Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are the most commonly used devices to treat most kinds of hearing loss.
In case of extreme hearing loss where hearing aids cannot adequately provide the
required amplification, cochlear implants are prescribed for treatment.
It may be helpful or even necessary to use additional equipment referred to as
assistive communication devices that supplement hearing aids,
like FM systems and remote microphones to enhance the hearing experience with your
hearing aids.
Hearing aids are sophisticated assistive medical devices designed to treat
auditory experience for individuals with hearing loss. They are compact electronic
devices that are worn either inside or behind the ear and work by amplifying sound,
making them more audible to individuals with impaired hearing. The primary components
of a hearing aid include a microphone to capture sound, an amplifier to increase
the volume of the incoming signals, a receiver to deliver the amplified sounds
to the ear, and a power source, typically a small battery.
At AudiPro Audiology, we fit hearing aids for all kinds of hearing loss for both
adults and children. Our full range of hearing aids services include a comprehensive
hearing test, hearing aids selection, fitting and programming, real ear measurement
and follow-up care and maintenance for your hearing aids and overall hearing treatment.
Hearing Aids - State of Technology
Hearing aid technology has undergone an unbelievable transformation, keeping pace
with the great digital revolution we have seen in the previous decades. They have
sleek, compact form factors - they come in shapes that are small and customized
to the shape of your ears. Most hearing aids are also equipped with features like
directional microphones, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless programming capability,
rechargeable batteries and adaptive noise reduction, further improving the
user's ability to hear effectively in various environments.
Modern hearing aids use advanced technologies such as digital signal processing
to selectively amplify specific frequencies, allowing users to customize their
listening experience and focus on speech or other important sounds while minimizing
background noise. By providing a tailored and enhanced auditory experience,
hearing aids play a crucial role in improving the quality of life
for individuals with hearing impairments, allowing them to participate more fully
in social, professional, educational and recreational activities.
Types of Hearing Aids
There are two main types of hearing aids - ones that sit behind the ear and transmit
sound through a transmitter, and ones that can be inserted into the ear or ear canal.
Behind-the-ear models can either be Receiver-in-the-Ear (RITE) or Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
devices. Ear-level devices come in three models - In-the-ear (ITE), In-the-canal (ITC)
and Invisible-in-canal (IIC).
Hearing Aids Services
When you purchase hearing aids, the devices cover only one part of the
treatment process - the other part consists of properly fitting and programming them
to your hearing loss to ensure good fit and the best sound quality for ideal listening.
We offer a full range of hearing aids services that include the full set of
initial fitting services during hearing aid dispensing (purchase of new devices),
regular maintenance like cleaning, accessories, batteries and part replacements.
We also fit and program hearing aids purchased from a different provider
to meet your current hearing requirements.
Hearing Aid Selection
Selecting the right hearing aid for your hearing loss is the most important step of
the hearing treatment process. Based on the results of your hearing test and the
degree of hearing loss, our audiologist will help you select the most suitable
devices at a technology level that fit and enhance your lifestyle, meet your
occupational and recreational requirements, perform well in common listening situations,
all at an affordable cost that gives you maximum value for your money.
Hearing Aid Fitting
Getting your own set of hearing aids is just the beginning of your hearing loss
treatment journey. The first step is to ensure that the devices fit your ears correctly.
Behind-the-ear models are fitted either with domes (open or closed) or custom ear molds.
Custom hearing aids that are placed in the ear or inside the ear canal are made exactly
to match your ear shape by taking a molded impression of your ear. An accurate fit of
the hearing aids ensures better wearing comfort and audio clarity, and is crucial to
adaptability to the devices and overall success of the hearing treatment.
Hearing Aid Programming
Hearing aids are highly advanced electronic devices that can be customized to meet
your personal hearing needs. Advanced digital technologies in modern hearing aids
allow for precise adjustments, enabling users to focus on speech,
reduce background noise, and adapt to different listening situations. Depending on
the type, make and technology level of the hearing aids, it is possible to set
up to 10 or more different program options for use in different situations.
The goal is to program the hearing aids so that the
listening experience is tailored to your unique hearing profile.
This personalized programming ensures optimal amplification for various environments
and helps manage specific hearing challenges. We do verification, adjustments and
additional fine-tuning during follow-up appointments to improve the effectiveness
of the hearing aid and its features.
Real Ear Measurement
Real ear measurement (REM) is the most important step in the hearing aids fitting process.
