It is important to work with your hearing professional in choosing the manufacturer, technology and style of your hearing instruments. Some factors that come into play are: lifestyle, physical and mental abilities of the patient, hearing loss extent, configuration and symmetry, size and health of the ear itself, and financial considerations.
Manufacturers:
Because we believe in Choice, we offer hearing instruments from these fine manufacturers:
Styles:
The Style of a hearing aid refers to its appearance, or shape. Each style is usually available in a variety of technologies.
BTE (Behind the Ear)
The electronic components of a BTE hearing instrument are housed in a slim case that fits behind the ear with one or several microphones at the top of the aid. A clear tube carries the sound from the casing to an ear mold made to fit the opening of the ear.
The BTE is the largest ear level hearing aid and allows more power than other styles.
OTE (On the ear)
This is like the BTE, but it is much smaller. Its clear tubing is finer, and overall it is barely visible. This is usually an “open” fit, meaning there is a large vent in the ear mold, allowing natural sound to enter and leave the ear canal. Mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss fits best with this style.
ITE (In the Ear)
This hearing aid is custom made to the wearer’s outer ear and canal. These are easy to handle, easy to operate, and are the largest of custom products.
ITC (In the Canal)
This hearing instrument is a custom instrument that fits primarily in the ear canal. It is smaller than the ITE making it slightly harder to handle.
CIC (Completely in the Canal)
This is the smallest custom hearing aid available. It fits deeply into the canal. It has a small removal handle to assist in removing it from the ear. This is very popular, and may be the most cosmetically appealing choice.
RIC (Receiver-in-Canal)
This is the newest, most popular style today. It is a small hearing aid worn behind the ear, with the receiver ( or speaker) in the ear, at the end of a thin tube that covers the wire leading to the speaker. They are very discreet, and very flexible to different hearing losses. The ear canal can be either closed or open, depending on the particular hearing loss.
Technology:
Analog Hearing Aids
These are the oldest and least expensive technology. They are lowest in cost but have disadvantages of noise problems, very limited adjustments, and problems with loud sounds. Feedback, or whistling is a problem. Those with primarily high frequency hearing loss cannot be helped with this technology. Few manufacturers still supply analog hearing aids.
Digital Hearing Instruments
These convert the incoming sound to computerized “bits” that can be processed and manipulated very quickly and efficiently in complex ways using mathematical formulas known as algorithms.
Digital Programmable Hearing Instruments
The precision and flexibility of this digital technology gives your hearing professional the ability to more accurately tailor your amplification for the best possible match to your changing hearing and lifestyle needs. We can change the volume of each frequency band, like an equalizer, give several different programs or “memories” for various situations such as restaurants or theaters, and employ features like background noise reduction, directional hearing, reduction of wind and mechanical sounds, to name a few. The expense of these instruments is usually proportional to the number of channels, bands and features.
Some manufacturers now can offer a result that is coming closer and closer to the way your ear naturally hears. These instruments listen for sounds and adjust to them in an instant, often even before you’re aware it’s happening. The hearing aids keep track of data while you are wearing them to help your professional adjust them more accurately for your needs.
