Hearing Assist

FAQ’S – ABOUT HEARING LOSS    WHAT CAUSES HEARING LOSS?    Hearing loss can be caused by several different factors. Scientifically the most common cause is called presbycusis, meaning that aging or genetics are causing your hearing to slowly decline over time, similar to many people's experience with their eyesight.    You could also experience noise-induced hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is a result of over-exposure to loud sounds. Even sounds over 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure—that's about as loud as the average lawnmower!    If you have earwax, or another object blocking outer ear canal, that could be causing hearing loss as well. Usually not permanent, this is known as conductive hearing loss and can usually be cured with the proper course of treatment.    Some other common causes of hearing loss may be linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, ototoxicity (adverse reaction from medications that affects hearing), and more. You should always consult your certified hearing healthcare provider if you think you may be experiencing hearing loss due to a medical condition.       HOW COMMON IS HEARING LOSS?   According to current statistics, hearing loss affects:    20% of adults in the U.S.    67% of people over age 75    33% of people over age 65    14% of people ages 45-64    15% of children ages 6-19    Overall, 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. That's approximately 1 in 5 people! Keep in mind that 60% of people who have hearing loss are below retirement age.           WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS?           You are constantly asking people to repeat themselves    You have difficulty while having a conversation in a noisy environment    You often mishear words    It seems as though many of the people in your life mumble    People are always telling you to turn the TV down    It's very difficult to understand the person on the other end of the phone    You have a constant annoying ringing or buzzing in your ears    Most importantly: friends and family members have asked you to get your hearing checked.          ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF HEARING LOSS?           Yes! There are three different types of hearing loss, as determined by where in your ear the problem lies.            Types of hearing loss:            Conductive Hearing Loss: Sound can't travel from the outer ear, (the part you can see) to the inner ear (the part you can't see). This is often the result of wax build-up, trauma to the ear, or even ear infections. Typically, conductive hearing loss “turns the volume down” but doesn't necessarily affect the clarity of your hearing. Conductive hearing losses may also be corrected by medical intervention, so it is always important to make an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist for further consultation.    Sensorineural Hearing Loss: With sensorineural hearing loss, the problem may be damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or within the hearing nerve. Most of the time, the hair cells in the inner ear have been worn down due to aging or noise exposure, but sometimes, medications, cancer treatments or illness can create deterioration as well. With sensorineural loss, it's not just that “the volume is turned down,” but your ability to understand speech suffers too. This is the most common type of hearing loss as 90% of people with hearing loss have this kind. The most effective treatment is hearing devices.    Mixed Hearing Loss: Just like it sounds, this is a mixture of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.           WHAT ARE THE DEGREES OF PERCIEVED HEARING LOSS?           The different levels of hearing loss are:            Mild: This means that you may have some trouble hearing conversations in a noisy room or when someone is speaking quietly. In quiet environments, mild hearing loss is manageable.    Moderate: This degree of hearing loss makes it even harder to hear conversation in group settings. People with moderate loss are those that have the TV and radio turned up too loud for comfort.    Moderately to Severe: Hearing and understanding speech is significantly reduced at this level and group environments are an extreme challenge.    Severe: This degree of hearing loss means that normal conversation is not audible. Even shouting can be challenging to comprehend.    Profound: This is the greatest degree of hearing loss. Only the loudest sounds are audible and even shouting may not be heard at all.          HOW CAN I PREVENT MY HEARING LOSS FROM GETTING WORSE?           Hearing loss cannot always be prevented; however, there are important things you can do to ensure you are making your hearing health a priority and taking precautionary measures.            Use hearing aids to address your hearing loss! If you lift weights and exercise your muscles, the nerves fire to the muscle and keep it strong. If you don't exercise your muscles, they'll weaken and atrophy. That's why it's important to use hearing aids to stimulate the hearing nerve. This helps the clarity of your hearing stay as much intact as it can. Hearing aids make the most out of the hearing ability you have left and keep your brain's ability to recognize speech in top shape.           Limit your noise exposure. If you work in a noisy environment or plan to attend a loud event, like a concert, then ear protection is a must. Regular earplugs provide some protection, which is better than nothing, but most hearing care providers can fit you with custom earplugs for maximum comfort and protection.    Test your hearing every year so you can monitor your hearing health and take action as soon as any changes occur.          WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HEARING LOSS?           Depending on your symptoms, if your hearing loss is caused by a blockage like a wax buildup (conductive hearing loss), then having it cleared by your doctor or a certified hearing healthcare provider could drastically improve your hearing ability. However, the most common hearing loss originates from damage to the sensory organ and/or nerve in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss), and nerve damage is permanent. The good news is that 95% of sensorineural hearing loss cases can be effectively helped through the use of hearing aids. Your local certified hearing healthcare provider can help you find hearing aids that fit your degree of hearing loss, needs, and lifestyle.            WILL MY HEARING LOSS WORSEN OVER TIME?           It depends on the type of hearing loss you're experiencing. For the majority of people who have hearing loss, it will get worse with time. Whether you have hearing loss from continued noise exposure or it's simply a combination of aging and genetics, time is not on your side. This is why it's important to visit a local certified hearing healthcare provider at your earliest convenience and treat any hearing loss you may be experiencing.            DOES EARWAX CAUSE HEARING LOSS?     Absolutely. Earwax can build up or become impacted and then partially or completely block your ear canal. In fact, earwax is the most common cause of conductive hearing loss.            If you're worried that you're producing too much earwax and it's affecting your hearing ability, a certified hearing provider can quickly and easily deal with excess wax.             Note: the use of cotton swabs to clean your ear canals is NOT recommended by hearing healthcare professionals. It can actually be the cause of earwax buildup!            WHEN SHOULD I GET HEARING AIDS?     As soon as you or a loved one notices a change in your hearing. If left untreated, hearing loss will continue to degenerate, negatively affecting your quality of life. Well documented research has shown individuals with hearing loss, left untreated, are 5-times more likely to developed dementia and other cognitive/memory problems and/or are leads to depression, feelings of social isolation, and relationship strains with loved ones.                           10 CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED HEARING LOSS            Untreated hearing loss may result in a serious long-term consequence to healthy brain functioning.            Remember: Hearing is a brain activity (sometimes referred to as "brain hearing"). Your ears deliver sound as electrical impulses via the auditory nerve, but it’s within your brain these electrical impulses are translated into what we recognize as sound.       When fewer sounds make their way to the brain, the brain reacts by shifting how it operates. In a 2014 study found even with only minor hearing loss, the parts of your brain that handle auditory processing can switch to visual processing instead.            Your risk of dementia may increase with untreated hearing loss  Numerous studies have shown, adults living with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia. Even living with a MILD degree of hearing loss increases your risk of developing dementia by 2x times. The greater the degree of hearing loss, the greater the risk of cognitive decline. For example, living with a MODERATE degree of hearing loss is 3x times the risk. In the case of a SEVERE degree of hearing loss, you’re up to 5x times more likely to develop dementia.     Your mental sharpness may suffer causing cognitive decline  Adults with untreated hearing loss experience a 30-40% faster decline in cognitive abilities. When you have difficulty hearing what’s going on around you, your mental sharpness can suffer. This is due to a reduction of stimulation to the brain, which may impair its ability to process sound and recognize speech. That's why it's important to identify hearing loss early so it can be treated as soon as possible.    Your memory may be impacted with untreated hearing loss Research has confirmed untreated hearing loss does have an impact of memory.  Memory loss is just one of many of the side effects of untreated hearing loss, but it is one of the most important. Do you find it hard to remember what you’ve just heard? Does it feel like you have to really concentrated to simply follow the conversation? It can be difficult to comprehend and remember what’s being said when it’s a struggle to hear conversations or information in the first place. This is because the extra cognitive resources required to listen, known as cognitive overload, the brain reduced the resources available for memory and comprehension. Due to cognitive overload, the brain was unable retain the information.    Untreated hearing loss may affect your balance  Studies have shown, adults with a MILD degree of hearing loss are 3x times more likely to have a history of falling.  Moreover, for every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss increases the chances of falling by 1.4x times the original risk.    Your lifespan may be shorter due to untreated hearing loss  Researchers have found untreated hearing loss is linked to increased mortality risk for older adults. Studies have shown people living with untreated hearing loss have a shorter lifespan than people with hearing loss that are using hearing aids.    You may have a higher risk of depression with untreated hearing loss  Many survey’s shows adults with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, paranoia, feeling of sadness and isolation, than individuals with hearing loss using hearing aids. As your hearing worsens, you may find it difficult to decipher and locate sounds around you. This may lead you to feel more insecure about your surroundings. Have you been feeling less secure lately?    