Normally in our posts, we only deliver positive information and stay away from quoting a bunch of boring statistics. After such an overwhelming two days it’s time for action. For a group of people dedicated to bringing hearing solutions to as many people as possible, this is a completely unacceptable situation.

So, we know that many people gave up on their hearing aids because they no longer provided the degree of assistance that was needed. We know that many never had their aids properly fitted or adjusted, to begin with. We also know that many of these same people could enjoy the many benefits of improved hearing with our help. Hearing aids do work and are life-changing!

To help bring their benefits to the people of Queensland we are making a No Cure No Pay offer. If you have hearing aids but aren’t using them come see us. We’ll assess them and come up with a solution to help you hear better or you pay nothing. You have nothing to lose and a lifetime of improved hearing to gain.

The ability to hear clearly brings so many health benefits beyond just improving our quality of life. Allow us to share this gift with you. Contact Falls of Sound today for a free consultation.

Brisbane 07 3378 5999 Sunshine Coast 07 5443 8993

The post Reconnect with Your Hearing, No Cure No Pay Offer. appeared first on Hearing Clinic.

Sound goes way beyond mere communication though. Even without a spoken word they can convey messages and elicit such a deep reaction from us that it has to be buried somewhere deep in our DNA. Keep reading and see if you can’t be transported far away by the sounds merely described here.

You hear a rustling over your head. There is a slight buzzing all around you. As you walk, there is a soft thudding sound coming from your feet. A short distance away you can barely detect a soft murmuring. As you walk there is a course grating sound as something brushes against your trouser legs and with each stride the sound of your steps grows softer. A little further down the path, you begin to hear squawking in the distance and the murmur grows to become a low roar and swishing sound. All at once the air explodes. Fluttering fills the air and angry squawks assault your ears. There is music in the air now. The welcoming laughter of children at play brightens your mood.

Can you guess where this walk was taken? If you thought a stroll through the sand dunes to the beach. You would be exactly right. Let’s try again.

You awaken in darkness. There is a deafening roar that rises and falls but never completely diminishes. Within the rumbling, you hear clattering against the building like a child throwing handfuls of pebbles at a window. There is a high whining whistle coming from all sides and then all at once, boom. A cannonade erupts and then slowly rolls into the distance.

Have you awoken in the middle of a cyclone at night? It is a very scary feeling.
I defy anyone to not smile and chuckle at the sound of a baby giggling. Or, feel a moment of hesitation and apprehension when a dog lets out a low throaty growl. People shed tears listening to “La Boheme” even if they don’t understand a single word. It is just the sounds that make them cry.

The power of sound is truly magical…

More about hearing and the magic of Sound here

The post Every Sound Tells A Story appeared first on Hearing Clinic.

Large numbers of information

First and foremost, you are going to get a dizzying number of search results. Literally, millions of websites, forums and company pages exist dealing with hearing aids. Everything from research papers to sales pitches is going to pop-up. Depending on your search engine, you are also going to see a lot of paid advertisements. So, it is a given that you will need to narrow your search.

The price

At ‘Falls of Sound’ we realize that the majority of you will be either be looking for a lower price on a hearing aid or advice on which one to choose. Especially a price based search will not show your real needs only the saving in that moment. There are a large number of online hearing aid resellers and we understand their business model very well. It just isn’t the same as ours.

Personalised service

When you Google information on hearing aids you get general knowledge written to be beneficial to the widest possible audience or to entice you to purchase particular products. We prefer personalised services in order to deliver the best possible results. That is the style, make and model of hearing aid that best addresses your particular hearing issues, properly fitted and adjusted to match you and your lifestyle. The most common comment we hear when helping someone who has bought a hearing aid online is “I wish I’d know you before contacting the other business.”

Long term relationship

Purchasing a hearing aid is an investment in your quality of life as well as your mental and physical health for years to come. That’s why it’s important to not only research price but the people you are going to be relying on as you continue on life’s journey.

Click here to find out more on how our team works.

Brisbane 07 3378 5999 Sunshine Coast 07 5443 8993

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What is Tinnitus?

The simple answer to this question is that Tinnitus is when you hear sounds in your head that aren’t really there. And, no, it doesn’t mean you have a screw loose. It takes many forms from a soft hissing or humming sound in the ears to louder clicking, buzzing and roaring noises. It may occur in one ear or both and can be loud enough to interfere with concentration and normal conversations. For some people it is a near-constant companion while others only suffer intermittently.

