Basically, hearing aid is an electric amplifying device designed to make sounds audible to the individual with hearing loss. A hearing aid is composed by three components: microphone, amplifier and receiver. Thanks to increasing small micro-processor, the latest digital hearing aids are able to transform acoustic signals into a binary code at high speed and with great precision. Complex calculations provide the ultimate flexibility in providing individualized solutions to hearing loss. Many new features and benefits can be found on digital hearing aids, such as: digital zooming, noise reduction.

很多長者對助聽器都有負面的評論，如: 「耳機令到我耳仔好唔舒服呀、「耳機太大部唔想戴。相信不少乖仔乖女都聽過類似的說話吧！當然我們的聽力學家都常遇到類似情況，我們都會先了解實際原因再作相應處理。例如，當長者表示耳機「時大時細聲 ，可試以下幾項方法去解決問題：

• 檢查助聽器
• 為家長做聽力檢查
• 檢查耳模是否不合適

亦有一種情況是長者的個人心理關口。聽力減弱和視力衰退都是年老必經階段。這個時候家庭成員的支持和諒解都十分重要，盡量以耐心及愛心去為他們解答各項疑問。

簡單來說，處理視力問題就是配戴眼鏡，而聽力問題就是配戴助聽器。現時的助聽器有很多大小尺碼及顏色選擇，亦可以對應不同的科技產品，令生活質素大大改善。所以…放心吧！只要長者能克服了初期未適應的狀況後，他們只會更享受與家人溝通﹗

聽力學是有關聽力障礙(弱聽)的研究，而聽力評估、弱聽的治療方法都屬於研究範圍。而聽力學家是持有聽力學專業資格人士，培訓過程皆曾接受足夠的臨床訓練。聽力學家憑其專業知識，為有需要人士，包括嬰兒、小童、成年人及長者做聽力評估、診斷或驗配合適的助聽器及提供聽覺復康的專業意見。

除了年長人士需要定期驗耳外，現今很多工作或科技用品使用者亦有需要定期做聽力檢查。如果你的工作需經常身處於高噪音環境下（如：建築界、航空業），或者經常使用耳機等產品，便有可能引起聽力退化。謹記聽力一旦減弱便難以回覆正常水平，建議定期每年做聽力檢查，防範於未然。

除助聽器以外，很多家居小工具都可以輔助聽障人士家人朋友的日常溝通。 例如：

1. 專為聽障人士而設的附加閃燈的特大聲響門鈴；
2. 震動鬧鐘（另有便攜版）；
3. 可放大對話聲音及來電聆聲的家居電話；
4. 專為單單溝通而設的私人傳話器等。

這些方便易用的小工具同時都受老人中心及各大醫院歡迎。

Most of us have experienced tinnitus in various degrees. To cope with this problem, firstly, let's understand the basic of tinnitus: tinnitus is not illness, it's only a symptom. The goal of tinnitus treatment is to reduce the annoyance caused by this symptom.

Phonak Hong Kong has developed comprehensive tinnitus assessment services. By analyzing patients' symptom in depth, we can provide professional follow up services, and choose the appropriate treatment method.

Otitis media is a common disease to children. Since their eustachian tube is not fully developed yet,  they are facing a higher risk of bacteria infection, which will cause occlusion or swelling. If a child's otitis media is not carefully treated; it may damage his/her hearing and hence hinders his/her learning and speech development; in worst case, meningitis may occur.

For the case if adults, although their eustachian tube is completely grown, air-pressure during travelling on plane, diving and other damage to eardrum are still able to cause otitis media. Symptoms of otitis media is listed as the following:

We often see others using percentage to describe one's hearing level. However, this is not an accurate indication for auditory conditions. Everybody has a different level of hearing, which enables receiving sounds of different volumes and frequencies. Thus, a hearing test is essential to determine the type and level of hearing loss, so as to provide right treatment.

健全的聽覺系統指在各音頻都能接收低於25分貝的訊息。

當懷疑聽力出現問題時，建議盡快約見聽力學家進行詳細聽力檢測﹗

It is common to see people having difficulties when trying to adapt their hearing aids at the beginning. They may find the hearing aid is too loud/too quiet, or the sound is not comfortable for them.

To improve the listening experience, it is important to ask your audiologists to adjust the hearing aids for you. Audiologist will fine tune the hearing aids according to your requirements, so as to provide a sufficient volume gain and protect your residual hearing.

峰力聽覺中心的服務更加貼心，我們相信單單在聽覺中心內試戴助聽器未必能讓客戶真實體驗到助聽器的好處，所以我們會讓客戶將驗配好的助聽器帶回家，讓他們能在實際的生活環境下感受助聽器的幫助。如他們在試用一星期後覺得助聽器不合適，我們的聽力學家可根據他的實際需求再調教助聽器或者客戶可選擇將助聽器退回，峰力保證將全數退回助聽器的收費。這是峰力聽覺中心對所有弱聽人士的承諾，以確保大家都能擁有最合適自己的助聽器﹗