Products:
Hearing Aids:
There have been many technological advances in hearing aids over the last 10 years. In the past, primary focus was placed on reducing the size of hearing aids to make them more cosmetically appealing. Currently, however, improvements in sound quality and signal processing are being made in leaps and bounds. Many long-time hearing aid users report that these new technologies allow them to function better in most listening situations.
The first-time hearing aid purchaser may find the number of choices and feature options almost overwhelming. There is no one "best" hearing aid that works equally well for everyone. Fortunately, your audiologist will assist you in selecting a hearing aid with features to meet your individual needs.
Which one is best for you? Important factors to consider include: 1) The amount and type of your hearing loss; 2) your listening needs and typical listening environment; 3) your lifestyle; 4) ear anatomy; 5) your expectations and adaptability; 6) personal cosmetic preferences; 7) cost.
The hearing aid itself comes down to circuitry and style (size). Every style of hearing aid may contain any type of electronic circuitry. The circuitry affects how the hearing aid sounds and the functions it performs. There are three types of hearing aid technology available today:
Non Programmable Analog
Analog Programmable
100% Digital
Basic Non-Programmable Analog - A small microphone picks up sound waves from the air and converts them into electrical signals. An amplifier then increases the strength of the signals using power from a battery. Finally, a receiver (like a small speaker) converts the amplified signals back into sound waves that are directed into the ear canal. Hearing aids with this circuitry usually have a user-controlled volume adjustment and may also have a limited number of potentiometers (screwdriver-set trimmers) for minor adjustments to the hearing aid output. Within this hearing aid technology group are linear amplifiers (amplifies all sounds equally, including loud sounds), compression (reduced gain for loud sounds exceeding a predetermined level), and wide dynamic range compression (increased gain for soft sounds and progressively less gain for louder sounds).
Analog Programmable - Same as above except the hearing aid interfaces with a PC or hand-held computer to program (control) circuit functions such as gain, frequency response and compression characteristics. The advantage of programmability is increased customization of the hearing aid to the individual's hearing loss and subjective preferences. It does increase the cost of a hearing aid, however.
NOTE: Digital hearing aids currently dominate the market, and analog hearing aid choices are limited.
100% Digital - A fully digital hearing aid has a microphone, battery and receiver like a standard hearing aid. The difference is that it contains a small microchip which samples incoming sound a million or more times per second and converts the sound waves into a digital signal (numeric code). The signal is then digitally processed and the hearing aid's output is continuously and automatically adjusted. Digital hearing aids produce clear sound with more natural sound quality by minimizing the distortion that often occurs in analog circuits. You might compare it to the difference in sound quality between an 8-track audio tape and a CD. A basic digital hearing aid may have few additional features and may have potentiometers for adjustment rather than programmability. A more sophisticated digital hearing aid incorporates many programmable features such as multiple channels, multiple programs for various listening environments, dual microphones for directionality, automatic feedback management, speech enhancement, noise reduction, and so on. Digital hearing aids are more expensive than analog aids, however, and individuals must weigh the benefits and cost to determine if this is their best option.
A trial period with a hearing aid is usually the best way for an individual to assess the benefits achieved with a hearing aid fitting. California State Law provides consumers with a 30-day trial period for hearing aids purchased in a dispenser's office. If the hearing aid is returned within the trial period all money deposited for the hearing aid must be refunded at your request. Be sure to share your hearing aid experience with your dispenser so he/she can help you determine if this is the "best" hearing aid for you or if a modification or different type of hearing aid might better address your needs. No one benefits from a hearing aid kept in the dresser drawer!
The style of a hearing aid is its size and location on or in the ear. In general, the smaller the hearing aid the less gain (volume) it is capable of producing and the fewer external features are available on it. Additionally, batteries are smaller and do not last as long. A very small hearing aid may not be a good choice for someone with small ear canals, someone with excessive earwax or ear hair, a severe hearing loss, dexterity or vision difficulties. Smaller hearing aid housing also adds to the cost of the hearing aid.
