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Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are a very common and effective treatment plan for hearing loss. Ear, Nose & Throat Center offers a variety of options and styles of hearing aids. Working together with each patient, we make sure they are provided with the best option.

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Choosing A Hearing Aid
Hearing Aid Styles
Accessories
Repairs
Pediatric Hearing Aids
Adult Hearing Aids
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Choosing A Hearing Aid

Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment for hearing loss. Depending on the patient, hearing aids can help people hear in either quiet or noisy situations. Choosing the right hearing aid can be hard due to the large variety of devices, functions, and features that modern technology has allowed for. Finding the perfect hearing aid can be challenging because they are individualized for each patient.

Finding the right hearing aid will require a hearing test and guidance from an audiologist.

Where To Buy Hearing Aids

Advice for where to buy a hearing aid can come from all over, but we encourage you to talk to us about a proper treatment plan for you. Shopping online does not give you the individualized treatment you may need when it comes to the selection process.

After talking to our audiologists about which hearing aid is right for you, we will assist you on receiving fitting, maintenance, and programming services. We want to ensure that you have the perfect hearing treatment and help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

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How To Choose A Hearing Aid

As you set out to select a hearing aid, you should consider both your hearing loss treatment needs and your personal preferences. The hearing aids you choose should meet your treatment needs in every area, including:

• The severity of your hearing loss
• The frequency of your hearing loss
• Your hearing limitations
• Your activity level and lifestyle

Personal preferences will also steer you as you choose a hearing aid. Some factors to consider are:

• Cosmetic preferences
• Budgetary needs
• Financing options
• Features and functionality
• Compatibility with accessories

Hearing Aid Styles

Thanks to digital technology improvements in the recent years, hearing aids have improved tremendously in comfort and ability. Today, they are smaller and more comfortable than ever with sound quality that is more natural than robotic.

Finding one that fits you and works well with you should be easy with all the different styles we offer.

Behind-the-ear (BTE)

The most popular style of hearing aid (about 60 percent of users choose this type), a BTE device is curved to match the contour of the ear and rests directly behind the ear. The housing, which contains all the electronics, is encased in plastic and connects to the ear canal with a thin, clear tube or ear mold. Though more visible than other styles, the BTE is simple to use, making it a popular choice for children. It’s powerful enough for all types of hearing loss.

Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE)

A RITE hearing aid consists of a tiny housing containing all electronics except the receiver, which is positioned behind the ear. A thin tube connects the housing to the receiver, which is worn in the concha (bowl-shaped portion) of the ear. It’s a small and discreet unit but powerful enough for treating mild to moderately severe hearing loss.

In-the-canal (ITC)

This style is also designed to fit in the ear canal, but not as deeply as a CIC device, resting securely in the lower portion instead. It’s a little larger, making it easier to insert and remove and extending the battery life. For patients with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)

This hearing aid is placed in the ear canal and is the smallest available. It takes advantage of the ear’s natural ability to collect sound, and its discreet size makes the device virtually invisible to others. The trade-off is a shorter battery life, and it may prove difficult to adjust for those with poor manual dexterity. This is a good choice for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing Aid Accessories

Today’s hearing aids are still falling short in some settings, such as the location of the source of the sound and loud background noise, despite unparalleled advances in digital hearing loss treatments.

Hearing aid accessories are the best way to improve hearing in situations where your hearing aids need a boost.

Types Of Hearing Aid Accessories

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Assistive listening devices

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) are a type of hearing aid accessory designed to transmit sounds from their source directly to you. Depending on the technology they use to communicate, there are three categories of ALDs: frequency-modulated systems (FM), audio loops, and infrared systems.