Conversations are not as fun with untreated hearing loss  As your hearing worsens, it becomes more challenging to follow everyday conversations. You may need to ask people to repeat themselves frequently or sit closer to people so you can read their lips to understand. You may even nod and pretend to understand what is being said. Does this sound familiar? Jokes aren't as funny if you miss the punchline.    Your social life may suffer living with untreated hearing loss You may find it harder to keep in touch with your circle of friends when you have difficulty hearing.  It may be particularly noticeable in certain settings, such as larger gatherings or dinner parties. As a result, you may find yourself withdrawing from certain social events or declining invitations. In fact, research shows that seniors with untreated hearing loss are 20-24% less likely to participate in social activities.    Communication can be exhausting living with untreated hearing loss  When it’s difficult to hear, communication can be exhausting. This is because you must dig deeper into your cognitive reserves to understand. This can be particularly taxing at social events, in restaurants or in crowds where you may need to concentrate even harder to decipher what people say to you.   Untreated hearing loss may impact your income  According to a study by The Better Hearing Institute, untreated hearing loss can impact your earning potential. It can account for up to $30,000 in lost income annually and can impact your performance at work. When you don't hear clearly, you risk missing key information in meetings or directives from supervisors.                          BENEFITS OF USING HEARING AIDS           HEARING AIDS HELP MAINTAIN OPTIMAL BRAIN FUNCTION            Hearing Aids Improve Brain Function            Researchers found treating hearing loss with hearing aids may possibly prevent the effects of cognitive decline or earlier onset of dementia.            Use It or Lose It            When your brain is deprived of sound, such as from untreated hearing loss. Over time, your brain loses the ability to process sound. If left untreated, the parts of the brain normally responsible for hearing tend to shrink or atrophy, which is a result of lack of auditory stimulation called “Auditory Deprivation”.             Treat Your Hearing Loss Early            It is important for your brain to have your hearing tested and start using hearing aids if needed when you find out that you are losing some of your hearing. Once you start using hearing aids, the hearing processing resumes, supplying signals to the brain. In this way, your hearing will improve but you will also keep your brain fit and active.             Prevent Brain Shrinkage            The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more the brain will atrophy and struggle to understand words and/or process information. The longer you wait, it can make it more difficult to be able to hear again and activate the parts in the brain that pick up and process sounds.                        TREATING YOUR HEARING LOSS WITH HEARING AIDS            Individuals who choose to treat their hearing loss with hearing aids are known to have better overall health, professional success and emotional well-being than those who don’t.             The Brain Forgets Sounds            Untreated hearing loss not only affects your hearing and your quality of life, it also affects the brain's ability to remember common everyday sounds because the hearing channels are no longer effectively used and do not send signals to the brain. When the hearing nerves lose their function and no longer channel sound signals to the brain, the brain 'forgets' the sounds over time and becomes unable to understand these sounds.            Hearing Aids Improve Brain Function and Cognitive Health             In a study of first-time hearing aid users, hearing aids helped brain function in multiple ways. The study showed that after using hearing aids for six months, the hearing aid users’ results were found to have:            Improved memory    Improved speech processing    Greater ease of listening          Hearing Aids Reduce Mental Strain and Improve Mental Health            Straining to hear conversations is a common symptom of hearing loss. Continual stress on the brain to process sounds pulls resources away from other parts of the brain, reducing memory. If this strain continues, your brain could stop being able to conduct these functions altogether, allowing dementia to set in. Wearing hearing aids makes it easier to listen and limits brain strain, enhancing memory and brain functioning.            Hearing Aids Prevents Social Isolation and Improves Mental Health            When people cannot process the sounds around them, they tend to avoid social situations. This isolation is a leading cause of dementia because their cognitive functions are not being used and deteriorate quicker. Wearing hearing aids can help you participate in the conversation again and may reduce the feelings of depression, anger and anxiety by helping you to reconnect and effectively communicate within your world.            Hearing Aids Improve Physical Health            According to research, individuals with untreated hearing loss are three times more likely to suffer physical injuries, specifically falls due to the shared cochlear (hearing) and vestibular (balance) pathology. In addition, untreated hearing loss leads to poor awareness of the auditory and spatial environment.    

