additional
accessories that really, really enhance the sound quality for everybody. The hearing provider you see
is so important. It’s the most important part of your hearing journey. So make sure you’re going to
someone that is an audiologist that works with all of the brands, that doesn’t just work with one
brand.
And someone that understands Usher syndrome or understands the vision loss component, because
it’s so important when you’re having your hearing devices, whether it’s a cochlear implant or hearing
aids programmed, that those are being programmed appropriately for you and for your needs.
So make sure if you have a cochlear implant even if you think your map sounds great, go in for your
annual checkups with your audiologist. Ask about technology. Ask about the accessories. They’re
always changing, and there’s always new things coming out that just really enhance your ability to be
successful in so many different situations and to be able to get out there in the world and not isolate
yourself from certain activities because of hearing. So with everything that’s out there right now,
there’s just so much that you can do to really, really enjoy life and enjoy that sound quality of what’s
going on around you.
So if anyone has questions, please email me, message me. If you have questions about technology, if
you’re not sure who to go to where you live, I am on a blog with a lot of audiologists. So if you’re
stuck or you’re just not happy with what you have, I will definitely try my hardest to direct you to
somebody that I know is a good provider that would really be helpful for Usher syndrome or the vision
loss component with the hearing loss.
So thank you for your time, and I’ve added all of the links for the cochlear implant companies. If you
have questions about their products or their accessories, please click on the link. It will take you to
their website, where they have literally everything listed out.