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Have you ever wondered how music mixing affects our perception of songs? Well, a recent study dived into the world of mixing preferences, and the results are quite intriguing. Let’s break down the science!
The study titled “Exploring level- and spectrum-based music mixing transforms for hearing-impaired listeners” by Joseph Benjamin and Kia Siedenburg explored the paradigms of music mixing preferences for those with and without hearing loss.
Imagine you’re at a concert, and the sound engineer is adjusting the levels of vocals and instruments to create the perfect blend of music. That’s called mixing, and it’s crucial for making songs sound good. But did you know that people with hearing impairments might have different preferences when it comes to mixing? That’s what this study aimed to uncover.
Mixing is like cooking. You have various ingredients (tracks) that need to be combined just right to make a delicious dish (song). In the music world, mixing involves tweaking things like vocal levels, instrument balance, and even the frequency balance (how bright or deep the music sounds). But here’s the twist: People with hearing impairments might experience music differently, and that’s where the experiment comes in.
The researchers gathered two groups of music lovers: those with normal hearing (NH) and those with hearing impairments (HI). Some of the HI folks wore hearing aids (HAs), while others didn’t. The goal? To find out how these different groups preferred their music mixes.
In the first experiment, they played different versions of songs to these music enthusiasts. Some versions had louder vocals, some had more balanced frequencies, and some had a unique EQ (equalization) transformation. They found that both HI groups preferred the lead vocals to be louder than NH participants did. Imagine being at a concert and wanting the singer’s voice to stand out even more—that’s what they liked!
For the second experiment, they focused on the HI listeners who wore hearing aids. They compared their preferences when wearing HAs and when not wearing them. Surprisingly, they found that wearing HAs reduced the preference for louder vocals and changed the balance of frequencies in the music.
These findings suggest that people with hearing impairments might have different musical tastes when it comes to mixing. Cranking up the vocals a bit could potentially enhance their enjoyment of songs. And when it comes to the sound frequencies, it’s like choosing between bright and deep colors—some might prefer brighter, more vibrant sounds.
Luckily there are some options for altering music mixing to suit your preferences if you have hearing loss! We personally love the Audeara A-01 Headphones as they are customizable and made with those with hearing impairment in mind.
What sets Audeara headphones apart is their focus on providing users with customized sound profiles based on their individual hearing capabilities. Audeara headphones are equipped with technology that allows them to assess your hearing sensitivity in each ear. This is done through a hearing test that you take when you first set up the headphones. The headphones then create a personalized sound profile for you based on the results of this test. This profile takes into account any hearing deficiencies or variations you might have, and it adjusts the audio output to suit your unique hearing needs.
Audeara headphones continuously adjust the audio output in real-time based on your personalized profile. This means that the headphones adapt the sound to compensate for any deficiencies in your hearing. For instance, if you have difficulty hearing certain frequencies, the headphones will boost those frequencies to make sure you can hear them clearly.
So, what’s the bottom line? Music mixing isn’t just about technical stuff; it’s about how we experience and enjoy songs. The experiment showed that understanding the mixing preferences of people with hearing impairments can help make music more enjoyable for everyone.
Imagine going to a concert in the future where the mixing is tailored to what you like—whether you’re a normal-hearing listener or someone with a hearing impairment. That’s the power of research and understanding how we all hear and feel music differently!
Remember, music is a universal language, and it’s all about making sure everyone gets to groove to the beat. So, next time you’re singing along to your favorite song, give a nod to the mixing engineers who make sure it sounds just right for your ears!
Aural rehabilitation, AR, encompasses a wide set of practices aimed at optimizing a person’s ability to participate in activities that have been limited as a result of hearing loss. AR provides an opportunity to further explore how hearing loss impacts a person’s ability to communicate. You and your audiologist can create a rehabilitation plan to meet your specific needs.
This helps the person identify specific situations that are valuable but at risk for being compromised by difficulty hearing. These are usually experienced in background noise which makes it difficult to maintain attention and focus and contributes to listening fatigue.
Once the needs assessment is complete, the patient and audiologist can create a management plan together. Each plan would be unique to the person, but would often contain one or several of the following items:
In addition, peer support groups can be an invaluable tool. No matter how supportive others can be, no one can fully appreciate all a person with a hearing loss has to deal with on a daily basis. Talking to others can help you feel less alone. A worksite assessment could also help you find how and why communication breakdowns occur and how to ease or fix them.
