How can hearing aids help?
Hearing aids are primarily useful in improving the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss that results from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. The damage can occur as a result of disease, ageing, or injury from noise or certain medicines.
A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference.
Which hearing aid will work best for me?
The hearing aid that will work best for you depends on the kind and severity of your hearing loss. If you have a hearing loss in both of your ears, two hearing aids are generally recommended because two aids provide a more natural signal to the brain. Hearing in both ears also will help you understand speech and locate where the sound is coming from.
You and your Audiologist should select a hearing aid that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Price is also a key consideration because hearing aids range from hundreds to several thousand dollars. Similar to other equipment purchases, style and features affect cost. However, don’t use price alone to determine the best hearing aid for you.
A hearing aid will not restore your normal hearing. With practice, however, a hearing aid will increase your awareness of sounds and their sources. You will want to wear your hearing aid regularly, so select one that is convenient and easy for you to use. Other features to consider include the warranty, costs for service appointments, maintenance and repair, accessories such as remote control and bluetooth adapters and upgrade opportunities, and the hearing aid company’s reputation for quality and customer service.
What are the different styles of hearing aids?
There are essentially 6 types of hearing aids.
- Behind-the-ear (BTE)
- Receiver-in-canal (RIC) or Receiver-in-ear (RIE)
- In-the-ear (ITE)
- In-the-canal (ITC)
- Completely-in-canal (CIC)
- Invisible-in-canal (IIC)
Behind-the-ear (BTE)
BTE hearing aids consist of a hard plastic case worn behind the ear and connected to a plastic earmould that fits inside the outer ear. The electronic parts are held in the case behind the ear. Sound travels from the hearing aid through the earmould and into the ear. BTE aids are used by people of all ages for mild to profound hearing loss.
A relatively new kind of BTE aid is an open-fit hearing aid. Small, open-fit aids fit behind the ear completely, with only a narrow tube inserted into the ear canal, enabling the canal to remain open. For this reason, open-fit hearing aids may be a good choice for people who experience a build-up of earwax, since this type of aid is less likely to be damaged by such substances. In addition, some people may prefer the open-fit hearing aid because their perception of their voice does not sound “plugged up.”
Receiver-in-canal (RIC)
RIC hearing aids are a newer development and are suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.
Compared to a classic behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, the receiver of the RIC (the loudspeaker) is placed in the ear-tip instead of in the housing, thereby reducing its size.
The RIC model consists of three parts: The housing, which sits behind the ear, and a thin ear-wire connecting the housing to the receiver. The receiver goes directly into the ear canal. The RIC model is a very discreet, yet powerful hearing aid, which works fully automatically.
There are many advantages of the RIC hearing aid style, including:
- The hearing aid itself is usually smaller, since the speaker/receiver is moved from behind the ear to in the ear.
- There is no tubing to collect moisture and tubing does not have to be replaced.
- The ability to change to a stronger power receiver, in many cases, if hearing loss progresses. This costs significantly less than purchasing new hearing aids.
In-the-ear (ITE)
ITE hearing aids fit completely inside the outer ear and are used for mild to severe hearing loss. The case holding the electronic components is made of hard plastic. Some ITE aids may have certain added features installed, such as a telecoil. A telecoil is a small magnetic coil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone. This makes it easier to hear conversations over the telephone. A telecoil also helps people hear in public facilities that have installed special sound systems, called induction loop systems. Induction loop systems can be found in many churches, schools, airports, and auditoriums.
In-the-canal (ITC), completely-in-canal (CIC) and Invisible-in-canal (IIC)
Canal hearing aids fit into the ear canal and are available in three styles.
- ITC hearing aids are made to fit the size and shape of a person’s ear canal.
- CIC hearing aids are nearly hidden in the ear canal.
- IIC hearing aids are completely invisible, completely hidden in the ear canal.
