Hearing Solutions
Choosing the Right Hearing Aid for You
If you’re new to hearing aids, you may be surprised to learn about all the available options. No matter how overwhelming the number of choices may seem, Dr. Gessert and the team at Integrity Hearing Center will guide you through the process to ensure you end up with a hearing solution you’re delighted with within your price range.
Types of Hearing Aids
This design sits behind the ear and houses all components with the hearing aid. The hearing aid gathers the sound and delivers this sound through a small soft tube that is attached to an earmold which fits nicely in your ear. This style of hearing aid is usually reserved for the most severe hearing losses.
The most popular of all hearing aids sold, this hearing aid has the receiver sitting in your ear canal with the actual hearing aid sitting behind the ear. This hearing aid is the smallest and the most cosmetically appealing. The RIC can now fit most all hearing loss regardless of severity. It is easy to use and very comfortable to wear. This hearing aid is completely rechargeable, meaning it does not use batteries.
This hearing aid, although very popular at one time, has decreased due to the performance of the RIC hearing aid. A mold is taken of your ear and sent to the hearing aid manufacturer. The hearing aid is custom-made from the mold taken. The hearing aid sits in the entire bowl (concha) of your ear. Because of the size and power of the hearing aid, there are different size batteries that go with this hearing aid.
This hearing aid has a mold made similar to the ITE style hearing aid, but it fits further down sitting in the canal of your ear. It is smaller than the ITE hearing aid making it harder to detect. This hearing aid is for mild to moderate hearing losses and may not, due to the size, include all the features you would receive with the other styles of hearing aids.
Perfect for those who value a discreet hearing aid above all, the completely-in-the-canal style is custom-molded to fit deep inside your ear canal. It is less susceptible to wind noise and works up to moderate hearing loss.
These offer the benefits of the CIC style, but even more so. Being the smallest style available, they are the most discreet and are almost invisible when inserted. It will be very hard for others to see you are wearing this style of hearing aid.
Hearing Aid Brands
No matter which style or technology turns out to be the best option for your hearing loss, you can be confident knowing you’ll be getting a high-quality device from a trusted manufacturer. We work with the most respected hearing aid companies, and we will help you maintain your device.
Phonak
Phonak, headquartered in Stafa, Switzerland, has been designing, manufacturing, and selling technologically leading hearing devices for more than 60 years. Phonak is a driving force for innovation, setting new standards for efficiency and user-friendly design. Phonak recently released the Phonak Marvel hearing aids, which incorporate Autosense 3.0 and Binaural Voice Stream processing. These provide increased speech comprehension in noise, enhanced listening quality, and an overall increase in sound quality, not to mention lithium-ion technology and Bluetooth connectivity to any device.
Starkey
Founded in 1967, Starkey is changing the world, one hearing aid at a time. Starkey believes that being able to understand the world is as fundamental to human life as breathing. That's why they've donated thousands of hearing aids to people around the world through their non-profit arm, the Starkey Hearing Foundation. The most exciting innovation of Starkey Hearing Technologies is encapsulated in their flagship model, the Livio AI. It uses integrated sensors and artificial intelligence and monitors the physical activity and cognitive health of the wearer.
Resound
Resound is one of the largest producers of hearing aids in the world. Since its founding in 1943, Resound has been known for its sound quality, excellence in design, and cutting-edge solutions that help hearing-impaired people to rediscover their world. The Resound Linx Quattro is their newest release. Billed as the "world's first Premium-Plus hearing aid solution," it combines a crisp sound experience, streaming functionalities, and a lithium-ion rechargeable battery option.
Oticon
Oticon, based in Denmark outside Copenhagen, is the second largest hearing aid manufacturer in the world. Founded in 1904 by Hans Demant, whose wife suffered hearing loss, Oticon was based from the very start on care and compassion. Powered by an unwavering passion for creativity, Oticon has since been at the cutting edge that enhances the lives of millions of people with hearing loss. Oticon recently released the On S, designed to give those with hearing loss a more personalized listening experience. Powered by the Velox S system, On S also features OpenSound Booster, a new configuration that offers an extra boost of support for the wearer in the most challenging circumstances.
Signia
It was a long time ago, in 1878, that Werner von Siemens founded the company named after himself after discovering that voice signals can be amplified via electrical means. Since then, the company has changed its name to Signia but have maintained the high engineering standards of the original company. Through their hearing aid Signia Nx, they have recently offered a solution to one of the biggest challenges in the hearing aid industry: the unnatural sound of the wearer's own voice when using hearing aids. Signia's Own Voice Processing software is the first to successfully address this. According to Signia, NX hearing aids increase the patient's spontaneous acceptance of the hearing aid by 75%.
Unitron
Unitron is a Canada-based international hearing aid manufacturer. For over 50 years, Unitron has been making hearing aids. They now have 20 global offices and 50 international partners. Between 2014 and 2016, Unitron was awarded the Red Dot Technology Award. The new Moxi Now, the smallest receiver-in-canal device on the market, is one of their most ground-breaking contributions to the hearing aid industry. The Moxi Fit R is the world's smallest rechargeable hearing aid and uses the latest rechargeable, compact, versatile, and easy-to-use silver-zinc batteries. Tempus, the new platform from Unitron, helps users maintain their understanding in the most difficult listening environments.
Widex
Founded in Denmark in 1956, Widex is known for providing the clearest sound around. They focus on what the user wants to hear rather than amplifying all sounds. Their hearing aids are famous for easily differentiating between conversations and background noise, blocking wind noise, and other background noise sources. Widex is one of the leading producers of hearing aids, with its products in over 100 countries worldwide. Their latest offering is the Evoke, the first hearing aid ever to use advanced machine learning technology. Such hearing aids learn about the user's needs over time, which allows the device to incrementally improve their hearing experience with each passing day.
Common Hearing Aid Features
Hearing aids are designed with features to accommodate the various listening environments you will encounter, from very quiet, such as at home, up to very noisy, such as a restaurant. Each hearing aid — BTE, RIC, ITE, ITC, and IIC — comes with different technology levels, and each technology level has unique features that will help you hear and understand in all different environments.
Programmability
Hearing aids need to be programmed to your specific needs. Dr. Gessert inputs your hearing loss into the computer and programs the hearing aids while you wear them. No more guesswork! You’ll have a hearing aid that is programmed for you, your hearing loss, and your lifestyle.
Digital
Sound is now digitally enhanced in all hearing aids. This means that the speech you hear will be cleaner, crisper, and clearer so you can understand conversations in most environments.
Directional Microphones
Directional microphones help reduce noise coming from behind you and enhance the voices in front of you. In a noisy environment, reducing the noise from behind you is essential in understanding speech from someone who is in front of you.
Rechargeable Hearing Aids
All RIC and some BTE hearing aids now come with rechargeable batteries. You simply recharge them overnight. The rechargeable battery will last 4 years, which saves you from purchasing hearing aid batteries each week.
Wireless Connectivity
Many hearing aids can connect wirelessly to your TV, smartphone, and computer, making it easier to stream different types of media and to make/receive phone calls straight to/from your hearing device.
Telecoil
Hearing aids electromagnetically connect to the sound system of a church, concert hall, PA systems, or telephone to enable the sound to be transmitted through your hearing aid.
Dedicated to Finding You the Right Hearing Solution
Every person’s situation is unique, and there is a hearing aid and technology perfect for you based on your type and level of hearing loss. Dr. Gessert and the team at Integrity Hearing Center are passionate about helping you make the best hearing solution choice for your situation and budget. And with our 30-day, risk-free trial, you’ll have plenty of time to make sure you’re happy with the results. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.