Hearing Aids

How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Hearing aids fill the gap created by a hearing loss by receiving and amplifying sound. Hearing aids vary widely in their styles, sizes, and levels of circuitry. While there are many different types of hearing aid technology, four basic components are common to them all:

1. A microphone, which receives sound and translates it into electrical impulses.
2. An amplifier which makes those electrical impulses stronger.
3. A receiver (speaker) which translates those now-stronger impules into louder sounds.
4. A battery which serves as a power source for the whole system.

Types of Hearing Aids:
The most common styles of hearing aids are Behind the Ear (BTE), Full Shell in the Ear (ITE), Canal Shell in the Ear (ITC), and Completely in the Canal (CIC).
Conventional or Analog technology offers basic amplification to individuals with a wide range of hearing losses and has been used for many years. These amplifiers have the characteristics of adding the same amount of amplification to all levels of sound intensity as their defining feature.
Digitally Programmable hearing aids contain a computer chip which can be programmed by the use of a computer. This technology separates the incoming sound into bands and processes each band independently. This class of hearing instruments utilizes separate circuit paths to indepenently process different frequency regions of sounds.
Digital hearing aids convert the electric signal from the microphone to digital values for processing and then convert them back to electric signal for the ear. The computerized 'bits' can be processed or manipulated extremely fast and efficiently using mathematical formulas known as algorithms. Digital technology gives the ability to more accurately tailor amplification for the best possible match to listening and lifestyle needs.

What Should You Expect From Hearing Aids?

• Hearing instruments, regardless of the brand or type of technology, can never replace normal hearing in all listening situations.
• Expecting results that cannot be achieved will only lead to frustration and dissatisfaction.
• With properly fitted hearing aids, you should be able to hear many normal sounds that you may not otherwise be able to hear clearly. You may also hear sounds you have forgotten were a part of your world, such as the hum of a motor on your refrigerator or the buzz of fluorescent lights.
• You will need time to get used to our new hearing aids to learn how to achieve maximum performance from them. Hearing aids will not eliminate background noise, despite some advertising claims.
• Hearing aids should allow you to understand speech more clearly, with less effort, in a variety of listening situations.

All hearing instruments purchased at this office include complete audiological evaluation, a one-year warranty for parts/loss and damage, earmolds (if required) and an inital supply of batteries. There are no additional charges for follow-up visits, reprogramming, adjustments, or cleaning of the hearing instruments during the first year.