The benefits of Aural rehabilitation practices are significant. Aural rehabilitation can reduce one’s perception of hearing difficulties, improve one’s perception of quality of life, and help that person become a more effective user of hearing technology and communicative strategies. It simply improves your personal adjustment to living with hearing loss. There has been lots of research documenting the benefits over the years. Let us know if you need help finding the research.
As always, Happy Hearing, Karen, and Kim
For instance, there are products that connect to your phone, like a Bluetooth hearing-assisted piece, so you can hear every call crystal clear in both ears at once, hands-free. There are TV streamers (Bluetooth or otherwise) that virtually eliminate the old “What did he say?” during the actors’ dialogues. And the thing is there are so many different kinds. With different features and prices. There are also pieces that help you block out noise while hearing in noise.
Hearables is the name of the game!
this device can bring the TV sound to your ears via different modes. It can stream wirelessly with proprietary technology to a hearing aid or a product. You can also get wired products but that is old school by now. Wireless is the name of the game so you can still hear while you run into the kitchen and get some ice cream! Who wouldn’t want to do that while still listening to your show? It can stream via the loop with a t-coil. You can also use a headset that works either with FM or IR.
there are many different ways to use a phone to hear better. Phones can be hearing aid compatible with T-coil, or can be amplified, or even have software features that help make the speech clearer. Phones can have Closed Caption so that you can read what your caller is saying along with hearing it. There are also pieces that can connect to the phone that can connect to a product or a hearing aid. Check in with us and see what we recommend for you.
There are even ways to stream your cell phone calls or music to your hearing aids. Each hearing aid company has its own method or proprietary technology to connect that may include LE Bluetooth, FM signal, or a combination of all three. Some phones even have apps and technology for the brand you may be used to connect or control the signal. There are always more options coming available all the time. We will keep you posted on them. Email us about the option that will work best for you and your technology level and interest.
The iPod/iPad, MP3 players, notebooks, and other portable listening devices also can stream and connect to hearing aids and products. Do you want wireless or is wired better for you? New technology is available so please let us know what interests you or your loved one. We are here to help!
Assisted Listening Devices-Telephones to Help you Hear-Phone Streamers-
Phonak ComPilot II
Now that you have your new Phonak hearing aids, the Phonak ComPilot II will help you get the most out of them. Its main purpose is to connect your hearing aids to a variety of devices via Bluetooth; your cell phone, iPod, etc. It can also be used as a remote control for your hearing aids. This product is compatible with Phonak Audeo and several of the Phonak Venture series hearing aids. If you have any questions about whether this product will work with your particular Phonak hearing aids, we at Hears to U will be able to help.
Since the ComPilot II has a rechargeable battery, the first you will need to do is charge the battery. The initial charge should be at least three hours. It can even be left to charge overnight; that will not harm the device in any way. The power indicator is red while charging and will turn green when the charging is complete. The battery on your new ComPilot II will not work to full performance until three full charge and discharge cycles have been completed. A full charge can give you up to 24 hours of streaming time.
Once charged you will need to pair your ComPilot II to each bluetooth device. You will only need to do this once; after than the ComPilotII will be able to recognize the device. Put the ComPilot and the phone next to each other. Go to settings on your cell phone and make sure that Bluetooth is enabled. Look for nearby devices. Turn on your ComPilot II. Press and hold connect and volume up buttons at the same time for two seconds. The audio indicator will blink blue. Connect your hearing aids. After your aids are paired properly, the audio indicator will stop blinking blue, and your phone says the ComPilot is connected.
Now you can make and receive calls. You will hear the calls directly into your hearing aids. No need to go to a quieter room or use the speaker function on the phone to be able to hear what is said. Now you can hear family, friends, grandchildren, even your favorite telemarketer, directly into your ears. You won’t miss a thing.
Now, what if you want to hear music. If you have an iPod, insert the audio cable into the ComPilotII and insert the other end into the headphone jack on your player. Turn it on and you will automatically hear directly into your aids. You can also stream music or podcasts from your smart cell phone.
If it is set up as such, the ComPilot II can act as a remote control for your hearing aids. You can adjust the volume and change programs. Just be sure we at Hears to U know you are interested in this function, so we can be sure to set it up for you.
Phonak has many youtube videos and step-by-step instructions on their website. You new ComPilotII also comes with a one-year limited warranty. Enjoy your new hearing adventures!