What causes Tinnitus?

There are two types of Tinnitus; subjective and objective. Objective Tinnitus, which is very rare, is when you hear sounds and your doctor can also detect them when he examines you. It may be caused by a middle ear bone condition, a blood vessel problem, or muscle contractions.

Subjective Tinnitus, the most common type, is when only you can hear the sounds. It can have many causes ranging from viral infections, earwax build-up and exposure to loud noises to problems with your outer, middle or inner ear, some medications and even issues with that part of your brain that interprets sounds.

Help for Tinnitus

If it is determined that your Tinnitus is the result of an underlying treatable medical condition it might possibly be eliminated with proper care by your physician. If the condition isn’t medically treatable or as often is the case the cause cannot be determined then there is still hope. There are a number of electronic devices and strategies that a certified audiologist can assist you with to bring relief.

White noise machines

These devices are most useful when your Tinnitus interrupts your sleeping habits. They produce sounds like falling rain, ocean waves or static that helps mask the sound in your ears and help you rest. Fans, air conditioners and dehumidifiers can serve the same purpose depending on the severity of your Tinnitus.

Hearing aids

If you have hearing issues beyond Tinnitus hearing aids can be very beneficial especially if you are developing communication problems.

Masking devices

Tinnitus masking devices look very similar to hearing aids but work in a completely different manner. They produce a low level of white noise that helps to suppress the Tinnitus symptoms.

Tinnitus retraining

Tinnitus retraining involves wearing another device similar to a hearing aid but unlike a hearing aid or masking device. It delivers tonal music individually programmed to mask the specific frequencies of the tinnitus you experience. Often used in conjunction with counselling this helps you to learn to ignore the noise in your ears.

Whether caused by ageing, nerve damage, an accident, illness or any one of the other factors that can contribute to the development of Tinnitus, help is available. Our team of specialists are experienced and have a wide range of solutions that will benefit you.  Make a move today and schedule an appointment.

Brisbane 07 3378 5999 Sunshine Coast 07 5443 8993

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Mary, not her real name, had been wearing Signia hearing aids for a while. Never really happy with the way she could control the sound coming from the TV. Last week Mary came in to the clinic for technical support and mentioned the frustration. As Mary’s husband recently passed away and no family to assist her Katia gave the job to me (Peter). With my technical background and training I was very happy to assist.

So this morning I set out to install the Signia TV Streamer at Mary’s home. The total installation was without problems and took no longer than 10 minutes. The TV had an optical connection going straight from the TV to the Streamer. A spare power point could accommodate the power supply and voila the hardware was installed. Mary gave me her hearing aids. Opened both battery doors, put the aids on the Streamer and closed the battery doors. Installation and connection DONE! The real test is when you switch on the TV and await the result.

Mary’s facial expression said it all. Big smile from ear to ear. While the sound coming from the TV and into her hearing aids simultaneously we could have an actual conversation. Talking about the program content, an old chair two gentlemen were repairing. Mary could hear every word I said and follow the conversation between the two gentlemen on the TV. 

It was then when Mary said…“ I must admit I was very sceptical when Katia suggested the TV Streamer to connect the TV with my hearing aids”. “But hearing the TV directly to my hearing aids, not having to read the subtitles AND be able to have a conversation at the same time is quite amazing!”. 

This is one of the many success stories created every day. If only one person reads this story and takes action towards better hearing, the story continues.

Here’s to happy hearing!

Brisbane 07 3378 5999 Sunshine Coast 07 5443 8993

The post True story TV streaming happiness. appeared first on Hearing Clinic.

As an Independent hearing aid provider, we hear lots of people questioning the price. Some are comparing hearing aids with the legendary iPhone. Comparing price is what most individuals discuss. However, the technological advances of iPhones in contrast with hearing aids are another. An iPhone investment is a fraction of a hearing aid and has different capabilities. However when we unpack this thinking we find much more to this discussion.

Apples with apples.

Comparing apples with apples would be better. Hearing aids and phones are two very different products. For instance, planes and cars are both transport vehicles, but to fly a plane, you need to go to a university to study firsthand while also having to pass exams. On the other hand, to drive a car, you must pass your driver’s licence test and off you go.