Also called real-ear verification, REMs are an objective measure of
the sound output that a hearing aid provides at the point of delivery within
the ear canal. REMs help the audiologist or hearing care professional to make sure
the hearing aid performance matches the prescription target.
Sound delivered by the hearing aid is affected by the anatomy of the ear canal,
microphone directionality and technology such as frequency lowering and
noise reduction on the hearing aids. When fitting a hearing aid,
amplification should be adjusted in a manner that provides maximum benefit
across all listening frequencies. Real ear measures are the most effective method
to assess and address these issues during hearing aid programming.
During the REM procedure, a thin probe microphone is placed within 5 mm
of the ear drum and a sound stimulus is delivered to the ear via a loudspeaker.
The probe tube is placed along with the hearing aid so that the probe measures
the output from the device. A sound stimulus is presented through loudspeakers to
both ears and the response at the probe is measured - this measured response is called
the real ear measurement. REM help to understand the sound pressure level (SPL) provided
by the hearing aid and the amplification effect of the ear canal.
Follow-Up Care and Maintenance
A good start to hearing treatment begins with selecting the right hearing aid and
programming it precisely to meet your hearing loss prescription.
For long-term success of hearing loss treatment, it is important to make sure that
the devices are well-maintained and your hearing with them is as accurate and
comfortable as possible. It is therefore highly recommended that people who get
new hearing aids follow-up with the audiologist or hearing care professional regularly
for schedule visits, especially if they are first time hearing aid users.
There are several aspects that your hearing care provider assesses as part of your
regular scheduled visits that are important for long-term hearing aids success.
Some of them include verification of programming on the hearing aids, adaptation to
listening in real world situations with amplification, fit and comfort of
custom earmolds (if prescribed), and self-maintenance training including hearing
aid cleaning and program adjustment.
At AudiPro Audiology, we provide all our patients with scheduled visits on an
appointment basis as part of their hearing care follow-up. We also provide annual
hearing checks and hearing aid verification using electroacoustic analysis to
keep both your hearing levels as well as the hearing aids in good condition.
Aural Rehabilitation
The human brain adapts remarkably to gradual, minor changes in neurological conditions
such as natural onset of hearing loss. It is one of the reasons it is important to both
get regular hearing assessment to identify hearing loss in its early stages and to
treat it immediately. When you get new hearing aids, the devices provide amplification
to sufficiently stimulate the auditory system. However, the brain may experience a time
lag in adjusting to the new levels of auditory stimulus.
Aural rehabilitation (AR) is the process of managing hearing loss after being
fitted with hearing aids. This process can begin even prior to hearing aid fitting.
AR is one of the most essential components of hearing aid fitting as its primary goal
is to maximize benefit from amplification devices.
Aural rehabilitation processes focus on helping to overcome the challenges
caused by hearing loss, therefore improving the quality of day-to-day life.
It is a training process that helps with making best use of hearing aids,
just like physiotherapy for the body. Aural rehabilitation is aimed at restoring
or optimizing people's participation in activities that have been limited
because of hearing loss. It also helps in benefiting communication partners
as well as restoring the brain's ability to hear sounds again by creating
new neural connections in the brain to help you hear your best with hearing devices.
Adult rehabilitation generally covers the following aspects of hearing treatment.
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Acquiring knowledge about your hearing loss
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Retraining your brain with auditory training activities
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Improving communication skills
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Environmental modifications
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How to use, care for, and make the most of your hearing Aids
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Exploring and using different accessories for your hearing aids
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Assistive listening devices
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Self advocacy and frequent communication partner training
Existing Hearing Aids Users -
Reprogramming and Clinical Services
Are you an existing hearing aid user who is having trouble with your devices? If you
got your hearing aids from another provider and are experiencing difficulty with
hearing aid function and programming, audio quality, device fit and comfort,
earmold or receiver/tubing replacement, dirt or cerumen blockage in device components, etc.,
please contact us for an appointment to assess the condition of your hearing aids.
We offer reprogramming, cleaning, repair and maintenance services at reasonable rates
to help get your hearing aids back in good working condition.
We also offer fitting and reprogramming services for hands-me-down hearing aids - devices
that you may have received from friends, family or any other third party. Such kind of
hearing aids must first be checked for performance specifications using electroacoustic
analysis and then correctly programmed and fitted to your hearing loss. It is possible to
service all behind the ear (RIC and BTE) models as well as custom hearing aids with a
valid remake warranty.