InnerScope Hearing Technologies (OTC: INND) Completes Acquisition of Hearing Assist Virginia Beach, Virginia., Nov. 29, 2021 -- InnerScope Hearing Technologies Inc. (OTC: INND) ("InnerScope"), an emerging and disruptive leader in the Direct-to-Consumer Hearing Technology space, today announced, effective as of  Nov. 23, 2021, it has completed the acquisition of Hearing Assist II, LLC. ("HearingAssist"). As a result of the acquisition, HearingAssist will continue to operate under Hearing Assist Direct, Inc., InnerScope's wholly-owned subsidiary with the same management and operations team, which has made the brand successful.   In addition, the acquisition will allow HearingAssist to leverage InnerScope's experienced research and development team, its FDA-registered hearing aid manufacturing facility, and its 40+ patents, strengthening its competitive edge and position in the direct-to-consumer and over-the-counter hearing aid market.   The management teams have already begun an aggressive marketing campaign for the holiday seasons building on HearingAssist's brand messaging as America's No. #1 Affordable Hearing Brand and using HearingAssist's acclaimed national television commercial, which includes a "Free Holiday Special Offer" valued at $149.   Please click the link to view (HearingAssist National Holiday Commercial)    "We are thrilled about the acquisition and the opportunity to work with InnerScope's highly experienced management team," said Nick Naylor, partner of HearingAssist. "Being able to leverage off InnerScope's R&D manufacturing design team will allow HearingAssist to provide affordable, world-class, differentiated hearing technologies that will significantly enhance each customer's hearing experience."    Floyd Kuriloff, founder HearingAssit, commented: "We are excited about our partnership with InnerScope that will allow us to execute on the growth opportunities in front of us. For over a decade, HearingAssist has brought multiple innovations to the hearing aid market, which have helped hundreds of thousands of consumers to hear with HearingAssist's high-quality, affordable hearing aids. We believe the acquisition will afford HearingAssist to continue its mission by bringing more unique hearing innovations, better cost efficiencies in the manufacturing supply chain, and greater access to global markets. We also believe in combining our synergies will emerge the number one leader in the direct-to-consumer over-the-counter hearing aid market."   Matthew Moore, president, and CEO of InnerScope Hearing Technologies, Inc., stated: "We are proud to welcome the HearingAssist team who share our passion for providing affordable direct-to-consumer hearing products to the tens of millions of Americans who suffer from hearing loss. We are excited about combining the strengths of HearingAssist with its market presence of hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers and InnerScope's experienced iHear Direct R&D manufacturing team of electroacoustics design engineers and a staff of hearing health professionals for enhanced customer service, which will increase HearingAssist's ability to deliver the most affordable, highest quality direct-to-consumer hearing aids on the market."    About InnerScope Hearing Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: INND):  InnerScope Hearing Technologies Inc. is a leading Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) manufacturer and distributor of FDA-registered hearing aids, hearing assistive devices, hearing health-related products, and Personal Sound Amplifier Products (PSAPs) ("Hearing Products") dedicated to addressing the global demand for affordable hearing solutions. InnerScope's Hearing Products and its business model break through the persistent barriers that prevent access to effective hearing solutions.    InnerScope's recent Acquisition of iHear Medical Inc., a DTC cloud-based hearing solution provider, gives the Company access to over 40 patents and FDA-registered manufacturing and R&D facility. In addition, a partnership with Atlazo Inc., a semiconductor innovator for next-generation A.I. smart devices, will allow InnerScope to take the lead position in the direct-to-consumer hearing solutions market by selling innovated proprietary advanced hearing products through Walmart and other major Big Box retailers.    InnerScope's full line of Hearing Health products is currently available through these multiple retail/wholesale channels: Walmart.com,   Amazon.com,  Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Hartig Drug, Food City, and Cardinal Health dba R.G.H. Enterprises Inc., which provides products to FSAStore.com, HSAStore.com, & WellDeservedHealth.com. Additional major retailers in-store and online launching soon.    