Danny W. Gnewikow, PhD, FAAA
Audiologist, CCC
Founder & Chief Audiologist

 

Danville, VA
(434) 799-6288

Lynchburg, VA
(434) 528-4245

What's New?

Overview

Just as digital imaging has now replaced the phonograph record, audiotape, and the movie camera for duplication of sound and pictures, digital processing of sound has revolutionized improvements in sound clarity and improved word recognition with hearing aids. Currently, hearing aid sound processors (computer chips), programmed by audiologists with probe-mic technology, continually adjust the output of the hearing aid to the needs of the hearing aid user and to the environment.

 

Hearing aid technology is improving constantly. Low distortion amplification of sound using today's hearing aids is significantly improved compared to hearing aid technology of only 5 years ago.

Rechargeable Hearing Aids - No Batteries

For those who find purchasing batteries for their hearing aids to be an issue, new technology offers an easy solution.  The new rechargeable hearing aids use a standard USB connection and can easily be recharged, eliminating the need for conventional batteries.

In addition to an standard charger, there is also a power backup module that can be used if no AC power is available.

Waterproof Hearing Aids

Waterproof hearing aids can be worn while swimming or in other environments where moisture has been a problem in the past

Wireless Microphones

Wireless microphones send sound directly to the patients hearing aids assisting them in business meetings, around conference tables,  or other activities when distance from the speaker or background noise can cause interference with speech understanding.

"Fit" Hearing Aids

Some hearing aid models can now provide fitness information by monitoring heartrate, steps taken, and calories burned in an attempt to give the patient or their physician health information in real time.

Rechargeable Hearing Aids - No Batteries

For those who find purchasing batteries for their hearing aids to be an issue, new technology offers an easy solution.  The new rechargeable hearing aids use a standard USB connection and can easily be recharged, eliminating the need for conventional batteries.

In addition to an standard charger, there is also a power backup module that can be used if no AC power is available.

Wireless Solution for One-Sided Deafness

With the recent advent of micro-wireless technology, the patient with one deaf ear is now able to hear from the deaf side by transmitting sound to the hearing ear by means of a "CROS" hearing aid.  This is accomplished with the use of a miniature inconspicuous transmitter that lays behind the ear in the same way as a micro hearing aid.

In the past, patients with one-sided deafness had to wear larger wired devices which proved too cumbersome for practical use.  This new CROS device is practically invisible.

Programmability

Due to the wide range of hearing disorders, different acoustic characteristics are required for each hearing impaired individual.

Digital processing and probe-mic measures of the individual's ear canal resonance allow our audiologists to program such parameters as: gain, output, frequency response, compression characteristics, and multiple microphone configurations in order to more accurately fit difficult hearing losses.  Automatic volume controls can eliminate the need for user volume adjustment.

Our audiologists program each hearing aid based not only on the patient's audiogram and probe-mic measurements but also his/her everyday listening environment and the patient's ability to adjust to newly re-introduced sounds.

 
As hearing changes over the years (usually gradually) the hearing instruments can simply be reprogrammed to compensate for the patient's changing hearing loss at no further charge.

Bluetooth Connectivity

For hearing aids with the Bluetooth feature, we can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone (allowing you to drive handsfree), your television, certain bluetooth-enabled landline telephones, and many other digital devices.  For medical personnel, there are even bluetooth-enabled stethoscopes that we can pair with your hearing aids.

Bluetooth Connectivity to your hearing aids avoids fighting over the volume on the TV.  Connectivity to your cellphone allows both handsfree and binaural (stereo) telephone reception as the phone signal is heard through the hearing aids in both ears. The sound from these external devices is directed straight into your hearing aids.

The new Audio Direct hearing aid system now allows for direct cell phone communication via Bluetooth, without the necessity for an external streamer.

Automatic Volume Control - Ease of Use or Choice of Volume Adjustment

Although digital processing features and programs are truly technological marvels, they require extensive training and expertise on the part of the audiologist to achieve the optimal program fitting. The end result to the hearing aid user is often a hearing aid with little to no manual adjustments of the hearing aids and a more comfortable overall sound quality in different listening environments.

For those who want to regulate volume, the aids are equipped with a digital volume control that can enhance the automatic settings.

