Hearing loss is a medical condition that should be treated under the supervision of a physician. There are numerous reasons why purchasing a hearing aid from a medical practice is the best option. We respect our patients and will never jeopardize our relationship to sell hearing aids to someone who may not need them. We work with numerous manufacturers and have competitive pricing that will fit into any budget.
Hearing Aid Evaluation
Once you have made the decision to improve your quality of life with hearing aids we will set you up with a hearing aid evaluation appointment. It is important to bring someone with you to this appointment as there is a lot of information given and important decisions to make. After talking with you, our audiologist will then determine which type will best fit your particular needs. The following factors will be taken into consideration during the hearing aid selection process:
- Type and degree of hearing loss
- Need for one versus two hearing aids
- Cosmetic concern
- Lifestyle
- Importance of telephone use
- Manuel dexterity
- Visual abilities
- Cost concern
Allergy Clinic
Allergy testing, forearm skin prick and intradermal
Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
Types of Hearing Aids: Conventional vs Digital
CONVENTIONAL ANALOG HEARING AIDS:
Analog hearing aids are basically amplifiers and tend to make everything louder. They
may have manual volume controls and manual fine-tuning capability.
DIGITAL HEARING AIDS:
Digital hearing aids process sound digitally; they contain a computer chip that amplifies sounds digitally. Therefore, they can be easily fine tuned and they are much quieter than analog hearing aids with excellent sound quality.
Digital hearing aids are flexible and can be programmed by the Audiologist using a computer that is equipped with special hardware and software that allows the hearing aid and computer to be connected. Digital hearing aids can act on soft sounds and loud sounds in a completely different fashion. Digital hearing aids have a variety of bands (equalizers) and depending on the level of digital technology there may be as few as 4 bands (Economy technology level) and as many as 20+ bands (Premium technology level). Some digital hearing aids have the capability to reduce some environmental noises such as dishes clanging, motors running, restaurant noises, or wind noise.
Digital hearing aids have options for digital volume controls, directional microphones, multiple memories, rechargeable batteries. Wireless hearing aids can have remote controls and accessories for cell phones, TV’s and conversation.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALDS):
ALDS bring distant sound to the deaf or hearing impaired individual through a receiver. The user can hold the receiver to his/her ear or place it on a near by table or desk (e.g., telephone). ALDS are often available on request in theaters and various other public places. Individuals may also carry their own ALD systems to supplement hearing aids (e.g., cell phones, TV’s, microphones). For additional information on the myriad of products available, please ask your audiologist.
Hearing Aids
Most adults with hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids, but choosing the right hearing aid can be difficult. There is an enormous amount of information available regarding hearing aids and the choices can be daunting. Choosing an audiologist who can guide you through this process is the first critical decision in purchasing hearing aids.
Of course, the first step to a successful hearing aid experience is an accurate audiological evaluation or hearing test. Equally important is a determination regarding your specific needs and lifestyle. It is critical to convey this information to the audiologist. Finally, everyone has a budget; your budgetary constraints should be discussed with the audiologist. Hearing aids are rarely covered by insurance.
The Truth about Hearing Aids
Realistic Expectations: Hearing aids work very well when they are fit and adjusted appropriately. All hearing aids should be comfortable with respect to the physical fit and the sound loudness. If there is any discomfort the wearer should return to their audiologist immediately for adjustments to provide a comfortable fit. Hearing aids provide the wearer with additional information to help that person to hear and understand better. They do not provide "perfect" hearing.
Getting Used to Hearing Aids: People learn at different rates: some people need a few days to adjust to their new hearing aids but most need a few weeks. And there are some who require several months to make the adjustment. In general, the greater the hearing loss and the longer the hearing loss has been present, the more difficult the transition to using hearing aids. There is no perfect way to learn how to adjust to hearing aids. Audiologists are uniquely trained to provide rehabilitative programs that should occur after a hearing aid has been fit.
Background Noise: Virtually everyone - hearing aid users and non-hearing aid users -complain about background noise at one time or another. There is no way for a hearing aid to eliminate the sounds that the wearer does not want to hear. The good news is that there are now hearing aid circuits and features available that help to minimize some unwanted sounds. There is a great deal of research that reveals dual microphones effectively reduce background noise for many people with certain types of hearing losses. Your audiologist can help you determine the best circuits and microphone options for your hearing loss and communication needs. The best and most efficient way to reduce background noise is through the use of assistive listening devices such as FM technology. Ask an audiologist how this technology can work with your hearing aid to improve your ability to hear and understand in difficult listening situations.
