Hearing Aids
With technology constantly evolving, hearing aid features have become more advanced and refined over the years. Hearing aids today feature tiny, powerful amplifiers and programming that can amplify speech while closing out background noise, perform wirelessly through cell phones and even recharge wirelessly.
Styles of Hearing Aids
Here are the styles of hearing aids available at Integrity Hearing Aid Solutions, Inc.:
- Completely in canal: These are usually the smallest available devices. They sit inside the ear and provide hearing amplification as a single unit.
- In the canal: These units have some part of the device showing on the outside of the ear canal. These usually have a larger battery or amplifier that completely-in-the-ear hearing aids.
- In the ear: These devices are slightly larger still and cover some of the outer ear other than the canal.
- Receiver in the ear: This hearing aid is in two pieces connected by small wires. The battery is worn outside the ear.
- Behind the ear: These units have battery and amplifier units behind the ear and a receiver in the ear. They are connected by wires.
Like most electronic products, each category offers custom designs. All hearing devices are fitted to the individual; this is one of the most important points about having your device properly fitted and tuned correctly.
We advise patients with hearing problems to begin their recovery process with hearing instrument specialists and not to purchase hearing aids from the internet. Correct fit and training are critical to successful hearing aid use.
Hearing Protection
As young children, most people were not protected from loud or persistent noise. Hearing professionals today know what a mistake that was. We now recommend hearing protection for all ages. There are general and specific protection products available to everyone.
General products like earphones, earplugs and ear monitors are available at our office. Describe your hearing situation as completely as possible; protection is recommended for loud workplaces, loud sports events, for musicians and music venue workers, and for sportsmen who hunt and shoot. Earplugs are recommended for swimmers and divers. Water exposure, particularly under pressure, can damage ears.
Hearing Aid Products and Accessories by Manufacturer
Here are some of the hearing aids we recommend:
Cell phone accessories
Many hearing aids include wireless connection through Bluetooth to cell phones. We offer custom earmolds and hands-free devices to help use a cellphone more easily.
Oticon
The Oticon Opn is a Bluetooth-enabled wireless hearing aid. It’s a behind-the-ear, powerful and rechargeable device. Use a smartphone or other wireless device with this hearing aid using Oticon’s Connectclip accessory. This technology not only alerts you to noises but tells you if someone is at the door or turns your aid on when you turn on the lights.
Phonak
Phonak CROS B-R hearing aids are specially made for bi-directional hearing with a device in each ear. These hearing aids find and direct speech sounds and help the ear with poorer hearing pick up more speech sounds and reduces the need for extra batteries since it recharges for a full day of hearing. The Phonak Naida™ device has binaural technology that enables better recognition of speech.
Signia/Siemens
The Signia Silk is billed as the smallest and most natural hearing aid that is ready to wear, and the Insio Nx is the smallest device with natural sound quality. Signia also offers natural voiced rechargeable hearing aids.
Starkey
This company offers many styles of hearing aids, from nearly invisible-in-canal devices to powerful behind-the-ear models that help mask tinnitus. Starkey makes a behind-the-ear wireless model designed specifically to connect to the iPhone.