About HearingAssist:    Founded in 2008, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, HearingAssist has sold more than 500,000 hearing aids to nearly 400,000 customers via direct-to-consumer or retail partners. HearingAssist was the first direct-to-consumer ("DTC") hearing aid company to use mass national television marketing to create a recognizable brand as America's #1 Affordable Hearing Brand    Safe Harbor    This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are also "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). Such statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be canceled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions, the performance of management and our employees, our ability to obtain financing or maintain contractual relationships with vendors and customers, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("S.E.C."). We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA, Securities Act, and Securities Exchange Act.    Contact: InnerScope Hearing Technologies, Inc. Investor Relations         ir@innd.com   833-788-0506 www.innd.com Investor Relations Agency Contact:   Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC  Lisa Gray, Senior Account Manager   One Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Floor  New York, NY 10020  Office: (646) 893-5835  Email: lisa@skylineccg.com   Corporate Communications: InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

STANDARD PRESS RELEASE     CONTACT INFORMATION: Hearing Assist II, LLC Nick Naylor 757.463.6653 admin@hearingassist.com   RELEASE DATE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER BRINGS AFFORDABLE HEARING AIDS TO ALL AMERICANS   Hearing Assist, the leading direct-to-consumer rechargeable hearing aid brand since 2008, commends the bipartisan efforts of our government that will finally remove barriers to accessible and affordable hearing care.     Virginia Beach, VA, July 13, 2021 —Hearing Assist applauds President Biden on his Executive Order directing the FDA to consider issuing proposed rules within 120 days for allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter.   The Executive Order Fact Sheet cites, "Hearing aids are so expensive that only 14% of the approximately 48 million Americans with hearing loss use them. On average, they cost more than $5,000 per pair, and those costs are often not covered by health insurance. A major driver of the expense is that consumers must get them from a doctor or a specialist, even though experts agree that medical evaluation is not necessary. Rather, this requirement serves only as red tape and a barrier to more companies selling hearing aids. The four largest hearing aid manufacturers now control 84% of the market."    The Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Act was passed in 2017 during the Trump Administration. The Act instructed the FDA to create governing regulations for over-the-counter hearing aid sales by August 2020 but that was reprioritized due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, Hearing Assist remained steadfast its decade plus long effort to bring affordable, audiologist equivalent, hearing aids to consumers in need of a solution for mild to moderate hearing loss. Hearing Assist hearing aids start at $500 per pair, which is one tenth of the average cost cited in the Executive Order.     “Traditionally, the price of the services provided by the audiologist, both before and after fitting hearing aids, are bundled into the price of the hearing aids and can comprise 40%-70% of the total cost charged to patients (ie, for a $5000 pair of hearing aids, approximately 2/3 of the cost actually covers an audiologist’s time and services).” - The American Journal of Medicine, Vol 129, No 3, March 2016   Between the big four hearing aid manufacturers and antiquated individual state laws that required hearing aids to be dispensed via state licensed providers only, consumers and their families have suffered financially, physically, and emotionally. We haven’t seen the kind of deflationary pricing in hearing aids that we have seen through all other pieces of technology over time such as smartphones, flat screen TV’s, computers, etc. The OTC Hearing Aid Act removes prohibitive government mandates, gives consumers control over their own hearing health and well-being, and encourages competition that results in more choice and lower costs for consumers.   Hearing Assist hearing aids are currently available at hearingassist.com, Walmart.com, Amazon.com, and in Walmart stores in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. All Hearing Assist hearing aids come with a 60-day money back guarantee and free, unlimited U.S. based customer care powered by Canon with their best-in-class service.   Hearing Assist is the largest direct to consumer hearing aid brand in the U.S. For more than a decade, beginning with the Lee Majors Rechargeable Bionic hearing aid, Hearing Assist has worked to change the business of hearing aids. We specialize in low cost, audiologist equivalent hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, without middlemen, expensive professional audiologist services, or high markups.     ###

