What are they?
Hearing aids are miniature electronic devices that help people with many types of hearing loss. The basic job of a hearing aid is to amplify and alter sounds to make up for damaged or non-working parts of the ear, making it easier for a person with a hearing loss to communicate. Many hearing aids are also able to change sounds, like background noise, so that speech is easier to understand.
All hearing aids have the same basic parts:
1. Microphone: picks up sound and changes into an electric signal
2. Amplifier: makes sounds louder and clearer
3. Speaker: sends the amplified sound into the ear
4. Battery: power all parts of the hearing aid
Hearing aids do not restore hearing to normal. Many people think that hearing aids are like eyeglasses – simply put them on and everything goes back to normal. But the underlying damage that causes hearing loss is very different than the type of damage that causes most vision lost. For the vast majority of people with hearing loss, surgery or medicine can’t restore normal hearing. A hearing aid’s job is to work with whatever hearing is left and to make the best of it.
What’s the best hearing aid for me?
Hearing aids come in many different styles, technology levels and prices. What works best for your friend or next door neighbor might not be a good fit for your hearing loss and your listening needs.
Styles
The style of a hearing aid refers to what it looks like on the outside. When choosing a style, there are several things to keep in mind. One is how the hearing aid is going to look on your ear. For some individuals, this is the most important factor. Another is the overall size of the hearing aid and the battery it will use. Some patients with arthritis, vision problems or sensory loss in their fingers have a harder time manipulating tiny objects, so the smallest hearing aid might not be the best choice. One of the most important factors is your hearing loss – not every style can fit every hearing loss. Talk with your hearing health professional to find out which styles are best for you!
Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC)
Where worn: Deep in ear canal (custom made, mostly concealed).
Who for: Mild to moderate hearing loss. Not suitable for more severe hearing losses.
Advantage: Smallest size (less visible), picks up less wind noise
Disadvantage: Small size can be difficult to handle; small batteries are changed more often; can be damaged by earwax and ear drainage.
In-the-Canal (ITC)
Where worn: Fits partly in canal, not as deep as CIC (custom made).
Who for: Mild to moderate hearing loss.
Advantage: Small size, can have controls on it, like volume control, that CIC can’t.
Disadvantage: Small size can be difficult to handle; can be damaged by earwax and ear drainage.
In-the-Ear (ITE)
Where worn: Fits bowl shaped area in the outer ear (custom made).
Who for: Mild to severe hearing loss.
Advantage: Easier to insert compared to smaller styles, can have controls, such as volume control, on it.
Disadvantage: More visible than smaller styles, may be damaged by earwax and ear drainage.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
Where worn: Case behind the ear with a tube that comes down into the ear canal (may or may not have a custom earpiece on the end, depends on severity of hearing loss)
Who for: All hearing loss, can also be used by infants/children.
Advantage: Durable; larger size easier to handle and maintain; comes in variety of sizes (some of which virtually disappear behind the ears).
Disadvantage: Has parts that need occasional changing
Lifestyle Environments
Your lifestyle and listening environment are important factors when choosing the right hearing aid. If you were to purchase a vehicle, it would be important to keep in mind what you wanted to use that vehicle for. Does it need to get good gas mileage as you drive across the state for work? Does it need to have a lot of power to haul grain to the elevator? Does it need to have a lot of space so you can fit your entire family in it? Your unique needs will determine what vehicle is the best for you.
It makes sense then that not every person with a hearing loss would need the same features in a hearing aid. A person who wants to hear well at busy restaurants and when having large family gatherings would need different features in a hearing aid than someone who only needs help hearing during activities around their home, like gardening and watching the television. Because of this, hearing aids come in four basic categories: Budget, Quiet, Moderate, and Demanding hearing aids. Be sure to discuss any special listening needs you have with your hearing health provider so that they can assist you in choosing the hearing aid that best matches your needs!
1. Budget Listening Environment
These aids use hearing aid technology that is anywhere from five to ten years old. These aids are for those individuals whose budget is the primary concern. They work for one on one conversations, but do not perform well in other situations. They do not contain many of the advanced features that all other categories of hearing aids do.
2. Quiet Listening Environment
These hearing aids work best for people whose activities primarily include the following:
- Activities at home
- Watching television
- Casual conversations
- Card games
- Hearing on the phone
3. Moderate Listening Environment
These hearing aids work best for people whose activities include a combination of the quiet listening activities and the following examples:
- Meetings
- Shopping/public places
- Religious gatherings
- Outdoor activities/golf
4. Demanding Listening Environment
These hearing aids work best for people whose activities include a combination of the quiet and moderate listening activities and the following examples:
- Restaurants
- Large social functions
- Music concerts/theatres
- Travel
Prices
The cost of hearing aids can vary significantly from one brand and model to the next. The style, or outer appearance, of a hearing aid does not have a significant impact on its cost. The most important factor in determining cost is the technology level on the inside. All of our hearing aids come with a manufacturer repair warranty, an insurance policy for loss, and a year’s worth batteries, office calls, ear wax removals and hearing aid cleanings – all at no additional charge. Ask your hearing health professional for details. With so many brands and models of hearing aids, it is important to us at Hearing Health Centers that we help you choose a hearing aid that not only fits your listening needs, but also your budget.
We offer fair, competitive pricing 365 days a year. No gimmicks.
Manufacturers
At Hearing Health Centers we firmly believe that no one hearing aid manufacturer can make hearing aids that fit every patient’s needs. Because of this, we are able to select the best hearing aid suited for an individual needs from various manufacturers.
Retraining Your Ears
The day you are fit with new hearing aids is the day you start down the pathway towards better hearing. Most people generally lose their hearing gradually, over the course of several months to several years. When they begin using hearing aids, their ears are out of shape. They aren’t used to hearing things the way they once did when their hearing was normal. In the beginning, it is very common for your own voice and sounds around you to sound different than you are used to. Because of this, getting adjusted to hearing aids takes time. It may take several weeks to several months before your ears are fully adjusted. This is different for every patient.
The best thing you can do while adjusting to life with better hearing is to wear your aids on a regular basis. The more you wear them, the better and more quickly you will adjust to life with better hearing. Regular visits with your hearing health professional during the first year are very important. This allows us to monitor how you are adjusting and if any changes need to be made. All office visits during your first year of hearing aid use are provided at no cost for this very reason.