Most practitioners must go to a university and complete an extensive training program to become qualified to do a prescription for people for hearing aids. After completing their education, additional coursework has to be completed regarding the maintenance of these devices. As with all medical practitioners, audiologists and audiometrists have to attend yearly conferences to stay up to date with their industry. At these conferences, they receive points that go towards their provider number. If they run out of relevant point, they lose their provider number.

Some clinics, like ours, provide unlimited maintenance when purchasing hearing aids from them. This means that you can walk-in and get your hearing aids serviced on the spot. If after diagnosis your aid needs a repair outside of our capabilities, we can send it to the relevant manufacturer. If this occurs within the warranty period of three years, this won’t cost you. Your aids will be cleaned and issues will be resolved. You receive free batteries and filler replacements. On a yearly basis, you have access to our audiologist for any adjustments and a hearing test to monitor your hearing loss.

Being an ‘Independent Clinic’ in the hearing industry in today business climate is unique and a bonus to our customers.  We consider YOU first and the brand choice second. After care is what makes us different. Buying hearing aids online do not come with this level of service. In most cases, you’ll get one year of maintenance and servicing. Recently, retailers began selling online, and they only offer aids without any servicing or aftercare. If you compare with the above and look at your needs and dependency on your hearing aid, which way do you want to go?

Coming back to our comparison with the iPhone. After purchasing your phone walk back into the shop you bought it from. Ask them to adjust your phone to your needs by a technician. What do you think the answer will be? Think about two years into your purchase, and you need a new battery or screen replaced. Do you think they’ll replace your screen or battery?

Hearing aids and iPhone are two totally different high tech devices and should not be compared. They do, however, working together to make your life very easy to manage.

If you like to continue the conversation with our specialists, a free consultation can be booked on 07 3378 5999 for Brisbane or 07 5443 8993 for the Sunshine Coast.

The post iPhone Vs Hearing Aids. appeared first on Hearing Clinic.

Travelling with hearing loss can be a piece of cake and just as pleasurable as it has ever been. There are few places on the planet where a hearing clinic or an audiologist can’t be found in an emergency and with a little advanced planning your very unlikely to need one anyway. Here are a few travel tips to help you on your journey.

Planning a trouble-free trip

• Check your itinerary and put google to work. Make a list of hearing clinics and audiologist near where you will be staying.
• Take out separate traveller’s insurance to cover your hearing aids if they should be damaged or stolen during your trip. There are companies that specialise in this field.
• Make sure that the hotels where you are going to be staying are aware of your hearing problems and can make any accommodations you may need.
• When you’re booking your airline reservations, make sure they are aware of your condition. This is for two reasons; it is illegal for you to sit in an exit row seat so that will have to be avoided. The airline may also want to know you may need assistance in an emergency.

Travelling with hearing aids

• Have your hearing aid serviced before leaving home. Thoroughly clean and re-tube them before you leave.
• If your hearing aid isn’t rechargeable take enough batteries for your entire trip plus a few extra days, just in case.
• Pack all your hearing aid cleaning tools and supplies in a safe container.
• Pack your hearing aid storage box in your carry-on bag so you will always have it handy.
• If you have an extra hearing aid at home pack it as a backup.
• Check your homeowner’s insurance policy and be sure your hearing aids are listed separately as an item that you take out of the house. It is better to be double insured.

Travelling with a cochlear implant

• Take your identification card or a letter from your audiologist confirming the implant to show customs and security officials. This can help avoid stressful situations and potently delaying flights.
• Consider turning off your telecoil before going through security checkpoints. They can pick up the radiation from the machines and create an annoying buzzing in your ears.
• If you’re carrying a loaner processor, check that it’s off and safely in your carry-on luggage. Don’t put it directly on the conveyor belt as static electricity can build up and corrupt your implant’s personalised programming.
• There is no need to turn off your cochlear implant during the flight. It won’t interfere with the plane’s instruments in any way and you will need to be able to hear the flight crew’s instructions clearly.

Bon voyage!!

Feel free to visit a Falls of Sound Hearing Care Clinic before your trip. Our team will be able to assist cleaning and or replacing any affected parts, stock up on batteries.

Click To Call Brisbane here

Click To Call Sunshine Coast here

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One area that can be most frustrating for people with hearing loss is being able to enjoy their leisure time at home without disturbing those around them. Crank the volume up where you can hear clearly and people will complain it is too loud.

The good news is that with the right accessories you can still enjoy listening to music, radio, podcast or your favourite shows despite background noise. In many cases even better than those with normal hearing.