Walmart has been advertising the Hearing Assist HA-802 rechargeable hearing aid in Central Florida. To be clear, these aids are not sold at local Walmart stores in Florida but you can order them online from Walmart.com. In some states such as Texas, North Carolina, Colorado and a few others you can purchase them in the store. For the purpose of this review I ordered mine from Walmart.com but I also found them on Amazon and I could have ordered them directly from Hearing Assist LLC, the manufacturer. Like many brand name aids, these are also assembled in China with globally sourced parts. Hearing Assist is a U.S. company so customer service and management are based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. I have been an audiologist for 45 years and worn hearing aids for 25 years. These direct to the consumer models are a new concept that bypasses Doctor of Audiology services with smart phone apps that allow the customer to screen their own hearing and then adjust the aids accordingly. Sometime this year the FDA will define what an over the counter hearing aid is and how it should be sold. My Walmart package contained two rechargeable behind the ear hearing aids, a charger, and a selection of different sized end caps. The end caps are the part of the aid that goes inside the ear canal. The instructions were easy to read so downloading the app and activating the hearing aids was simple. These aids are large compared to the ones I have previously worn; however, they did hide behind my ears fairly well. The end caps were too large for my ear so I had to replace them with smaller versions from one of my labs. The sound quality from these aids was good in quiet situations. In noisy environments, such as when riding in the car with the heater fan blowing, this HA-802 model would sample the noise for about 10 seconds and then reduce volume automatically. They held a charge as advertised and gave a full long day of better hearing. I have a mild loss in my left ear and a moderate loss in my right. I had to turn the volume up to 80% or more in my worse ear. Obviously, these aids were designed for people with no more than mild to moderate hearing losses. I especially liked the app. It was easy to navigate and control the sound of the aids. One thing I definitely appreciated was the ability to use the app to screen my hearing before I bought the aids. Some manufacturers require that you purchase aids before you can test your hearing. When testing your hearing with this app make sure that you are in a very quiet room and use ear phones that completely seal your ear canal or you may have poor validity. Customer service was efficient. I was impressed that one of the owners was willing to chat with me. I talked to an employee named Kathleen on several occasions. She was very kind and helpful. Their online chat service was responsive, answered my questions and followed through with my requests. These aids are not for everyone! Before you order I recommend that you have your family doctor look in your ear canals to make sure there is no ear wax that would cause you to be dissatisfied with the product. And of course, you should ask your doctor to do a hearing test as it will be more accurate than the one performed by the app. A doctor’s exam might also identify a medically treatable hearing loss. If you suffer from a mild to moderate hearing loss that cannot be corrected with medical treatment, these hearing aids would be a good value at $599 a pair. Original article linked here: https://www.gardneraudiology.com/walmart-hearing-assist-ha-802-rechargeable-hearing-aid-review/

January 11, 2021 by Daniel Gardner, M.S. I recently evaluated a pair of Hearing Assist model HA-1800 hearing aids. You can order these hearing aids online from Walmart and Amazon. In some states they are sold on Walmart store shelves. You can also order these aids directly from the manufacturer through www.hearingassist.com or call 1-800-700-4327. These completely inside the ear canal hearing aids (CIC) have nothing hanging over the top of your ear and they are very small and inconspicuous. I was curious because I presently wear a set of behind the ear hearing aids. These behind the ear style aids ( receiver in canal-RIC) are very inconvenient for me when I wear a mask throughout the day while I see patients. When I take the mask off my hearing aids often come out of my ear. I have been looking for cost effective in the ear hearing aids for myself and my patients. I tried a pair of these aids and was very pleased with the sound quality considering that they were not custom fitted for me. I loaned these aids to our staff and patients for evaluation. They were also pleased with the sound quality. They could adjust their optimum volume by pressing a small button on the aid. I suffer from a mild to moderate hearing loss which is what these aids were designed for. If you have a moderate to severe hearing loss this model HA-1800 CIC may not satisfy you because there is not enough power. It could feedback (whistle sounds) if you try to max out the volume. Why were people satisfied with the sound quality of this $399 aid? I found out when I measured their sound output with an oscilloscope while inside my ear (doctors call this real ear measurement). This aid delivers a very smooth frequency response that recovers hearing very well for those who suffer from typical mild to moderate hearing loss. I think at $399 with a 60-day money back guarantee, this aid is a good value. The same style in custom could cost you up to $3000 or more each from a hearing healthcare professional. The battery that powers this aid is available at drugstores. In my opinion this aid would be a good value for many new hearing aid users. It also would be a good back up for existing users when they wear a mask. Original Link found here: https://www.gardneraudiology.com/walmart-amazon-hearing-assist-model-ha-1800-cic-hearing-aid-review/

