Hearing Aids

There  are many different types of hearing aids available and deciding which  hearing aid is best depends upon a few different factors.  No two ears  are the same, a hearing aid that works for one person, does not always  work for the next.  When selecting style the following will be considered,

• Degree and configuration of hearing  loss
• Manual dexterity and visual abilities
• Shape of an individual’s ear anatomy
• Lifestyle and listening needs 
• Cosmetics

The  sooner an individual with hearing loss is fit with hearing aids, the  easier the adjustment to the hearing aids will be.  Although hearing  aids cannot prevent further hearing loss, hearing aids return  stimulation of speech sounds to the hearing nerve and brain.   Hearing  aids can improve the brain’s ability to process speech when there is  competing background noise, which is one of the main complaints of most  individuals with hearing loss.  Untreated hearing loss can  lead to reductions in cognitive abilities, isolation, low self-esteem  and depression. Reduced stimulation to your ears and brain can actually  impair the brain’s ability to process sound and recognize speech. The  more speech recognition decreases, the harder it is to recover, which may lead to cognitive decline. 

Extended Wear

Lyric- is completely invisible and is the world’s first hearing aid which can be worn for extended periods of time. Lyric supports your active lifestyle and can be worn in most situations. Thanks to its unique placement, clients can enjoy the benefits of better hearing without anyone ever knowing they’re using a hearing aid.

Daily Wear

There are three main types of hearing aids that you can choose: Behind-the-ear (BTE), Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE), and custom crafted. 

Custom crafted  hearing aids include In-the-ear (ITE), In-the-canal (ITC), Completely In-the-canal (CIC) and Invisible In-the-Canal (IIC).

Choosing which style of hearing aid is most suitable for you depends on your type of hearing loss and lifestyle needs. After completing a hearing test, your audiologist will be able to recommend styles and brands that will benefit your hearing and comfort level.

Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids

These hearing aids contain two parts. The first part is the hearing aid (contains battery compartment, microphone, and controls) that sits behind the pinna of the ear, and the second part consists of either an earmold or dome tip/receiver that fits into the ear canal via clear tubing or wire. The casing that sits behind the ear can be purchased in various colours to match the wearer’s skin tone, hair colour, or fashion choice. Because the earmould can be easily changed without having to purchase a new hearing aid, this style is often chosen for children whose earmolds need to be changed as they grow. 

These hearing aids are custom made to fit to the patient’s ear by taking an ear impression. These styles are suitable for certain hearing loss and are available in a variety of styles and skin tone colours. They come is different sizes which can fill the ear completely to appearing almost invisible. The main custom hearing aids styles are as follows:

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are the largest style of the custom aids. ITE hearing aids are made for moderate to severe hearing loss. They fill the entire bowl or half the space in the bowl of the outer ear in a lightweight plastic shell. They are best for mild to severe losses and easier size to handle for those with dexterity and visual impairments. They use larger battery sizes (13 or 312) offering more power.

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are smaller than ITEs and best for mild to moderate losses. They are designed to sit discretely in the ear canal, in lower portion of the bowl of outer ear. More difficult to use for individuals with dexterity of visual impairments.

Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are smaller and even less visible. These hearing aids are made for mild to moderate hearing loss. They use the smallest battery size (10). 

Invisible In-the-Canal (IIC) hearing aids are designed to hide discretely inside your ear. There are no switches or buttons to control, and it is designed to adapt automatically as sounds and places change, so that you can stay effortlessly active and confident all day, every day. Fitted inside your ear, an IIC has no impact on using headphones or telephones, how you do your hair or even wearing glasses. Removing it at night is simplified by the attachment of a thin transparent string.

Zinc-air button disposable batteries are still used in some hearing aids today. These batteries are activated by oxygen, so they “turn on” once the sticker seal is removed from its back. As long as the sticker remains in place, the batteries typically do not expire for three years. Once removing the sticker, the battery’s life depends on its size, level of use, humidity, amplification needs, and Bluetooth streaming. Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids have the lowest disposable battery life lasting between 3-7 days, while Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids can last between 9-20 days. 

Rechargeable hearing aids are quickly becoming an option across many manufacturers. This new feature in hearing aids saves time buying and disposing of countless batteries each year, is economically-friendly and allows users with visual or dexterity issues to avoid the hassles associated with weekly battery changes. They require an overnight charge to power the hearing aids throughout the day. Depending on streaming requirements, hearing aids with rechargeable capabilities are able to function throughout the day after an overnight charge.

Bluetooth technology is available in most levels of digital technology, which allows users to wirelessly connect their hearing aids to other devices such as smartphones (iPhones and Android phones), televisions, computers, FM systems, iPads, and other exciting assistive technologies. The use of Bluetooth allows automatic connection from electronic devices to the hearing aids. This invisible electronic signal results in better sound quality of conversation, music, directions or whatever is being streamed from the electronic device to the aids. Hearing aids that connect to smartphones via Bluetooth also allow the user to stream calls and music directly from a phone or tablet to the hearing aids, amplifying sound and cutting out background noise.

Most BTE and RIC hearing aids come equipped with a telecoil, or “T-coil”. A T-coil is a copper wire that is wrapped inside the hearing aid casing. When turned on, the microphone on the hearing aid turns off and allows the wire to capture sound solely from the source. T-coils can either connect to a compatible phone, microphone accessory, or audio in a public space. T-coils systems are frequently installed in places such as churches, community centres, airports, museums, and theaters. If you see the image to the right, telecoil has been installed in that area. Ask your hearing healthcare professional about t-coil settings in your hearing aids and how best to connect to your surroundings. We can help evaluate if you need assistive technology to optimize your phone listening and communication abilities.

At The Hearing Specialist, we work with all of the top world's leaders in hearing aid manufacturing to ensure we can fit each patient with the most appropriate device for them. Like fingerprints, no two ears are the same.  
If the audiologic evaluation indicates you would benefit from hearing aids, we will guide you to select the best hearing aid style based on the degree of your hearing loss and your lifestyle needs (your home and work life, hobbies and extracurricular activities). During the hearing aid consultation, we will also discuss about the level of technology in the hearing aid. Other factors that will influence which hearing aid to choose are: 

• Hand Dexterity
• Visual Impairments
• Cosmetics
• Anatomical issues/skin allergies
• Budget

The cost of hearing aids depends on the level of technology that is chosen to best fit one’s specific lifestyle and needs.

As an independent hearing care clinic, we are able to ensure that you will be informed of today’s best available hearing solution. We advise you of your options from the complete range of all the leading hearing aid manufacturers. We do not have any private or business agreement with any particular hearing device provider.   If hearing aids are recommended for you,  you will be given the opportunity to a free hearing aid trial, as we  want to give you the opportunity to rediscover all the sounds you’ve  been missing.  

The Hearing Specialist is an approved provider of services under the Hearing Services Program.  We provide eligible clients with a wide range of hearing devices to suit their individual requirements.