Dr. Gregory Lowe, Audiologist
Personalized Hearing Care

Types of Hearing Aids

Currently, there are basically four types of hearing aids that are used. These include the completely-in-the-canal aid, the canal aid, the in-the-ear aid, the behind-the-ear aid including the new receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids. There are two other styles that are used much less frequently at this point in time. These include the body hearing aid, and the eyeglass hearing aid which are basically obsolete. Digitally programmable circuits, and totally digital circuits are available in most styles. Each of these types of aids will be discussed. Dr Lowe uses the best hearing aids in the industry.

BEHIND-THE-EAR HEARING AIDS

The BEHIND-THE-EAR aid hangs behind the ear and is coupled to a custom fitted ear mold that fits in the ear. The ear mold is the part of the system that delivers the amplified sound from the hearing aid into the ear canal. Behind-the-ear aids are not as popular as they were several years ago. However, they do offer a few advantages for individuals with severe hearing loss. First, the hearing aid can be worn on either the right or left ear if a person has two ear molds.

The ear mold can be easily removed and replaced whenever necessary. If the hearing loss is the same in each ear, being able to alternate ears can be useful. For example, when driving in a car, the driver would probably want the aid on the right ear to hear the passenger. If the hearing impaired person is the passenger, then the aid could be worn on the left ear to help in hearing the driver. Another advantage is that if the hearing aid malfunctions and needs to be returned to the manufacturer, then a loaner aid could be provided by attaching it to your custom ear mold. This would allow you to hear while your aid was being repaired. A third advantage is that patients with a severe loss can usually obtain more volume from the behind-the-ear hearing aid without the annoying feedback (whistle) many hearing aid users experience. The feedback occurs because the amplified sound delivered to the ear canal leaks out around the ear mold and enters the microphone of the hearing aid. With a behind-the-ear aid, the microphone is farther away from the ear canal than with the in-the-ear or canal aid. The behind-the-ear aid may be less noticeable than the other aids because the aid fits behind the ear and can be covered with hair. The ear mold that fits in the ear is usually clear acrylic and is much less noticeable than the in-the-ear hearing aid that is not clear. Finally, ear wax can cause problems with all types of hearing aids. If the wax plugs the hole in the ear mold where the sound comes out, then the patient will not hear well with the aid. With the behind-the-ear aid, the ear mold can be detached from the aid for cleaning. The mold can then be soaked in water, blown out with an air hose, cleaned out with a wire or pipe cleaner, and then washed with a mild soap without damaging the components within the hearing aid. A plugged ear mold is one of the most common problems for hearing aid users.

IN-THE-EAR HEARING AIDS

The IN-THE-EAR aids fit entirely in the ear, and are the most popular aids we fit. There is nothing behind the ear. The in-the-ear aid is sometimes easier to insert since there is only one part to manipulate. This type of aid is good for patients with very little room behind their ears either because they have small ears, or because they wear glasses, or wear glasses in combination with a wig. However, the in-the-ear aid is usually not recommended for patients with a severe hearing loss since people with that degree of loss require substantial gain from the hearing aid. Since the microphone is so close to the ear canal, feedback (whistle) may occur. If the aid fits tightly, feedback may not be a problem. The presence of ear wax is another problem. The wax can be easily pushed into the aid when it is inserted into the ear, or it may be pushed further into the aid when the patient attempts to clean it out. This often damages the receiver (speaker) inside the aid. However, proper cleaning of the aid can help to alleviate this problem. Most new aids have a wax guard to help prevent wax from entering the aid.

IN-THE-CANAL-HEARING AIDS

One of the smallest aids to be introduced is the CANAL aid. This aid has received much public attention since President Reagan was fit with two aids several years ago. The canal aid fits within the ear canal only. It does not fill in the outer portion of the ear like the in-the-ear aid. Since it is so much smaller than any of the other aids, it uses the smallest hearing aid battery available. The life of one battery in the canal aid is about two weeks if the aid is used ten hours a day. It is not recommended for patients with poor manual dexterity, or with a severe hearing loss. The problems of acoustic feedback (whistle) are just as greater even greater than with the in-the-ear hearing aid.