Back in the early 1980’s, Larry Hagen and Johan Carlson, two hearing aid engineers in Minneapolis, were closely following the development of custom in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid designs and the increasingly advanced miniaturization of hearing aid components. The ITE design was growing in popularity due to not only the lower profile look, but also the science behind frequency amplification. Placing the hearing aid microphone in the concha bowl of the outer ear (pinna) and the receiver within the ear canal leads to more natural sound amplification and better high frequency response. As Hagen advises, “The outer ear functions as a natural preamplifier to deliver sound to the ear drum. This is what the typical person would consider natural sound. So if a hearing aid is fit on a patient, we want to deliver a final sound to the ear drum that mimics this natural effect of the pinna and ear canal.” In the mid 1990’s, as these ITE designs continued to be refined, deep impression taking techniques combined with smaller hearing aids that fit Completely In the ear Canal (“CIC”) became the latest in hearing aid innovation. Hagen’s company, Micro-Tech Hearing Instruments, became one of the first companies in the United States to be granted 510k approval to produce, market and sell this new type of hearing aid design. “The better the hearing aid device can produce high frequency gain at the ear drum, the better the patient may be able to understand spoken speech,” Hagen continues. “That is because of the make up of the English language. Most of the energy that accounts for adequate speech perception lies between about 60Hz to around 6kHz. 95% of the energy lies below 1kHz and only 5% lies above. However, the higher frequencies give us about 60% of our ability to understand. Typically most patients show high frequency hearing loss either through aging (presbycusis) or from noise exposure. As a person develops high frequency hearing loss they start to misunderstand. For example, ‘What kind is it?’ may be misconstrued as ‘What time is it?’ because the patient has to guess about the ‘k’ because they couldn’t hear it. As the loss gets worse and worse the problems of understanding gets worse and worse.” The main problem with custom ITE hearing aids has been the very nature of its name, custom. They were very expensive to produce as each shell had to be made individually. This uniqueness made it very hard to do preprocessing of subassemblies. Remake rates were very high due also to poor ear impression taking techniques amongst the hearing aid professionals. So the task that Larry and Johan partnered up to take on was how to create comfortable fitting ITE devices that retained the acoustic, cosmetic and venting benefits of well fitted custom ITE devices but that could be mass produced. Also there would be no need for ear impressions. In effect, one size that fits most, if not all users. “Because of our 30 years of custom ITE production we had a very good idea of what the average ear size was,” says Carlson. After numerous size and shape shells were produced and tested on people, the partners succeeded in developing two new proprietary designs that met the following criteria: Functions as well and in many areas better than BTE hearing aids (especially in the high frequency ranges) Be comfortable and will not fall out of the ear Discreet (barely detectable) Uses anatomy of the ear to determine fit without an ear impression (one size fits almost everyone) Could be mass produced As a result, the patented design of the C-Shell and the Teeny (now Hearing Assist HA1800) were born. Each with advantages that would appeal to any ITE hearing aid wearer. The HA1800, being a CIC hearing aid, is perfect for people that have difficulty hearing high frequencies and is almost invisible as it sits deeper in the ear. It is hardly noticeable and a universal fit, fitting either ear perfectly. The C-Shell as its name implies is shaped like a “C” or crescent and sits in the concha (bowl) of the ear creating a fit that is “trampoline proof”, i.e. supported by at least two surfaces of the ear creating a confident and comfortable fit. The C-Shell can be used with or without an ear cap depending on your hearing loss. The C-Shell design is flexible; it can be developed to perform many functions – hearing aid, sound suppressor, tinnitus masker and more. The HA1800 and the C-Shell both have unique designs that comfortably fit the masses. When Larry & Johan teamed with Hearing Assist, they combined these innovative designs with the latest digital signal processors and world class customer service to create the most comfortable, discreet and complete ITE hearing aids while keeping the prices affordable!