One vs. Two Hearing Aids: You have two ears because you need two ears. If you have a hearing loss in each ear that could benefit from hearing aids you should wear two hearing aids. Wearing hearing aids bilaterally (in each ear) will improve your ability to hear in noisy settings, allow you to localize sounds in your environment, improve the ability to understand speech and give sound a fuller quality.
Fact:
Over 60% of individuals who wear hearing aids are fit binaurally. The benefits of wearing two hearing aids are enhanced ability to (a) hear better in the presence of background noise, (b) determine where sound is coming from, and (c) hear soft sounds at lower levels.
WHY TWO HEARING AIDS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
BINAURAL HEARING
Two ears are better than one. Vision clarity, field of view and depth perception are best with two eyes versus just one, and the same principle applies to your hearing. Hearing with both ears allows for a rich, balanced and full sound experience. Wearing two hearing aids delivers these additional benefits:
- Better understanding of speech – it’s easier to be selective in what you listen to, allowing you to focus on conversations more easily
- Better understanding in group and noisy settings
- Better and smoother sound quality – just as your stereo sounds smoother, sharper and better balanced with two speakers, two hearing aids enhance the sound quality of everything you hear
- Better sound identification and localization – two hearing aids allow you to more reliably detect where sounds are coming from, which is helpful in social settings as well as traffic
- Better sound distinction – with one hearing aid, different noises and words tend to sound alike. Two hearing aids help make sounds more distinct
- Bigger hearing range – a person wearing two hearing aids can hear up to four times the distance/range than when wearing just one
- Better tinnitus masking
If you stop using a part of your body, it won’t take long for it to weaken or even atrophy. The same is true with your ears. If you are not hearing optimally or getting regular auditory stimulation to both ears, the ability for your auditory system to process sounds diminishes over time and becomes more difficult to recover. With hearing aids in both ears, you can ensure proper and consistent stimulation of your entire auditory system, which helps prevent auditory deprivation.
Hearing Aid Styles
There are generally two styles of hearing aids: Behind-The-Ear and Custom. It used to be that each one was for a different degree of hearing loss, however, technology has made it so that almost any hearing loss can be fit with almost any style. The following are the most common types of hearing aids.
- Behind-The-Ear Hearing Aids:
Traditional Behind-the-ear (BTE)
Slim Tube BTE
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) - Custom Hearing Aids:
In-the-ear (ITE)
Half Shell
In-the-canal (ITC)
Completely-in-the-canal
Invisible –in-the-canal
Traditional BTE
Thicker tubing is used for more stability and power. Standard-tubed BTE’s are the most appropriate fit for profound hearing loss but also work well for mild through severe loss. They require an earmold which is typically custom made. They use a size 675 or 13 battery.
Slim Tube BTE
Also known as a mini BTE or an open fit BTE. For high-frequency hearing loss, it provides a more natural sound. The slim tubing can’t provide as much power as the traditional BTE. They typically use a 13 or 312 battery.
Receiver-in-the-canal
RIC open fittings look quite similar to the slim tube fittings. The receiver is in the canal rather than behind the ear as in slim tube fittings. The BTE unit is particularly small, light, and inconspicuous. They use a 312 or 10A battery.
ITE
In-the-ear hearing aids were the first custom hearing aids available. They can sometimes provide more power and are usually more secure because the top of the ear helps to hold it in. ITEs are best for people who have difficulty with dexterity or vision. They use a size 13 battery.
HS
Half-shell hearing aids are a smaller version of ITE aids. They are best for individuals who have difficulty putting a full BTE in their ear due to the anatomy of the ear. They are usually less secure than the ITE, but they can still hold more power than smaller devices. They typically use a size 312 battery.
ITC
In-the-canal hearing aids fit in the concha, or bowl of the ear and are a little bigger than CIC hearing aids. They typically use a size 312 battery.
CIC
Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are made to fit fully in the ear canal and can be minimally visible. The deep fit provides some natural directionality that is lacking in larger hearing aids. Because the microphones are better hidden in the ear, there is less wind noise, and the devices allow for easier use of head gear such as helmets. However, they are more susceptible to wax problems. They use a size 10A battery which typically lasts 4-5 days.