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Types of Hearing Aids
Conventional Hearing Aids are basic analog instruments that provide quality, low cost amplification to a wide range of hearing losses. They are built with a circuit inside that is selected by the audiologist based on the type and degree of the hearing loss, as well as their listening needs. This type of aids performs best in quiet settings.
Programmable Hearing Aids are more technologically advanced analog devices that allow for greater user control and special features and options, such as compression and directional microphones, to manage noisier settings. These instruments contain a computer chip that allows them to be programmed in the office by the audiologist to match the needs of the hearing loss and the patient's lifestyle. As a result, this type of technology offers greater flexibility and fine-tuning capabilities. Programmable hearing aids can often be modified to account for changes in the hearing loss or listening environments.
Digital Hearing Aids are the most technologically advanced, non-surgical hearing aid technology available today. Digital hearing aids are to conventional and programmable aids as DVDs or compact discs are to tapes. Digital coding creates a cleaner, sharper, more accurate reproduction and amplification of sound. This technology allows for the hearing aids to automatically adjust to changes in the patient's listening environment. They have truly revolutionized the way the hearing impaired look at hearing aids.
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids are a welcome solution for patients with chronic ear infections or absent or malformed ear canals who could otherwise not wear a hearing aid. Again, through our partnership with University Ear, Nose and Throat Physicians and Surgeons, we are able to bring this technology to our patients. With this device, a small implant is placed in the bone behind the ear during a minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedure. The bone acts as a pathway for sound to travel to the inner ear and thus bypass the ear canal. This bone implant is driven by a sound processor that attaches to the head.
Cochlear Implants allow those with severe-to-profound hearing losses and minimal speech understanding the opportunity to hear and understand more than they ever thought was possible. This device is implanted within the inner ear and it changes sounds into electrical impulses. These impulses then stimulate the auditory nerve and the brain then interprets this information as sound. Cochlear implantation involves a true team approach between the audiologist and the physician. The surgical procedure is minimally invasive and involves an overnight hospital stay.
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