The audioprosthetist is a health professional responsible for advising, caring for and treating patients with hearing disorders. There are many types of hearing aids, so it is important to choose the right hearing aid professional in order to benefit from treatment adapted to your situation. If you are looking for an audioprosthetist in Schiltigheim, follow our advice.
What is a hearing aid?
Hearing aids are electronic devices that help people with hearing loss hear better. They amplify sounds and can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of each person. A Schiltigheim Audioprosthetist can advise you on your choice.
There are different types of hearing aids, including digital hearing aids, analog hearing aids, and cochlear implants. Digital hearing aids are the most advanced and offer superior sound quality, but they are also the most expensive. Analog hearing aids are less expensive, but they don’t provide the same sound quality. Cochlear implants are high-tech devices that transform sounds into electrical impulses and transmit them directly to the brain.
Hearing aids cannot restore hearing, but they can help people with hearing loss hear and communicate better.
How to choose your audioprosthetist?
To choose your hearing care professional, it is important to take into account several criteria. First, you need to make sure the hearing care professional is qualified and has a state-recognized credential. Then you need to check that he has a good experience in the field of hearing loss.
Also, it’s important to choose a hearing care professional you trust and feel comfortable with. You should also check that the hearing care professional is covered by your health insurance.
Finally, it is important to compare the prices of different hearing care professionals before making your choice.
Duties of an audioprosthetist
The audioprosthetist is responsible for diagnosing hearing disorders and proposing appropriate treatment. He performs a complete hearing assessment to determine the type and cause of the hearing problem. He then takes charge of the prescription, manufacture and adaptation of hearing aids.
The audioprosthetist carries out his activity in private practice or in a specialized institution. He often has to travel to patients, especially when they are old or fragile.
The main missions of the audioprosthetist are as follows:
- Perform a hearing assessment to determine the type and degree of hearing loss;
- Design a hearing aid adapted to the needs of the patient;
- Build and adjust the device;
- Teach the patient how to use and maintain his device;
- Follow the patient in his adaptation to the hearing aid;
- Carry out quality audits of the sound environment;
- Design and implement solutions to improve hearing comfort in public or professional places.
Training to become a hearing care professional
Training to become an audioprosthetist is accessible after the baccalaureate. There are several training courses to exercise this profession, in particular university courses at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level.
How to get a hearing aid prescribed?
Hearing aids are devices that compensate for hearing loss. There are different types of hearing aids, suitable for each type of hearing loss.
To be prescribed a hearing aid, you must first make an audiological assessment by an ENT specialist. This assessment will determine the type and degree of hearing loss. Depending on the result of the assessment, the ENT may prescribe a hearing aid.
It is important to choose the right hearing care professional, taking into account several criteria:
- The quality of the equipment and services offered;
- The quality of advice and support;
- The prices charged.
Financial aid for hearing aids
There are many financial aids for hearing aids, including tax credit, reduced VAT, aid from Health Insurance and Social Security. The tax credit is a tax device that allows taxpayers to benefit from a reduction in income tax.
The reduced VAT applies to products and services intended for people with disabilities. Aid from health insurance and social security can take various forms, including reimbursement of care, financial aid for the purchase of medical equipment or the payment of a disability allowance.
How does a hearing aid work?
Hearing loss is a major public health problem. In France, it concerns more than three million people, of whom 500,000 are in a situation of profound or severe deafness. Fortunately, there are solutions today to improve the quality of life of people with deafness, including hearing aids. But how do these devices work?
Hearing aids are electronic devices that pick up sounds and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified and sent directly to the auditory nerve. Hearing aids can be used to correct mild to moderate hearing loss. However, they cannot restore normal hearing.
There are different types of hearing aids, but all have five main components: a microphone, an amplifier, a battery, a speaker and a hearing aid professional.
The microphone picks up sounds and transmits them to the amplifier. The amplifier increases the sound level of electrical signals and sends them to the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker transforms the electrical signals into sound vibrations which are directed towards the eardrum. The sound vibrations then cause electrical stimulation in the auditory nerve.
Hearing aids are nowadays more and more discreet and efficient. They can be worn almost invisibly and accommodate all types of hearing loss.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hearing aid
The benefits of a hearing aid are numerous. Hearing aids can help people hear better in conversations, follow directions, enjoy music, and communicate better with others. Hearing aids can also help people feel safer in their surroundings and reduce stress and anxiety.
The disadvantages of hearing aids are that they can be expensive, can cause skin irritation or allergies, can be difficult to use, and can have an unsightly appearance.