Park Place Hearing Center
Hearing Aid Technology
Hearing Aid Technology to Fit Your Unique Lifestyle
Although hearing technology is only part of the jigsaw of achieving better hearing, it’s the part that often prevents people from taking a positive step toward better hearing. Your hesitancy to seek help could be related to an outdated stigma surrounding the large, clunky devices your parents or grandparents wore.
Today’s hearing technology has progressed at the same speed of all other forms of technology. Because of innovations in micro-digital technology, modern hearing aids are smaller, more discreet, and far more powerful than they were even a decade ago. In addition, many hearing aids now feature rechargeable batteries and advanced connectivity, allowing you to stream music, audio, and phone calls from your cell phone, computer, or tablet directly into your hearing devices.
Because of the great features offered by modern hearing aids, the difficult choice won’t be whether or not to take advantage of the great benefits they provide, but instead which style and options to choose.
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
Continuing the design of older analogue hearing aids, the largest, most reliable, and powerful style available is the BTE hearing aid. They are significantly smaller and lighter than older styles BTEs due to micro-digital technology, which is able to deliver greater power and performance with a higher number of circuitry options of all available custom fit hearing instruments. The technology of a BTE hearing aid rests on the back of your ear and carries amplified sound to the ear canal through plastic tubing to an earmold that perfectly replicates the size and shape of your ear. This style of hearing aid is the best choice for individuals with a severe to profound hearing loss.
Open Fit (Mini BTE)
Similar to the BTE, the OPEN Fit, or Mini-BTE, the technology of this hearing aid rests behind your ear, but it is extremely difficult to see (even for those with short hair) from the front or side. The receiver in the mini uses an open ear bud inserted deep into your ear canal for greater discretion. The connecting tube between the BTE case and ear bud is very small and difficult to detect as well. Earpieces come in a “few sizes fits most” dome arrangement or they can be custom molded. Mini BTEs are appropriate for individuals with a mild to moderately high frequency hearing loss.
Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE)
RITE is a modification of the Open Fit mini-BTE. RITE hearing aids remove the receiver (or speaker) from the BTE portion of the instrument and fit it into the ear canal, connecting the two with a very thin wire inside clear plastic tubing. The enhancement of natural sound quality is the objective of this arrangement. Earpieces can be custom or standard, and all levels of hearing loss can benefit from this style of hearing aid.
In-The-Ear (ITE)
ITE instruments remove the technology from behind the ear and place it inside a hard plastic shell that has been molded to the unique shape of your outer ear canal. Individuals who wear glasses or use an oxygen cannula typically prefer this style due to problems with the BTE components of other styles. ITE devices come in various sizes and come with skin tone matching to improve wearing discretion. They can be worn by those with a mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-The-Canal (ITC)
Slightly smaller than ITE devices, ITC hearing aids are designed to fit further into the ear canal. They are custom molded to fit just inside the outer ear canal and are not as exposed in the outer portion of the ear, making them a bit more discrete. Because their technology, volume control wheels, and other controls take up a very small space, fine dexterity for insertion and adjustment is a must. Individuals with a mild to moderate hearing loss can also consider this style.
Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
Going deeper still, CIC devices are custom molded to fit further into the ear canal, requiring a tiny clear plastic post for placement and removal. AlThough they are much less visible, insertion requires extreme dexterity, but they do not have any manual controls, making digital adjustment the only means of fine-tuning. CIC units are simple to use for those with a mild to moderate hearing loss.
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Diagnosing a hearing problem is your first vital step toward regaining the independent and rewarding lifestyle you are missing due to hearing loss. Discussing your concerns openly and honestly with your audiologist during your hearing assessment enhances the accuracy of the diagnosis and greater precision when it comes to treatment
If you or a loved one do not seem to be hearing as well as you used to, your best option is to schedule a comprehensive hearing assessment to find out why you’re struggling.
Park Place Hearing Center
Local Journeys to Better Hearing
I became concerned about my hearing when I couldn't hear my client's reply to an important question and was embarrassed to ask him to repeat his answer several times. He was not someone I really knew, and I was afraid he'd judge me as incompetent and not hire me for the job.
Barbara Eddy
I started realizing that high frequencies were not getting through some seven years ago (my job involved listening to high quality audio). Training and experience made up for it for some years, but soon I had to have the TV on rather louder than my wife liked!
David Robinson
I suspected that I might have a hearing loss when I could not understand my newest and youngest grandchildren. I was just heartsick. I absolutely loved the people who work at Park Place. Everyone from the receptionist to the audiologist treated me very patiently and kindly.
Bernice Callahan
One day, I awoke and became violently ill. I struggled to walk to the bathroom as the room seemed to revolve around me. After a time, I called my doctor and reported my illness. After a series of tests in the emergency room, I was told nothing major was wrong with me.