The hard part about selling hearing aids? No one really wants to wear them. They are a piece of unnatural technology that you must get used to wearing in a sensitive part of your body. Moreover, you need to get used to processing sensory information in a new way. It’s new; it’s different; it’s a change. But for many of us, it’s a necessary change. The consequences are too severe, the losses too great, to go unaddressed. There are multiple anatomical and physiological changes that happen with hearing loss. These changes are exponential over a period of time and by degree of hearing loss. Here we will look at biological, psychological, and social issues surrounding hearing loss. Brain Changes Auricular nerves are responsible for picking up sound via wavelengths and transmitting this sensory information to your brain. When hearing loss occurs, less auricular nerve stimulation occurs. When less nerve stimulation occurs, atrophy occurs in the part of the brain where this sensory information is delivered and processed. Imaging studies show atrophy and structural changes in brain regions not only responsible for hearing, but also in regions responsible for memory, speech and language, and cognition. In fact, there is over a decade of research demonstrating an association between hearing loss and overall brain atrophy, otherwise known as dementia. Hearing loss is considered to be a strong indicator of dementia and vice versa. While it’s true that overall brain atrophy occurs with age, individuals seem to be in the express lane for dementia when they have hearing loss. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that the risk of dementia increases by 200-500% depending on the degree of hearing loss. Fortunately, roughly a third of dementia cases are considered preventable with early treatment. One of the most important early treatments we can make, is the treatment of hearing loss before these structural changes in the brain take place. Nervous system changes The auricular nerve is a branch of the vagus nerve, a nerve responsible for parasympathetic states of nervous system activity. Parasympathetic activity is the rest and digest state of the body. Simply, stimulating the auricular nerve stimulates the vagus nerve which stimulates a parasympathetic response, putting you in more of a rest and digest state. Hearing loss presents a serious blow to maintaining and preserving calm in the body and one’s ability to manage stress. Social consequences When you have difficulty hearing, you have difficulty participating in conversation and social activities. This not only leads to cognitive decline as we have seen, but also social isolation. As people become aware of their hearing loss, many become uncomfortable engaging in conversation and slowly withdraw. Hearing loss decreases communication in both personal and work relationships potentially causing hardship in both arenas. This also has deleterious consequences on self-esteem and overall mental health. At HearingAssist, we have developed hearing aids to target mild-moderate hearing loss. We provide an effective and accessible solution for early treatment of hearing loss. We have multiple styles from behind-the-ear models to in-the-ear canal models to offer an appropriate solution for you. Do you wear glasses? The in-the-ear model is likely the best style to suit you. Do you need to be able to adjust the sound and frequency depending on your environment? Our Bluetooth-enabled model allows you to easily and discreetly adjust the settings from your smart phone. Need help in determining which settings are right for you? Simply use the HearingAssist app to test your hearing and it will self-tune your hearing aids based on the results. Have you lost dexterity in your fingers and have difficulty placing those little hearing aid batteries? Many of our hearing aids are rechargeable and allow you to simply dock your hearing aids for an easy charge. At a fraction of the cost, our hearing aids are an easy and affordable solution. They can be purchased at Walmart in select states (NC, TX, AZ, CO & TN) and are the #1 best selling hearing aid on Walmart.com. Our unparalleled customer service can answer any questions you have. Don’t take it from us, we have hundreds of thousands of happy customers whose testimonies serve as evidence of the improvement of their hearing and overall well-being. Visit us at hearingassist.com to learn more.

Signs you may need a hearing aid. When you: Often ask people to repeat themselves Feel most people mumble or don’t annunciate Miss much off the conversation around the dinner table Miss much of the dialogue in movies/TV People often ask you to turn down the radio/TV Have difficulty understanding what is said in restaurants/bars/houses of worship/public spaces/large groups Have difficulty what is said over the phone/people tell you that you shout into the phone when speaking Find yourself becoming socially withdrawn or feel socially isolated from not participating in conversation Find that you are not catching all the words in conversation, most often with children or people who have higher pitched voices Notice that you are unable to hear the doorbell, the phone ring, a horn honk, or you find you cannot hear sounds in nature like water lapping, waves crashing, or birds singing You may feel strained, exhausted, or develop a headache after trying to hear simple dinner conversation. Hearing aids can help in all these areas. And while they are not a “cure,” they can significantly assist in everyday hearing environments and reduce the tension inherent in these situations. Hearing loss is progressive. Early treatment is the best action to take to prevent consequences of hearing loss which can include cognitive decline, social isolation, and increased stress. And this is exactly our focus at HearingAssist. Our business model was developed to specifically target this population. We offer a high quality, highly effective early treatment. We offer hearing aids at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing aids. We are the top selling hearing aid brand on Walmart.com and sold in Walmart retail stores in TX, NC, CO, AZ, and TN in both the Pharmacy and Optical departments. And there are reasons why we are #1, just ask the hundreds of thousands of customers we have served over the last 12 years. Our focus is on quality and accessibility. We have structured our business model to heavily invest in research and development finding ways to procure the most innovative technology to create the most effective, cost effective products on the market. We have the very best in customer service and can answer any question you have about hearing aid model and suitability. Check us out at hearingassist.com to find out more or call us at 1-800-700-HEAR (4327)