What style of hearing aid I should wear?
The answer to this is based on your hearing loss configuration and severity, as well as dexterity concerns. Our doctors of Audiology will help guide you through this decision process.
[Top of Page]Are hearing aid styles based on hearing loss type?
Yes. The style we choose is definitely based primarily on your hearing loss configuration and severity, as well as dexterity concerns. Our doctors of Audiology will help guide you through this decision process.
[Top of Page]Analog vs. digital hearing aids
All of the hearing aids that we work with now are digital technology. The benefit to these is that they can be programmed very specifically to your hearing, as opposed to analog aids that only required screws to make general adjustments. Analog hearing aids are EXTREMELY old technology and should generally be avoided.
[Top of Page]Open fit hearing aids
These hearing aids leave your ear canal as open as possible. The purpose is to allow you to hear sounds that you hear better naturally, but give you a boost where the hearing could use some help. This creates a more natural sound quality.
[Top of Page]Custom fit hearing aids
These are an option that tend to work best for users with flat hearing losses. They are made specifically to fit your ear canal; because of this, they fill the entire ear canal. In users with sloping hearing losses, these aids tend to make things sound like they are “booming” and “echoing.”
[Top of Page]Cochlear implants
Cochlear implants are a surgically implanted hearing device that has both an external and internal component. These are designed to restore sound to individuals who have severe to profound hearing losses or for whose speech understanding is still less than 60% in their better ear with hearing aids on; essentially, when hearing aids are no longer enough. If you are a cochlear implant candidate based on your hearing, our doctors of Audiology will present this option to you. However, we do not implant or map implants through our practice.
[Top of Page]BAHA
BAHA is an osseointegrated device (meaning the bone grows around a titanium post) that is used in cases of single sided deafness with one normal hearing ear or in conductive hearing losses that cannot be surgically corrected. If you are a BAHA candidate based on your hearing, our doctors of Audiology will present this option to you. However, we do not perform surgery for or program BAHAs through our practice.
[Top of Page]What are the differences in hearing aid styles?
The differences between styles are how the aid is anchored in the ear canal and the placement of the microphones and speakers in the devices. Our doctors of Audiology will cover this in more detail with you at your hearing aid evaluation.
[Top of Page]What if I don't want people notice my hearing aid?
Most behind the ear hearing aid styles in use currently are very discreet and cosmetically appealing. Even on users with short hair or no hair, we are able to match the hearing aid body to the users hair or skin color to help camouflage it. There are also completely in the canal (CIC) styles that hide in the ear canal. These CIC aids have a very small fitting range and use compared to behind the ear styles. Our doctors of Audiology will discuss cosmetically appealing options with you to find the right hearing aid for you!
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