This type of automation is particularly important to individuals with other physical limitations, such as poor dexterity or poor sense of touch in their fingertips.

Multi-Program Hearing Aids

Hearing aids feature more than one program.  This feature allows the audiologist to program your hearing aids for the different environments you are in, such as:

  • Soft-spoken or loud talkers
  • Noisy environments (i.e. restaurants, parties) 
  • Orchestra concerts
  • Listening in the car
  • Childrens or higher pitched voices
  • Telephone use

Remote Control of Hearing Aids

Remote controls for hearing aids allow the hearing aid wearer to change the programs as explained above in different listening situations without reaching up to touch the hearing aid.

New free apps allow patients to remotely control hearing aids from their cell phone (smart phone).

Especially helpful for:

  • Professionals who want to inconspicuously maintain their speech understanding in difficult listening situations.
  • Patients with physical limitations or dexterity problems.

Hearing Aid Synchronization

If the automatic volume adjustments are not sufficient for difficult listening situations, manual adjustments for volume and various programs can be synchronized to enable the patient to adjust one aid while the aid on the opposite side will adjust automatically.

Noise Reduction Processing

The discomfort and interference of unwanted background noise is a common complaint of most hearing impaired individuals. Although digital hearing aids do not totally eliminate background noise (nor does the normal ear), the digital hearing aid utilizes advanced sound logic algorithms to differentiate between modulating frequencies and intensities of speech and certain types of competing background noise.

The resulting reduction of background noise provides superior comfort for those difficult listening situations. This processing is performed quickly and automatically.

Multiple Microphones

Our clinics prefer to use digital instruments with multiple microphone technology to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Amplifying the speech coming from in front of the patient, while reducing the noise originating from behind the patient results in improved word understanding when in the presence of competing noise in places such as restaurants, crowds, and social situations.

Hearing aids with multi-microphone programming functions can be set to pick up sounds from different directions (i.e. right, left, rear, front) using a beam-forming concept.  This technology would allow a parent or grandparent to hear children in the back seat louder than other car noises when driving. 

The programming versatility of hearing aids today, with the combination of multiple microphones and programs, allows the audiologist to customize your hearing aids for your lifestyle and your special needs.

Speech Enhancement Technology

A person with hearing impairment in the high frequencies often "mis-hears" many consonant sounds. Digital hearing aids now incorporate sophisticated algorithms and multiple channels to boost acoustic energy for the enhancement of consonant sounds, further clarifying the speech signal. Without consonant amplification, the hearing impaired person will often confuse similar words such as: "ball", "fall", and "call". This technology is designed to improve consonant perception.  Frequency transposition (frequency compression) allows certain inaudible frequencies to be shifted to lower frequency regions, where patient has better audibility.

Patients often say: "I can hear, but I just can’t understand the words." Hearing losses that primarily affect high frequencies often reduce speech comprehension and clarity.

In short, digital programmablity allows for different amplification at different frequencies, depending on your hearing loss.

Digital Feedback Reduction

The feedback reduction circuit on the newer hearing aids, in conjunction with a proper fit, avoids the embarassment of unnecessary high-pitched squeal, by automatically correcting feedback when it is detected.

 

Frequency Compression and Transposition

This feature allows the shifting of speech sounds in the very high frequencies to a lower frequency range for patients who have lost most of their high frequency hearing.  This transposition can result in improved word discrimination. 

Open-Fit Hearing Aids (practically invisible)

With the use of very thin micro-tubing or miniature receivers, mild to moderate hearing losses can now be open-fit (without stopping up the ear canal)  while at the same time making the hearing aid almost invisible. This approach also eliminates a "barrel/echo" effect of ones own voice often experienced with conventional fittings that tend to block the ear canal.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Hear Clear dba Danny W Gnewikow, Ph.D., LLC and Audiology Hearing Aid Associates (“we,” “us,” or “our”) provide this website (“Site”) to you conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of this Site constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.

MODIFICATION OF THESE TERMS OF USE

We reserve the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices under which this Site is offered, including but not limited to the charges associated with the use of this Site.

