Styles: 

Hearing aids are available today in a wide range of styles, colors, sizes and features.  The style that is most appropriate for a person is determined by his/her specific hearing loss and his/her individual needs and preferences.  Below are the different styles and just a few of the available colors.

Behind-the-Ear	In-the-Ear	In-the-Canal
Completely-in-the-canal	Half-shell	Open-fit Behind-the-Ear

 

Hearing Aid Technology

Digital
Digital hearing aids are the most advanced technology available today. Like programmable analog hearing aids, most digital hearing aids are programmed through a computer in the audiologist’s office. A micro-chip inside the hearing aid converts an analog waveform into a numeric code for processing. This digitized signal allows for enhanced processing strategies and advanced features that previously were not available in older technologies. One of the primary benefits of digital hearing aids is the use of flexible gain-processing strategies which improve the potential for providing audibility of some sounds while limiting the possibility of discomfort from high intensity sounds. Multiple frequency bands and multiple channels allow for more specificity in programming the device for each patient’s hearing loss. Other features which are incorporated in many digital hearing aids include: digital feedback reduction, digital noise reduction, digital speech enhancement, multiple programs/memories, as well as the use of directional microphones which help to improve the signal-to-noise ratio provided to a listener in a noisy environment. There are several levels of digital hearing aid technology, ranging from basic digital to premium digital. The price varies across these different levels based on the number of frequency bands and the types of advanced features that are available in each particular hearing aid.

New from Oticon...Dual
A beauty on the outside
                  A sensation on the inside
When you’re active and outgoing, you need a flexible hearing aid that offers the best sound quality in a wide variety of listening situations.

With its high-tech elegance and the benefits of natural sound quality, Oticon Dual is designed to please inside and out.

You can get near natural hearing!
While standard hearing devices work independently, a pair of Oticon Duals works together as a system to present sounds in a balanced and natural way, preserving the location and direction of sounds. Oticon calls this Spatial Sound.

Spatial Sound is to hearing devices what high-definition digital imaging is to TVs. Extra “audio pixels” provide so much detail that you can locate and identify sounds without having to think twice about it. Your reactions will be faster and more instinctive. With Dual, you can relax and enjoy yourself at restaurants and dinner parties again.

To learn more about the Oticon Dual, watch this short video.

Programmable
Programmable hearing aids utilize an analog technology as well, but they are programmed through a computer so they have more flexibility and greater fine-tuning capabilities than conventional hearing aids. Many of them have multiple bands so that incoming sounds are separated by the hearing aid which gives the audiologist greater control of manipulating the frequency response for each individual’s hearing loss and range of tolerance for louder sounds. Programmable hearing aids also can have two or three memories that are programmed differently for specific listening environments. For example one memory (or program) might be set for a quiet environment at home, and another memory might be set for a noisy environment like a restaurant. These hearing aids can be adjusted or reprogrammed (up to a certain point) if a patient’s hearing loss changes. Programmable hearing aids are more expensive than conventional hearing aids. 

Conventional
Conventional hearing aids utilize analog technology. They are manufactured with a particular frequency response based on the hearing aid user’s hearing loss. The audiologist specifies what circuit is preferred from the manufacturer. Sometimes one or two adjustments can be made on the aid by the audiologist using tiny dials that can alter certain aspects of how sounds are amplified. However, due to space limitations on the aid itself, conventional hearing devices are limited on how much they can be adjusted. These aids essentially amplify all sounds (speech and noise) in similar ways. They are the least expensive and most basic type of technology. 

 

Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)

• FM Systems
• Alerting Devices:
  • Alarm clocks
  • Telephone signalers
  • Doorbell signalers
  • TDDs (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) and TTYs (TeleTYpewriters)
  • Amplified phones

Hearing  Protection Devices

• Custom-made Noise Protection
• Musicians Ear plugs

Earmolds

• Custom-made earmolds for BTE hearing aids
• Custom-made earmolds for cellular phones, iPods, MP3 players, etc.

Swim Molds

• Custom-made swim molds
• Doc's Pro Plugs