CIC (completely-in-the-canal) - the smallest available custom hearing aid style currently on the market, the CIC inserts entirely in the ear canal and is retrieved with a small plastic line incorporated into the aid's housing. The primary benefit of this style is its cosmetic appeal. Its disadvantages include less gain (most models), lack of available options due to size constraints, shorter battery life and a plugged or stuffy sensation compared to larger styles.
Mini Canal - Slightly larger than a CIC, this style hearing aid may extend out of the ear canal somewhat. This style may be a choice for those whose ear canals are too small for a CIC or who require options such as a volume wheel, telephone coil button, potentiometer or memory switch. It is limited to mild or moderate hearing losses.
Canal - Similar to a mini-canal but slightly larger, it still may hide completely behind the tragus depending on the size of your ear canal and outer ear. As with the other small hearing aid styles, it is a good cosmetic choice for those with less severe hearing losses while offering a bit more room for an additional hearing aid feature such as venting (to help reduce a sensation of fullness or stuffy ears).
Half Shell - This in-the-ear style fills the lower part of the concha (the "bowl" of the outer ear). This style is a solution for those seeking a discrete fit yet requiring more power or gain than the smaller styles can provide. The half-shell is comfortable and easy to handle for most wearers, yet is large enough to accommodate multiple external features and options available on hearing aids such as directional (dual) microphones, volume wheels, switches, and larger vents.
Full Shell - The largest of the in-the-ear styles, the full shell fills the entire concha of the outer ear. Its advantages include greater power capability, ease of manipulation and cleaning, larger battery size and increased space for hearing aid options and external features such as larger volume wheel or vent size. Disadvantages may include a sense of bulkiness in the ear, increased perception of wind noise due to the location of the hearing aid microphone in the external ear and difficult telephone use (for the same reason) without a telephone coil hearing aid option.
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) - This hearing aid is factory-ready (not custom made) and fits behind and over the pinna at the top of the ear. It is coupled to a custom-made earmold that serves to provide retention and to deliver sound from the hearing aid into the ear canal. This style comes in many sizes and with multiple features built-in. It is appropriate for any hearing loss, is easily handled by most wearers, tends to be hardier and less prone to repairs and damage than the average custom product, and is less likely to produce feedback (whistling sound) since there is increased distance between the microphone and sound waves leaking out of the ear canal. It is the most appropriate choice for fitting children whose outer ear and ear canal shape and size are still changing, wearers with severe to profound hearing loss, and those with severe high frequency hearing losses. It is less cosmetically desirable for some, although improvements in size and earmold coloring are making this less of an issue for most wearers.
Open Fit/RIC/OTE - These names refer to small, modular BTE-like devices which fit over the top of the ear and hide behind the pinna. Very thin tubing hugs the contours of the ear and a small eartip inserts into the ear canal and delivers sound toward the eardrum. The tubing and eartips come in several sizes and the hearing aid is generally offered in many colors. Some have the receiver (speaker) in the ear canal (RIC), combining the benefits of BTE and ITE products. This new style of hearing aid avoids issues of plugged/stuffy sensations and complaints of the wearer's own voice quality. They are best suited for mild to moderate high frequency hearing losses. Due to their small size and light weight, they typically do not have any user controls for volume or program switching. Some of these instruments can access such features by use of an optional remote control.
Your audiologist will assist you in selecting
the appropriate combination of hearing aid style and circuitry to meet
your hearing requirements, lifestyle, cosmetic preferences and your budget.
At Audioscope, we are pleased to offer a thorough and complimentary hearing
aid consultation to discuss your hearing loss, communication needs, available
hearing aid technology and the choices available to you, with no pressure
or obligation to purchase. We believe that education is an important first
step in your journey toward better hearing.
Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is for informational use only
and is not intended to be used as a substitute for evaluation, consultation
or diagnosis by a licensed physician or licensed audiologist. Further,
it is not intended to be all-inclusive. Always consult with your audiologist
and primary care physician regarding matters related to hearing.
