Modern hearing aids are available in many different styles of hearing aids (the way they look) and technology levels (basic, mid-level and premium). We will discuss features such as Bluetooth® and other wireless connectivity devices to enhance your listening experiences in a wide variety of situations.
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Modern hearing aids are available in a variety of wearing styles, from models that sit comfortably behind the ear to customized aids that fit the ear perfectly. Which style is best for you depends on many factors including your lifestyle, degree of hearing loss, among other considerations. During your hearing evaluation, our Audiologist will help you determine the best wearing style for you. Read on to learn about the most popular wearing styles available from the leading hearing aid manufacturers.
Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids look like BTE hearing aids; the difference is that the receiver is worn in the canal. RIC hearing aids are discreet and treat a wide range of degrees of hearing loss. Like BTE ones, they may pose a challenge for those who wear glasses due to their placement.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are worn on the back of the ear with a plastic tube that delivers sound to a custom ear mold. BTE hearing aids are easier to control and treat a wide range of degrees of hearing loss. They may be inconvenient for people who wear glasses, but the placement of their controls will be easy for people who have dexterity issues.
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Completely-In-Canal hearing aids are similar to IIC in that they are custom made and fit inside your ear canal. Only a very small “tip” of the hearing aid or a small clear plastic “handle” will show with CIC hearing aids. Most people who choose CIC hearing aids report that people typically do not know they are wearing hearing aids. CIC hearing aids are also most suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are worn inside the ear, with the shell of the hearing aid at the surface of the ear. The options are full shell or half shell. ITE hearing aids house all of their components in a plastic shell. While these hearing aids benefit people who wear glasses or experience arthritis, they may not be convenient for those who have dexterity issues due to their small controls.
In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are a form of in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, which are worn deep inside the ear canal. These are usually custom made devices made to fit inside your canal, which gives them the benefit of being visually discreet. ITC hearing aids may be difficult for people with dexterity issues to control, while the lack of a directional microphone means they are better suited for people with moderate levels of hearing loss. They come in completely-in-canal and invisible-in-canal styles.
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Although all modern hearing aids are small and discreet, IIC hearing aids are by far the least detectable. These hearing aids are custom made to fit your ear’s anatomy and fit further into the ear canal than other hearing aid style – thus causing them to become completely invisible. These hearing aids are suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Read on to learn about the most popular hearing aid brands available from the leading hearing aid manufacturers. Which brand is best for you is largely based on your unique needs and hearing loss. We'll work with you to find the best brand and model to best fit your lifestyle, budget and hearing loss.
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Oticon is a Danish manufacturer of hearing aids that focuses on providing users with the most natural sound possible. With the understanding that hearing happens in the brain, Oticon has designed features to support brain function as it makes sense of sound in the auditory process.
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Phonak is one of the top manufacturers in the world. With their Lyric hearing aids, Phonak is the first company to unveil truly 100% invisible hearing aids, that are intended to be work 24/7, for months at a time.
With a full range of hearing products and new rechargeable hearing aid technology, users can now enjoy superior hearing performance while freeing themselves from the hassles of disposable batteries.
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ReSound is among the leading hearing aid manufacturers offering advanced hearing technology. Resound was founded in 1943 and has been a force in the industry producing reliable, innovative hearing aid technology. ReSound focuses on creating technology to make their hearing aids smarter, and better able to adapt to their users.
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Founded in 1967, Starkey Hearing Technologies is committed to their mission, “Alone we can’t do much. Together, we can change the world.” As the sole American hearing aid manufacturer, Starkey Hearing Technologies created the first in-canal hearing aid and first custom, digital and fully programmable hearing aid. Their latest innovation, the Livio, is the first to incorporate artificial intelligence and activity sensors.
Starkey uses evidence-based design and research to update their hearing aids, thoroughly testing them at the Starkey Hearing Research Center in Berkeley, California. The Starkey Hearing Foundation donates hearing aids to developing countries for every purchase made of a Starkey hearing aid; to date they have gifted over 1 million hearing aids.
Widex was a family owned company founded in Denmark in 1956. Most recently, they owned with the owners of Signia to create WS Audiology. As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hearing aids, their approach to innovation has led to such advances as the world’s first fully digital in-the-ear hearing aid, as well as their own revolutionary wireless technology.
Widex believes that hearing aids are more than the technology inside them. In addition to focusing on helping people hear better, Widex also ensures their products are comfortable and easy to wear. Widex focuses just as much on design of hearing aids as on technology to create a near-natural hearing experience.
Read on to learn about the latest hearing aid models offered by the leading manufacturers. Contact our practice to schedule a hearing aid evaluation with our Dr. Cliff Approved Audiologist, Dr. Marni Novick.
Frequently asked questions from our patients about hearing aids, hearing loss and our services. If you don't see your question below, please contact us.
If you feel that you are completely mishearing or misunderstanding words during conversation, consistently asking others for repetition, or family members and friends are nagging you to get your hearing tested and “do something about it.” Research has shown the earlier you start treatment for your hearing loss, even if it is just a mild hearing loss, the better off your brain processing will be in the long run.
Hearing aids from our office range from $3000-$7500/pair, depending on the technology level that best matches your listening needs and lifestyle. We provide a comprehensive functional and communication needs assessment to learn more about your listening and brain processing needs to help come up with the best hearing and communication solution for you.
While we are willing to work with hearing aid products from all of the Big Six hearing aid companies, however we have deep and intimate working knowledge with products from Widex and Phonak.
We gladly offer telehealth for hearing aid remote programming, initial sound sensitivity consults (misophonia and hyperacusis) and initial patient history intake for auditory processing disorders.
Dr. Novick is a licensed dispensing audiologist in the state of California. A clinical doctorate (Au.D. aka Doctor of Audiology) requires four years of graduate school work beyond the undergraduate college degree.
Audiology students spend many hours in clinical rotations working with audiology supervisors to obtain their experience and knowledge, across various hearing healthcare settings.
Hearing aid dispensers typically only need a high school diploma and need to have a six month mentorship under another licensed hearing aid dispenser or audiologist. Both audiologists and hearing aid dispensers need to pass a two-part hearing aid dispensing exam with the Speech Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau in California.
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