If you struggle with enjoying entertainment at home because of hearing loss here are a few suggestions to make life easier for yourself and those around you.

Bluetooth hearing aids

The most modern hearing aids, television sets, computers and smartphones have Bluetooth or a similar system where you can have sound feed directly into your hearing aids. This eliminates the need for you to compensate for those around you or use any added equipment since it gives you total control of your listening pleasure.

Wireless TV listening system

Wireless TV listening systems make it possible for you to feed sound from your tele straight to your hearing aids or a set of headphones. Many of them have a range of up to 30 meters making it possible for you to listen to the evening news while you fix dinner or take care of other household chores.

Wireless headset or headphones

Originally developed for the music industry, wireless headphones for the hearing impaired are a wonderful development. They make it possible for you to listen to any device with a headphone jack with customizable sound. Some models even have remote controls and automatically compensate for or cancel out background noise.

Remote controls

No matter which of the above listening devices you may choose a remote control makes life so much easier for those with hearing loss. Instead of having to run back to your TV or entertainment centre to make adjustments just use the remote. Provided you haven’t mislaid it. The remote functions on some of these devices, like the Bluetooth adaptors, will even allow you to answer calls and receive messages without interrupting your listening experience.

Our team is very well informed on most of the items mentioned above and will be very happy to assist you.

Call Brisbane here

Call Sunshine Coast here

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A missed fire alarm or weather alert could lead to tragedy or at minimum there is the potential to oversleep because of not hearing your alarm. Luckily, manufacturers understand your special needs and have created devices to help you. Here are a few suggestions to help you cope with living alone with a hearing loss.

Smoke alarms.

Every home should be equipped with smoke detectors or a fire alarm system of some type. For the hearing impaired there are specialised smoke alarms that incorporate flashing lights that can be placed on nightstands and/or vibrating pads that can be placed under one’s pillow at night.

With these fire alarms you can rest easy knowing you will be awakened if tragedy strikes.

Portable doorbells.

Missing a visitor or relatives standing at your door without you knowing they are there. Especially if the visitor is unaware of your hearing loss. There are portable doorbells that will help you overcome this frustration.

Depending on your specific lifestyle there are several options you can choose from. Some models incorporate a flashing light that you can carry around the house with you and an alarm with a high-volume setting. There are also newer devices that will send an alert to your smartphone when someone rings the bell.

Vibrating and flashing alarm clocks.

Living solo and independent means you are the only one able to wake you up. Like waking up in time to go to work, early walks with friends or the meeting you’ve arranged some time ago you do not want to miss.

Many options are available in alarm clocks. Some incorporate an extra-loud alarm, some a vibrating shaker that rests under your pillow and others flashing strobe lights.

So you see living solo and independent has lots of supporting technologies to make your life just that much easier.

All the above products are available in the Falls of Sound clinics and are not advertised on our website. Some systems can be installed DIY or arranged to be installed by a technician. Contact our team for price and information here

The post Hearing loss and living alone. appeared first on Hearing Clinic.

It all begins with testing

Your first concern should always be that you have the proper hearing aid for your particular condition. Not all hearing aids are created equal and some are better suited for certain hearing problems than others. This means you need a full hearing assessment from a qualified audiologist. They then will help you narrow your choices to what will work best for you.

Lifestyle options

After your condition is properly diagnosed and the best hearing aids for it have been determined it is important to consider your lifestyle. No two people live identical lives and your likes and dislikes will impact how happy you are with your hearing aids. Do you enjoy spending time swimming or surfing? If you do then a waterproof unit would be best. Do you like to go on multi day hikes in the bush? Long battery life may be a primary concern then.

Appearance and price

As you and your audiologist narrow your options two things that will come into play are price and appearance. These two go hand in hand. The smaller less obtrusive unites are, may cost more depending on the technology inside. While the larger hearing aids, like behind the ear models, are generally less expensive.

Try before you buy

This is almost a must. Be sure the clinic you are working with allows a trial period. A good audiologist will properly fit and adjust your hearing aid but it is rare that anything is perfect at the first try. Minor setting and fitting adjustments may be needed as you become accustomed to wearing your new hearing aid in real-world situations. A trial period gives you and your audiologist time to make sure you are truly happy with the choices you have made.

The post How to Pick a Hearing Aid You’ll Enjoy Today and Tomorrow. appeared first on Hearing Clinic.