Discover innovative hearing solutions when you visit our clinic. At Ear and Balance Clinic, we offer some of the most advanced hearing aid technology available. Utilizing a programmable computer chip, this technology makes it easier to match your level of hearing loss with your hearing aid prescription and automatically adjusts as you change listening environments.
Benefits of Advanced Digital Hearing Aids
Digital hearing aid technology provides improved flexibility that allows you to fine-tune your instruments' capabilities. This allows for precise hearing aid fittings that improve overall performance in several listening environments.
How We Achieve Optimal Speech Understanding, and Sound Quality:
There are several levels of digital technology we customize for you. This is primarily driven by the needs of your lifestyle and listening environments. Please keep in mind that there is no "one size fits all" solution. Everyones lifestyle is different, so assessing your specific needs is the best way to achieve your ideal hearing solution. Some of our technological aid features include:
Directional Microphones
These specialized microphones help improve speech intelligibility in the presence of background noise by reducing sounds coming from the side and back of the hearing aid user, which is accomplished by changing the microphone array and/or turning off the microphone.
Low-Level Background Noise
Some sounds in the environment can be bothersome to the hearing aid user, such as A/C units, fans, and low-level machine noise. Most digital hearing aids have some noise reduction to help reduce the effects of low, steady-state ambient background noise while preserving the ability to hear conversation.
Speech in Noise
Listening in a loud, noisy restaurant can be difficult for the hearing aid user. Because of this, most of today's digital hearing instruments have features that help to improve listening in crowded environments with a great deal of background noise.
Wind Noise Reduction
This innovative technology utilizes a wind identification and classification system, which allows the hearing aid user to comfortably enjoy outdoor settings while effectively managing wind noise.
Feedback Reduction Technology
Feedback is the whistling noise that can occasionally happen when the sound from the hearing aid is picked up by the microphone(s). Most hearing aids today have features to help reduce feedback. Often a simple calibration test is all that is needed while the patient is wearing the hearing aids.
Multiple Memories or Programs
As our listening environments change, hearing aids can have different memories or programs to help the patient hear optimally in varied listening situations. To make this easier to manage, hearing instruments often include buttons or remote controls the wearer can use to access additional memories.
Telephone Capabilities
Today's hearing aids offer several different ways to use with a telephone, including the state-of-the-art telecoil or "t-coil" feature. When activated, t-coils allow coupling of the hearing aid to phones or assistive listening devices, etc., for direct communication between the hearing aid and the telephone without interference from feedback. This improves clarity.
Additionally, the microphone of the hearing aid can be reduced or turned off while activating the t-coil to improve phone communication without possible interference from other noises in the room. Be sure to talk to us about other strategies to improve communication on the phone.
Bluetooth Technology
Many hearing aid models combine digital and Bluetooth technology to enhance the way hearing aid users stay connected. With these instruments, wearers hear sounds from a variety of audio devices that are transmitted wirelessly directly to the hearing aids. This technology can be used with cell phones, MP3 players, televisions, and other devices.
Tinnitus Features
Some hearing instruments can be programmed to generate a broadband sound for use in tinnitus therapies. If you experience tinnitus and are looking for relief, ask your audiologist if these hearing instruments and programs are right for you.