The Signia Streamline brings the TV directly to your Signia hearing aids with Dolby Digital quality. Never miss a moment of your favorite program or sporting event again!
How many times did others in the family tell you to turn down the TV? Now that you have your Signia Hearing aids, that shoe may be on the other foot. With the Streamline TV, the sound of your favorite program will stream directly into your hearing aids. Now, your family will ask you to turn UP the TV.
Make sure you buy the correct TV streamer as the Rexton Smart Transmitter 2.4 does not work with Signia hearing aids and vice versa.
If another person in the house also has Signia or Rexton hearing aids, they can pair their hearing aids to the streamer too.
It works with other streaming technology offered by Signia and/or Rexton. For instance, you can take a call and the streaming is automatically suspended as it favors phone calls. There is an LED display that will provide connection status information.
You do not have to use an app with this device. However, the Signia or Rexton app will allow you to adjust the volume and start streaming. As mentioned above, you may need a function button on your hearing aids to tell it to find the TV streamer. Talk to your audiologist about how to connect.
The Streamline assisted device will work with any TV that has a TOSLINK output or Optical output on the TV dashboard. Cinch cable (RCA/analog – red and white cables), or a jack adapter. It is currently compatible with the newer Rexton M-Core and Bi-Core and Signia AX digital hearing aids. If you have any questions about whether your aids will work with the Streamline TV, we at Hears to U, Audiology, will be able to help answer any questions you may have.
The ClearSounds Quattro 4 has an array of features that are very neat and maybe you can benefit from hearing from a smartphone, computer, MP3 player, or in a noisy environment using the removable mic or even while talking on the phone directly to your ears. You can use the earpieces that come with the product or your own earbuds or your hearing aid or cochlear implant with your t-coil.
It is a sleek Device you wear around your neck that is connected to earbuds, hearing aids, or a cochlear implant. It has a detachable omnidirectional microphone that picks up surrounding sounds and transmits them to your ears via the device you are using. You can even adjust the sensitivity of the microphone to minimize background noise. It has Bluetooth for an easy connection for streaming and can connect to 5 pieces, two simultaneously. This piece is hands-free as well.
Working at Hears to U, Audiology I hear this from our patients, “I want to contribute in meetings and social situations, but that is easier said than done. I feel like I am missing something, so I would rather say nothing instead of looking stupid”. They report in that they are not necessarily saying “What?” a lot, but just have a sense that something has changed. One woman in particular that I remember, called and had a similar story. She had her test and sure enough, a mild loss in the lower ranges. The Quattro 4 ClearSounds bluetooth streamer was a good option for her in her work meetings and she loved it for Bluetooth streaming from her smartphone.
Good for her, but what if you have or need hearing aids to use all the time. The good news, the Quattro 4 by ClearSounds will also connect to your hearing aids; Hearing aids with a T-coil work best as you need to connect to your t-coil program in your hearing aids. Depending on the type of hearing aid you have, this could help you fine-tune your listening needs by decreasing the background noise of a restaurant, driving in your car, or talking on your cell phone while taking a walk.
The ClearSounds Quattro 4.0 comes with a remote microphone, charging adapter, charging cable, wired earpieces, and an instruction manual. The Quattro 4 and the microphone take about five hours to charge, and that will give you 3 hours of talking time on the loop and six hours on the headset. The Bluetooth Connection is a V4. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A Bluetooth streaming device or “hearable” or electronic earbud, or whatever you want to call these pieces that fit in your ears like the airpod, offers many of the same features but more features. The hearables are a bit more comfortable without the cords and have many more features than a traditional Bluetooth streamer. There are many types of these electronic Bluetooth streaming “earbuds” in the market place and Hears to U, Audiology is ready to help you decide which best meets your hearing and general listening needs. Some offer Bluetooth streaming, while others offer that plus noise cancellation, some offer a mic so you can talk on the phone easily and the newest on the market offers the ability to change the sound if you are wearing it in a noisy environment and want to hear people talking. This is the Hearable, the one that can do all that the airpod does and much much more for less money.
The Nuheara IQbuds2 Max has been totally revamped from the previous versions and has a number of features that we love at Hears to U, Audiology. Let’s take a look at the most popular features that address the reasons many are looking for earbuds in the first place.