COMPLETELY-IN-THE-CANAL

The COMPLETELY-IN-THE-CANAL aid is the smallest hearing aid available. It is virtually invisible when worn. It has the advantage of a more natural placement for the hearing aid microphone. It uses the sound gathering capabilities of the outer ear. There is also less wind noise since the microphone is deeper in the ear canal. Feedback when using the telephone is normally eliminated. However, the patient must have an ear canal large enough to comfortably accept an aid that fits deep in the canal. Also, the CIC aid is usually more prone to malfunctions because it fits so deep into the ear canal. New filtering systems have been developed to help keep the receiver from becoming plugged. However the microphone port on the faceplate can also become plugged from earwax and oil from your ear and also dust and other debris from you fingertip.

RECEIVER IN-THE-CANAL HEARING AIDS

The RECEIVER-IN-THE-CANAL AID is the newest hearing aid developed by many manufacturers. The hearing aid unit behind the ear is virtually invisible because it is so small. A very small wire goes from the hearing aid down to a very small receiver that fits into the ear. Different types of tips are available to keep the receiver in your ear. The tips are very soft and are usually perforated to keep your ear from feeling plugged. Most people forget they have the aids in their ears. People who have worn conventional hearing aids for years really appreciate the fit of the new RIC aids. The plugged feeling is usually gone and their own voice sounds more natural. A new feedback canceling system virtually eliminates the annoying squealing they experienced with previous hearing aids.

BODY HEARING AIDS

The BODY AID is probably the most easily noticed hearing aid. The body aid is usually worn in a shirt pocket or under the shirt. A wire then sends the amplified signal from the hearing aid to the receiver that attachés to the ear mold. These aids are not used as much now as they were in the past because of the development of extremely powerful behind-the-ear aids. There are still some hearing impaired individuals who have such a severe loss that even the new power behind-the-ear aids are not strong enough. Body aids are also used with infants. The body aid is harder to lose since it can be strapped to the baby. The ears of most infants are not large enough to support a behind-the-ear aid, and their ears are growing too rapidly to fit an in-the-ear aid that would maintain a good fit. The volume controls of body aids are also easier for the parents or therapists to control. There are also many geriatric patients who simply cannot manipulate the controls on any of the smaller aids.

EYEGLASS HEARING AIDS

With the introduction of the in-the-ear and the canal hearing aids, and with the miniaturization of the behind-the-ear hearing aids, the EYEGLASS hearing aid has become almost obsolete. One of the disadvantages of the eyeglass aid is that if either the hearing aid or the glasses breaks, the patient has to get along without both for some period of time. However, in cases where a patient does not have much room behind their ears because of the presence of their glasses, the eyeglass aid is an alternative.

New Technology

Bluetooth in Hearing Aids is Here!

Do you have trouble hearing on the telephone, or hearing your TV with your current hearing aids? New hearing aids from Siemens are Bluetooth compatible with Bluetooth cell phones, MP3 players and TVs! This allows you to receive a direct signal into both of your ears from your cell phone or TV. Because the signal is passing through your hearing aids, the signal into your ears is tailored for your hearing loss. Also, since you hear the message in both ears, it is easier to understand the person talking to you. No need to buy batteries! These hearing aids are rechargeable and come with their own charger! If you are active and rely on telephone communication throughout the day, this technology will allow you to communicate much more effectively while you are driving your car, surfing the net or just taking a walk. Also, don’t forget the Bluetooth connection to your TV!

To learn more about this new Bluetooth hearing aid technology, call our office for an appointment. The Pure Bluetooth compatible hearing aids from Siemens Hearing Instruments also have the following features:

Does the clanking and clinking of silverware and plates disturb you? How about the crackling of newspaper and other impulsive extraneous sounds? The new technology in Pure hearing aid circuits from Siemens Hearing Instruments was designed to greatly reduce these annoying sounds.

The Pure circuits utilize a new technology called SoundSmoothing. Siemens is the only manufacturer wtih this technology. With SoundSmoothing, the annoying sharp impulsive sounds that you find annoying are greatly reduced.

The Pure also utilizes another new technology. It is called DataLearning. Again, Siemens is the only manufacturer with this technology. With DataLearning, the hearing aid circuitry records your volume control adjustments during use. Each time the hearing aids are turned on, the hearing aid averages your previous adjustments and adjusts the volume to your average level. Basically you are training the hearing aid. After a couple of weeks when you return for your first checkup, I will then set your hearing aid volume control to the "new" half volume level. That is, half volume will now be the level you prefer. Setting your preferred volume at one-half leaves you plenty of room to either turn the volume up or down when necessary.