All types of canal hearing aids are used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
Because they are small, canal hearing aids may be difficult for a person to adjust and remove. In addition, canal hearing aids have less space available for batteries and additional devices, such as a telecoil. They usually are not recommended for young children or for people with severe to profound hearing loss because their reduced size limits their power and volume.
The IIC hearing aid is the smallest model in hearing aids and it is especially suitable if you have a mild to moderately severe hearing loss. It has a custom made shell and all vital electronics are placed individually in the shell, providing an optimum and small fit. The IIC hearing aid is small enough to be placed very deep inside the ear canal, making it virtually invisible. Its placement furthermore allows users to still benefit from the natural shape of the ear for better localisation of sounds. An IIC therefore also has a big aesthetic advantage: No one can actually see that you are wearing a hearing aid.
Lyric
While traditional hearing aids capture and process sound outside of the ear, Lyric uses the natural anatomy of the ear to amplify and give you a full, natural listening experience. Because Lyric is placed in the ear canal near the eardrum by your Audiologist, it is the world’s only 100% invisible hearing aid.
Unlike traditional hearing solutions, you don't actually purchase Lyric hearing aids. Instead, they are delivered on an annual subscription basis. This removes some of the hassles of hearing aid ownership such as purchasing and replacing batteries, removing your devices to shower, sleep or exercise, and hearing aid maintenance and cleaning. Wearing Lyric means it’s virtually impossible to lose your hearing aids.
Entry Level Hearing Aid Prices
Entry level hearing aids are certainly the best priced hearing aid option if you are on a budget or cost is your main concern.
Entry level hearing aids offer amplification at a very affordable price. Flexibility to make adjustments is generally more limited compared with more advanced models, and these entry level hearing aids may not perform as well in noisy situations, such as restaurants, family gatherings and work meetings. Typically, entry-level models are designed for simpler lifestyles.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids can connect to smartphones (iPhone, Android), televisions, tablets, and other compatible devices. This seamless connectivity empowers you to stream audio directly into your hearing aids, providing a clear and personalised listening experience.
Bluetooth technology enhances the sound quality of audio transmitted from connected devices. You can adjust the volume and settings from your smartphone, enabling you to adapt to different environments and situations.
Smartphone Streaming
Direct streaming of phone calls from your iPhone or Android phone to your hearing aids enables clear and comfortable conversations. You can stream phone calls, stereo music, video sound, and audiobooks directly to your hearing aids, making them work as headphones.
Rechargeable Batteries
A new generation of rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology has arrived and it promises to make life easier. Rechargeable batteries offer a full day's power, including streaming, excellent usage and convenience with one-charge-per-day-standard. No more fiddly battery changes — you no longer have to worry about the expense and inconvenience of purchasing, carrying and changing disposable hearing aid batteries; particularly practical for those with dexterity difficulties, and better for the environment.
Motion Sensors
Having a conversation with someone while walking can be challenging — even more so in a noisy environment. The latest hearing aids smoothly adapt according to the sound environment you're standing or walking in.
Tap Control
Just by tapping your ear, you could take phone calls, stream music or activate virtual assistants, like Siri or Google. The Tap Control feature gives you an intuitive and easy way to control everyday functions on Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Smart Apps
Smartphone Apps let you personalise your listening experience — you can adjust the volume, change the programme, check the battery level, and control other branded accessories. Many even include a “Find my hearing aids” feature.
Tele-Audiology
Remote care technology, called Tele-Audiology, allows you to speak to our Audiologists through video or voice calling, using your smartphone or tablet, and for the Audiologists to carry out programming adjustments remotely, so you don’t have to attend the clinic unnecessarily.
Tele-audiology allows our Audiologists to see, hear, talk and text with you during your remote appointment. We can connect to your hearing aids using our specialised software, and then adjust your hearing aid programming remotely to ensure you get the best out of them. We then test the new hearing aid settings live, in real-time and in real-life situations while talking with you. This ensures complete satisfaction with the fine-tuning adjustments and an improved listening experience.
* Rebates for eligible Pension and DVA Veteran cardholders under the Government's Hearing Services Program.