LINKS TO THIRD PARTY SITES

This Site may contain links to other websites ("Linked Sites"). The Linked Sites are not under our control and we are not responsible for the contents of any Linked Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Linked Site, or any changes or updates to a Linked Site. We are not responsible for webcasting or any other form of transmission received from any Linked Site. We are providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by us of the site or any association with its operators.

NO UNLAWFUL OR PROHIBITED USE

As a condition of your use of this Site, you warrant to us that you will not use this Site for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use this Site in any manner which could damage, disable, overburden, or impair this Site or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of this Site. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available or provided for through this Site.

CONTENT YOU SUBMIT

When using this Site, you may have the opportunity to submit reviews or feedback regarding your experiences with us, and to participate in bulletin boards, chat areas, news groups, forums, communities, personal web pages, calendars, and/or other message or communication features designed to enable you to communicate with the public at large or with a group (collectively, "Communication Services"). You agree to use the Communication Services only to post, send, and receive messages and material that are proper and related to the particular Communication Service.

By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using a Communication Service, you will not post content that contains:

  • Personal and confidential information, including phone numbers, addresses, and health information;
  • Vulgar content, including offensive, derogatory, obscene, profane, or inflammatory language or content;
  • Threats or personal attacks on others;
  • Discriminatory content or hate speech, including content that advocates against groups of people based on their race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or veteran status;
  • Misrepresentations, including content submitted fraudulently on behalf of others or that misrepresents the your identity or connection with us or our practice;
  • Non-applicable content, including posts that are not specific to us or our practice;
  • Advertising or solicitations;
  • Illegal content; or
  • References to or information about ongoing legal matters or proceedings.

You further agree that you will not:

  • Upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents.
  • Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer.
  • Conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes or chain letters.
  • Download any file posted by another user of a Communication Service that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.
  • Falsify or delete any legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded.
  • Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Communication Services.
  • Violate any code of conduct or other guidelines which may be applicable for any particular Communication Service.
  • Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses, without their consent.

We have no obligation to monitor the Communication Services. However, we reserve the right to review materials posted to a Communication Service and to remove any content that does not comply with these terms or any publicly posted content that includes personal and confidential information. We reserve the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Communication Services at any time without notice for any reason whatsoever. Content uploaded to a Communication Service may be subject to posted limitations on usage, reproduction, and/or dissemination. You are responsible for adhering to such limitations if you download the content. If you would like to remove your own review from this Site, please contact us.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY ADDED TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN. WE AND/OR OUR SUPPLIERS MAY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN THIS SITE AT ANY TIME. ADVICE RECEIVED VIA THIS SITE SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR PERSONAL, MEDICAL, LEGAL OR FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE TAILORED TO YOUR SITUATION. WE AND/OR OUR SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED ON THIS SITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL SUCH INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND. WE AND/OR OUR SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL WE AND/OR OUR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SITE, WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SITE OR RELATED SERVICES, THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS OBTAINED THROUGH THIS SITE, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SITE, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF WE OR ANY OF OUR SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES/JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE, OR WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS OF USE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USING THIS SITE.

TRADEMARKS

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. The example companies, organizations, products, people and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be inferred. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

NOTICES

Please contact us by phone at 434-799-6288 or by mail at 743 Main Street, Danville, VA 24541

 

 

PRIVACY POLICY

Privacy Notice This privacy notice discloses the privacy practices for this website. This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by this website. It will notify you of the following: 1. What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website, how it is used and with whom it may be shared. 2. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data. 3. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information. 4. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information. Information Collection, Use, and Sharing We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order. Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy. Your Access to and Control Over Information You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website: ● See what data we have about you, if any. ● Change/correct any data we have about you. ● Have us delete any data we have about you. ● Express any concern you have about our use of your data. Security We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment. Cookies We use “cookies” on this site. A cookie is a piece of data stored on a site visitor’s hard drive to help us improve your access to our site and identify repeat visitors to our site. For instance, when we use a cookie to identify you, you would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. Cookies can also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information on our site. Some of our business partners may use cookies on our site (for example, advertisers). However, we have no access to or control over these cookies. Links This website contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information. Surveys From time-to-time our site requests information via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and you may choose whether or not to participate and therefore disclose this information.