One reason we like the Nuheara Max is the noise cancellation benefit. With these, you can block ambient noise. It offers a new active cancellation feature that looks actively for noise in the environment and puts out a reverse type phase signal to decrease the noise. Another reason these are awesome compared to some other earbuds is the speech enhancement features on the Nuheara earbud Max called the SINC (speech in noise control) feature. This feature helps you hear speech better in background noise, boosting the speech above the noise for easy listening. We love that there is a directional focus that will allow you to focus in a conversation, even in noisy background situations, hearing so much better. All of these features will benefit you so that you will hear so much better in a noisy restaurant or venue playing music or too much noise. These allow you to balance the conversation to be louder and more clear and turn the background down. The Nuheara IQBud2 Max earbuds will then remember the levels you prefer for next time you are in a complicated noisy environment and you want to hear well!
After you order a pair and open up the box, you will be prompted by your phone to take a little hearing screening test. You also can add a good diagnostic test you may have from an audiologist. Note, we do not recommend these hearable earbuds for anyone who has more than a mild hearing loss because there won’t be enough benefit for you. Once you completed adding the hearing information into the phone app, the hearable earbuds will offer a prescribed output of the amplification that is personalized to you. This is not the same as a hearing aid but has some amplification to help you hear better without offering you too much or too little in noise. It also offers several preset settings for various environments including plane, street, and driving environments.
If you are going to exercise, the Nuheara Max hearable earbuds are sweatproof and waterproof. There is an easy feature that allows you to tap touch control to blend your hearing so that you have noise cancellation features but can still hear environmental sounds so you are aware of your surroundings while streaming music or something else via Bluetooth. Hear what is streaming from your phone, whether it be music, podcast or a nice phone conversation with a loved one. Cancel the world as you exercise at home, but blend the surround sound when jogging on the street, blend the surround sound with the streaming differently if you need to hear your instruction while at the gym. There are so many options for the Nuheara IQBud2 Max Earbuds. These little powerful hearable earbuds allow you to “remember” up to seven preset exercise locations. Makes your life easy with one push on your app.
This ability to blend sound is particularly important at work; whether you are in an office or working from home. The ability to focus on the task at hand is critical but you do not always want to block out the world entirely. The hearable Nuheara Max earbuds have three microphones that process the sounds inside and outside the ear to reduce distracting noise. The speech (SINC) feature allows you to turn down workplace noise but will blend environmental sounds so you are not completely isolated from your co-workers. Plus no one can hear what you are listening to if you happen to want to catch the latest news, or hear your favorite song.
The earbuds charge fast and so in about 90 minutes you can “stream” for about 5 hours. The case itself will also re-charge the buds as the case holds charge too. So if you listen for an hour and want more time later, just put the Nuheara hearable Max earbuds in the case and close the lid. It is that easy. Indicator lights will let you know the charging status of the buds. The case itself will allow you to recharge the buds three times, so you can have up to 20 hours of continuous streaming. And the multiple tips are there so you can find the comfy fit for your ears. Everybody’s ears are different sizes. Some very tall and larger men have tiny ear canals. Have you ever wondered why the standard tip doesn’t fit your ear? Ask an audiologist about your canal size so you can find the right tip. And luckily Nuheara offers many sizes with your order.
It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee from Nuheara and a 1-yr limited warranty.
We are proud to be working with Nuheara and their fabulous new hearable earbud product. Three cheers for that!
They are a well-known part of the Wireless Telecommunications Equipment and Manufacturing Industry. This counter hearing loop system picks up sound through an internal, integrated microphone or an optional external microphone. The system then transmits the sound directly into those hearing aids equipped with a T-coil. The system is about 8”x7”x3”, so it is small enough to sit on a counter, a teller window, an information desk, or a store counter; it can also be mounted on a wall. The greatest benefit is that the sound that is streamed to the aids, will be heard in a way that is specific to the wearer. In other words, without doing anything different, each person will hear what is said through the t-coil on their hearing aids in the way that each wearer needs per their hearing prescription. Hence, the hearing aid itself will transmit the sound so that it meets the individual needs of the wearer’s hearing loss.
Now you may be thinking: “Why do I need this?” Although, if you are reading this, you may have already decided that you want to have one for all the people you know who are hearing impaired. Maybe you are a small business owner, and you do not know if your customers wear hearing aids. However, if a percentage of your customers are over the age of 65, it is safe to assume that one out of three has a loss of some kind. Maybe you would like to install a hearing loop system in your store, but during these times, you cannot afford the additional expense. This could be a way for your customers to hear all that is said clearly, easily, and discreetly and affordable.
