RION-Audiological Equipment:Ms.Yumie Kouchi(professional body-boarder)

Sponsorship Contract with,Pro Body-boarder,

Kochi Yumie

Rion Co., Ltd. has signed a sponsorship contract with pro body-boarder, Kochi Yumie.

	When Kochi Yumie was two years old, her family discovered that she suffered from hearing loss. When she was three, she began to use Rionet hearing aids. She is extremely hard of hearing and has continued to use Rionet until now.
During her college days, she took up body-boarding, turned pro in 2003, and then in 2006, achieved world ranking of 11, the highest held by any Japanese body-boarder. Rion Co., Ltd. will support her in her activities around the world, and she will represent Rion by appearing on its posters and in its television commercials, and taking part in public presentations of its hearing aids. Kochi Yumie's web site: http://www.yumie.in/ The following words are taken from Ms. Kochi's diary at her web site. People often ask me questions like "How much can you hear?" or "What kind of hearing aid do you use?". So, I have decided to write down a brief explanation which everyone will understand easily. First, my hearing in my right year is 115 decibels and it is 110 decibels in my left ear. I can explain these numbers simply as follows.
• From 0 to 20 means good hearing of normal people. • From 20 to 50 means mild hearing loss. • From 50 to 70 means moderate hearing loss. • From 70 to 90 means severe hearing loss/ • 90 above means profound hearing loss. • • • • • I am here.

This means that I can hear almost nothing in both ears. People often ask me, "Yumie, are your ears that bad?", but that is the truth. People forget that I am hard of hearing and say thinks like, "I just told you that!" or "Why couldn't you hear me?" But that is how hard of hearing I am. (They think I am dramatizing it, but it is true.) I am always trying desperately not to miss anything people say. "Why do I always seem to talk like everyone else? That is possible thanks to Rionet hearing aids. People ask me, "What kind of hearing aids are you using now?"

In my right ear, I use an analog waterproof hearing aid, the HB-54. In the photograph, it is the one equipped with a blue ear mold. I use the digital model, LISA, in my left ear. And I can listen to an iPod using the hearing aid with a cable attached to it you see furthest to the left. It divides sound into three levels. It has a button just for its hearing aid functions, a button to only control its iPod function, and another button to match the sound with the sound of the iPod. I was astonished when I first put it on!!!!!! It could connect it to a TV (and also to a cell phone). I discovered how people in dramas talk, and I could hear music playing in the background of commercials. It was so filled with sounds that I exclaimed that it's not fair that hearing people can hear so much.

But now even I can hear all those sounds.
In fact I cried unreservedly as I watched the television.
I was using it as a monitor to test the instrument, but I burst into tears even though I was surrounded by other people.

So, is there a difference between analog and digital sound of hearing aids? Because I have never heard real natural sounds in my life, it is difficult to explain. However, my hearing friends who have tried out my hearing aid half for fun have said, "This hearing aid catches all sounds, doesn't it?" I even wonder how hearing people can distinguish these sounds?
Analog hearing aids have been around as long as television.
I have been accustomed to analog hearing aids since I was three years old, so I cannot change to a digital one. Therefore, I used analog hearing aids until 3 years ago.
As soon as digital hearing aids were available, I tried them out. Wow, what great sound! It was clear and beautiful.
I can have my digital hearing aids adjusted to the frequency and loudness of sound that is most comfortable for me. For example, it can be adjusted to reduce the higher sound and enhance the lower sound. It can be adjusted to create the sound of an analog hearing aid. Since I am used to analog sound, I am most satisfied by having my digital hearing aid adjusted as close to analog as possible.

It fits perfectly inside my ear. It is so inconspicuous that nobody notices I wear a hearing aid. When I ask a hearing person to repeat something, they think I said "What?" for some other reason. Therefore I try to show off my hearing aid.
Next time, I will get someone to draw me a picture of a hearing aid to show in such a case.

That is my explanation, but if there is anything more you would like to know about hearing aids, send me mail anytime. And the professional dispensers at Rion hearing aids stores are looking forward to helping you.

For me, hearing aids are like second ears.
They are indispensible.
I hope you all find a hearing aid that is perfect for you.