Microphones

Microphones are subtle, small devices that are designed to be placed close to a speaker to collect noise that is then streamed directly to your ears. They are helpful when you need to carry on a conversation successfully in a loud environment like a sporting event or a restaurant. They are also helpful in classrooms, meetings, lectures, and other similar situations

Remote controls

Remote controls offer a convenient amount of power regarding the settings on your hearing aids, so that you don’t have to worry about adjusting settings, power, or programming manually. The remotes can either be linked to your smartphone with an app, or be a small, handheld device.

Batteries

The key to operating your device is batteries; They’re always important to have on hand regardless of where you are.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable hearing aids are the most popular models among users because it frees the users from doing the grueling tasks of changing batteries, testing the batteries daily, and carrying around an extra set of batteries.

These batteries are also environmentally friendly and can save hearing aid users money and waste (save up to 100 batteries a year).

You can easily charge them overnight for all-day use the next day, you do not have to worry about keeping a spare set of batteries nearby just in case.

Most rechargeable batteries can hold up to 24 hours of battery use and feature a fast-charging option, that provides a few hours of immediate use.

Bluetooth Devices

Wireless hearing aid accessories connect you to your hearing aids and your other personal devices. The Bluetooth feature allows the user to obtain sound from their phone, TV, speaker, computer, and more directly to your hearing aid.

Hearing Aid Repairs

Your typical wear and tear for hearing aids includes daily exposure to moisture, earwax, and other environmental factors. It is almost impossible to avoid a hearing aid repair at some point, even if you are meticulous about your cleaning regimen.

Hearing Device Follow-Up

You will be asked to schedule one to two follow-up appointments for the first few weeks with your new hearing aid. Specialized programming for volume and sound quality with be administered to help best fit the hearing aid to your needs. Hearing aid device adjustments and cleanings are at no additional cost but should be administered regularly for your best hearing quality.
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Hearing Device Troubleshooting

Your doctor will help you learn how to fix certain hearing aid issues yourself like loss of sound, weak or distorted sound, feedback, or whistling. These issues can often be solved by simply replacing the battery, cleaning the ear piece, or replacing the wax guard.

Pediatric Hearing Aids

Children diagnosed with hearing loss will go through the standard consultation with a hearing device consultant and an audiologist. Together they will ensure that the child and his/her family know all the information about the diagnosis, as well as the cost and fitting for the hearing device.

The child’s hearing device may require an ear mold custom to their ear. The audiologist would take the impression of the ear(s) with a small piece of foam and a silicone-based material. Once the material has hardened, the impression will be sent off to create an accurate ear piece. The child’s ear shape will grow as they grow, therefore more impressions may have to be taken as the child matures.

Fitting And Purchase

Once the device is chosen, a fitting appointment will be scheduled approximately two weeks afterwards. The audiologist will enter the hearing loss information into the computer at this appointment and make changes to the hearing device. Sometimes the original results differ from the actual level of hearing loss, therefore other tests will need to take place in order to have the most accurate conclusions. These tests entail electroacoustical, auditory brainstem response (ABR) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) testing. A real ear measurement will also be considered to account for the smaller ear canal. This measurement is to ensure frequency and intensity information about gain (amplification) is correct for transmission into the child’s ear.

Follow-Up appointments will be scheduled to ensure that the child’s hearing aid is functioning to the best of its ability in terms of fit, sound, volume, and cleanliness.

Adult
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Hearing Device Candidacy

A comprehensive hearing test is administered to the patient to evaluate hearing in one or both ears. The test will determine if hearing has been lost, and the physician will then implement another medical exam to rule out any other medical conditions that could authorize intervention. The patient will then be informed of hearing device options, the condition their hearing is in, and how their hearing will work with the hearing device recommendation. Some hearing devices require a custom mold for the ear piece. If needed, the patient will take an impression of the inside of their ear to best fit their hearing device to their ear.

After the selection of the hearing device, the patient will schedule a fitting appointment around two weeks later. At this appointment, the audiologist will enter the patient’s hearing loss information into their computer system and make adjustments based on the hearing aid experience. The audiologist will also show the patient how to operate their new hearing device for everyday use.