Hearing Aids

What will your hearing aid look like?

Different levels of hearing aid technology are available in a variety of styles.

The style of the aid does not significantly affect the price of the hearing aids – that is determined by the level of technology.

We will make a suggestion about which style is most suitable for you depending on your hearing loss, dexterity and medical conditions of your ear (for example, excessive wax production or the presence of a discharging ear).

The level of technology depends on your listening needs and the activities in which you participate. The main styles of hearing aids are described below.

Bluetooth and connectivity

Most modern hearing aids connect directly to your mobile phone by Bluetooth, with no extra device to wear. Depending on the model and your phone, you can:

• take phone calls through your hearing aids, often hands-free
• stream music, podcasts and video from your phone or tablet
• adjust the volume and settings from an app on your phone.

For the television, a small TV adapter sends the sound straight to your hearing aids, so you can set your own volume without turning the TV up for everyone else.

A remote microphone can be worn by the person you are talking to, or placed on the table, to help you hear in noisy places such as restaurants and meetings. Digital remote microphones have replaced the older FM systems.

Bluetooth features vary between hearing aids and phones, so bring your phone to your appointment and we can check what will work for you.

Rechargeable hearing aids

Rechargeable hearing aids sit in a small charger overnight, like a mobile phone, and give a full day’s use from one charge. There are no tiny batteries to change, which helps if fiddly tasks or eyesight make battery changes difficult.

Rechargeable models are mostly found among higher-technology hearing aids. For Hearing Services Program clients, they are usually available as a partially subsidised (“top-up”) option. Ask us which models suit you.

Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.

Hearing Aid Selection

Many clients now adjust their hearing aids with an app on their phone. Others prefer a small remote control with simple buttons – especially those with dexterity problems.

A remediation program for hearing loss often includes the prescription of hearing aids, are usually the most effective rehabilitation option for people with hearing loss.

The selection of which aids are best for you can often be overwhelming and we offer guidance in this process

Modern hearing aids are digital and have additional features such as automatic/adaptive directional microphones, noise suppression, tinnitus masking and Bluetooth connectivity.

The cost of hearing aids varies considerably according to how advanced the technology is within the aids. The more advanced the technology, the more expensive the hearing aid. This provides for enhanced sound quality and better performance in background noise situations.

The level of technology which will provide the most benefit to you depends on many different things. It is our job to assess which hearing aid may be best for you. We consider information about your hearing loss and past history, dexterity, lifestyle, social needs and what you hope to achieve with the hearing aids.

We will often recommend one or two different hearing aids to you. The decision, however, is ultimately up to you.

Wangaratta Audiology is a private hearing clinic, and as such we are able to select your hearing aids from whichever manufacturer presents the best hearing solution for you.

Our clinicians do not receive incentives or bonuses based on the sales of hearing aids, ensuring that we will be making recommendations which are best for you.

Our clinicians are continually updating our information about the advances being made in hearing aid design, function and innovation from the major hearing instrument manufacturers.

Hearing Aid Service and Maintenance

Service and maintenance on hearing aids and associated parts are performed in-house whenever possible, with only major problems needing to be returned to the manufacturers.

You do not need an appointment to have the earmould tubing replaced, or the hearing aid given a general clean-up.

When needed, we will attempt to provide a loaner aid for you to use while your hearing aid is away.

If your hearing aid is not working properly, please bring it to the clinic so we can help you get the best out of it.

What is Flex:trial?

Flex:trial is the Unitron open platform technology demonstration hearing device that can be easily programmed to different levels.

How can it help me?

With Flex:trial you can take them home to try before making a decision.

How does it make decision-making easier?

Not only can you take them to trial in your own listening environment but you can do this again with a Flex:trial hearing aid set at a different technology level. You hear technology in action in your own listening environment and this makes it easier to see which hearing aid level is right for you.

Call Wangaratta Audiology today to arrange a trial in your own listening environment.

Types of Hearing Aids Available

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Depending on your hearing loss and listening requirements, we may suggest Behind The Ear (BTE) in different formats: hook with earmould, Slim Tube or Receiver In the Canal (RIC). BTE’s come in a range of shapes and colours.

BTE’s can often be fitted the same day as your hearing assessment. Some do not occlude (or fill up) the ear canal, which can improve the sound of your own voice if your hearing loss is mostly in the high frequencies.

Generally, if a BTE hearing aid needs repair with the manufacturer, we may be able to provide you a loaner to use while yours is away.

Behind The Ear Hearing Aids With Hook & Ear Mould

BTE hearing aids with hook and earmould is a conventional hearing aid style.

They generally fit easily behind the ear, even with glasses, and provide good amplification for people with a wide range of hearing loss.

The earmould is made from an impression of the client’s ear.

Slim Tube Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Slim Tube BTE hearing aids look great and were designed specifically for people whose hearing is normal in the low frequencies but who need amplification of high-frequency sound to hear conversation clearly.

This style is not suitable for all degrees of hearing loss.

Receiver In The Canal Hearing Aids

Receiver In-the-Canal (RIC) BTE hearing aids are often available as mini-aids because the receiver, which produces the sound, is located in the ear canal rather than inside the hearing aid.

This style is suitable for many degrees of hearing loss. However, RIC’s are not recommended for people with excessive wax or moisture in the canal which can block up the small receiver.

As sound cannot get out of the ear piece, reliability can be a big problem with this style of BTE.

CROS, BiCROS hearing aids

This style of hearing aid is specifically for people without useable hearing in one ear, sometimes called single-sided deafness.

This system sends the message wirelessly from the poor side to the other ear where it will be heard through a hearing instrument.

So, there is a pickup microphone located inside a hearing device on the poor ear which sends the message to the better ear.

This works either when the hearing in the good ear is normal (CROS), or when there is a hearing loss in the better ear (BiCROS).

This style of aid can provide really good quality sound and can be very useful even when the doctor has told you the “nothing can be done”.

Talk to us to find out more.

In The Ear Hearing Aids

Hearing aids other than the BTE’s can be provided for clients whose hearing losses and situations suit this style of hearing aid.

However, like the RIC aids above, there can be reliability problems for people with excessive wax and/or moisture problems.

The parts of the hearing aid are assembled inside the shell (made from an impression of the client’s ear), so this is a completely customised product.

Unfortunately, if there is a service problem which requires the aid to be sent to the manufacturer, it is not easy to provide a loaner while your aid is away.

Also, some aids may not have all the features found in the BTE’s, in particular less expensive ITE’s may not have directional microphones to assist in background noise situations.

These hearing aids can come in different sizes:

In The Ear Hearing Aids

Mild to severe hearing loss

All of its electronic components are contained within a plastic shell for ‘In The Ear Hearing Aid’, which is then moulded to fit your ear.

Although the model is placed in the ear canal, the faceplate will be visible in the concha of your ear.

In The Canal Hearing Aids

The tiny one piece hearing aid fits inside the canal, only half of the device is visible.

Completely In Canal Hearing Aids

Mild to moderate hearing loss

The hearing aid is placed deeply in the ear canal, making it almost invisible.

Invisible In Canal Hearing Aids

Mild to moderate hearing loss

The Invisible In Canal Hearing Aids is tiny enough to be placed deep inside the ear canal, making it practically invisible.

Power Hearing Aids

For profound hearing loss.

Power Hearing Aids are a large case which sits behind the wearers ear.