At a bank, as soon as you enter, you can switch your hearing aids to the T-coil via the app or by changing the program on the aid. No one would know that is what you were doing; discreet. Now, you need to speak to a banker. If the personal banker has one on his/her desk, you can speak softly, and her/her voice will be heard directly in your hearing aids. That allows you the privacy of not having to speak so loudly that others hear your conversation; discreet.
The PLA-90 unit has several unique features. As mentioned, it has an internal microphone, but you can use an additional external mic and can switch between the two modes. There is also a gain control for that external mic. It does have a 12 V rechargeable battery pack that will last up to 6 hours after a 4-hr charge. It can also operate through AC power with a range of 3-4 feet. Indicator LED lights will tell you when it is operational or charging. It is specifically designed to meet ADA accessibility requirements.
It also comes with a 2-year warranty on parts and labor.
This product meets American Disabilities Act for your small business. Give your customers, clients, patients a 5-star experience!
You may think, I don’t really need one; I wouldn’t know what to do with one. If you or a loved one has cardiovascular disease, being able to hear the heart and transmit what you are hearing could be invaluable. If you have a smartphone, using this amplified stethoscope, along with the EKO software, will allow you to send a recording directly to your provider—securely and in compliance with HIPPA.
I wish my sister had had one. Years ago, her son would occasionally complain of a “racing heart”. His pulse was high, but by the time they got to the emergency room, everything was normal. She was so frustrated. After several trips, she thought maybe she was imagining a problem where there was not one. But then they made it to the ER in time. The EKG showed a heart rate of 210; an arrhythmia called PSVT (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). He was treated and now all is well ( he is a doctor himself now), but a lot of anxiety could have been avoided if this had been available then.
There are both adult and pediatric diaphragms. You can listen via analog and amplified modes; switch between the modes easily via the toggle. The amplified mode will give you up to 40x amplification over analog. Volume can be adjusted. With that, the noise cancellation, and the sealing, comfortable earpieces, you are more likely to hear all the functional sounds.
The EKO app will let you see the heart sound waveforms, share recordings for information or referrals, and additional platforms can help you identify murmurs, or add live-stream capabilities via videoconference. It is a valuable tool for any healthcare professional. It would make a wonderful gift for the budding paramedic, nurse, PA or doctor in your family. It would be even a better gift for a health care provider you may know that has hearing loss.
The stethoscope comes fully assembled. It has a rechargeable battery that gives you 8 hours of listening. Recharge by placing the enclosed micro-USB cable into the USB port on the device. and the other end into a certified USB wall charger. It comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
Everyone should be able to sleep safely and comfortably, and not be afraid of sleeping through a fire alarm since most people do not wear their hearing aids to bed at night.
The system works with a properly installed fire alarm system. It is activated by the audible signal of that fire alarm system. Once the SafeAwake senses an alarm, the bed will shake, a loud audible alarm will sound and a flashing light will alert those asleep. The bed shaker was found to be a more reliable way of waking the deaf or those diagnosed with a hearing loss, especially when an intermittent rather than a continuous pattern is used. The audible alarm uses a lower frequency sound than most conventional alarms. Most people with hearing loss who wear hearing aids, have trouble hearing the higher frequencies. The combination of these two innovations, along with the visual flashing alarm, makes this the most effective system on the market.
The system comes with the base unit, power cords for the outlet and for the bed shaker, and three batteries along with a manual. Once you have put the batteries in, put the shaker between the mattress and box spring, plug it into the base unit, and plug the base unit into a wall outlet. Now, it is time to test it. Press the test button on your installed fire alarm for 30 seconds or until the bed shakes, you hear the alarm and see the flashing lights. The manufacturer’s website contains instructions and videos to help you install and troubleshoot the system.
Additionally, the system is small (6”x3”) so it can be mounted on a wall or stay on a nightstand. The receiver will plug into any standard 110-volt outlet. The shaker is placed under the mattress, where you sleep. On occasion, check the position of the bed shaker, as it can move around. It also includes three lithium-ion batteries to provide back-up power in the case of a failure. A battery sensor will tell you when the batteries need to be changed. It has a test button so you can be sure the unit is working properly. The company recommends you check the system and all your installed fire/smoke detectors according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The SafeAwake is made in the USA. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year limited warranty. At Hears to U, Audiology we want you feel safe in your home.