Siemens e2e wireless technology is something else only offered by Siemens. The e2e wireless technology allows the two hearing aids to communicate with one another. If you increase the volume of one aid, the volume of the other aid changes by the same amount. The same situation exists wth the program button. If you change program on one aid, the other program changes without you having to change the other side also.

A remote control allows you to make changes in either the volume or program setting without reaching to either ear to do so. This is very helpful in meetings or any time you are out in public. No one but you knows when you are making adjustments to your hearing aids. The remote control allows you to answer your cell phone, or hear your TV.

e2e Wireless Technology

About e2e wireless™

e2e wireless™ is a Breakthrough in Hearing Instument Technology

e2e (ear-to-ear) wireless™ technology enables the communication between two hearing instruments. The data between the hearing instruments is exchanged by an electromagnetic field.

All Electric Devices Produce Electromagnetic Fields, Including Everyday Examples:

Dishwashers, televisions, portable telephones, and computer monitors
FM systems, widely used by children and adults with hearing loss, produce electromagnetic fields, as do cochlear implants
All of us are exposed daily to naturally occurring electromagnetic fields like sunlight on the earth’s magnetic field

In every country where hearing systems with e2e wireless are sold, they must meet local regulations based on certified measurements performed at TÜV Rheinland, an independent international organization that evaluated the safety and quality of new and existing products.

e2e wireless Meets All Legal and Safety Regulations, Including:

In the U.S., e2e wireless instruments meet FCC regulations
In Canada, e2e wireless instruments received the IC label
In Europe, e2e wireless instruments received the CE label

e2e wireless is Only Found on Hearing Systems From Siemens

All CENTRA, ACURIS™ and select ARTIS™ hearing systems are equipped with e2e wireless enabling the wireless transmission of digital information between hearing instruments. Until now, two hearing instruments worn together functioned independently from one another.

With e2e wireless, the Left and Right Hearing Instruments Communicate With Each Other

Enables changes made to the volume or program on one instrument to be made simultaneously to the other hearing instrument
Share information about the listening environment so that speech and noise management systems and directional microphone systems act in unison
Allows use of an option ePocket™ remote control to discretely control the volume and program as well as display instrument settings

Troubleshooting

If your hearing aid quits working, the first thing you should do is to check the BATTERY. If the hearing aid does not work with a fresh battery, please do NOT throw the batteries way. The batteries may be all right, and something else may be causing the aid to not work properly. After trying a new battery, then there are other possible sources of difficulty that you should check. Checking these areas may save you an unnecessary trip to our office.

Once you have determined that the aid does not work with a new battery, you should then check the opening of the ear mold. It may be plugged with EARWAX. If it is plugged, use a small wire to clean it out. If you have an in-the-ear hearing aid, you should use the specially designed cleaning tool that was supplied when you first received your aid. Be careful not to push the wax in deeper. A plugged ear mold is one of the most common problems hearing aid users experience.

If your ear mold is not plugged with wax, and if you wear a behind-the-ear hearing aid, then you should check the clear plastic tubing which leads from the hearing aid to the ear mold. Make sure that the tubing is not TWISTED. If it is twisted, then the amplified sound cannot travel through the tube and then into your ear. You should also check to see if any MOISTURE has collected in the clear plastic tubing which leads from the hearing aid to the ear mold on a behind-the-ear aid. The moisture develops from condensation and is more of a problem during the hot and humid months. If you look very carefully, you may be able to see a small ring of water in the tube that is blocking the sound. If you see a few beads of water, you probably won't have to do anything. They will usually evaporate when you are not wearing the aid. But if the tube is completely blocked, you may detach the tube from where it attaches to the aid and then blow the water out. You may notice static in the aid when moisture builds up within the aid. We have a Hearing Aid Saver available that removes moisture trapped inside the aid. It is simply a container with special crystals inside which absorb moisture. Many of our patients have found this product helpful. We also offer the electronic Dry & Store unit that not only dries the hearing aids, but also disinfects them with an ultraviolet light.