• Hearing Aids Are Designed To Help

    One in six Australians experience hearing loss, which if not managed can negatively impact their quality of life. Mishearing or not understanding what has been said in conversation can be embarrassing, and having to ask someone to repeat themselves can be frustrating for all involved. As a result, many people guess at what has been said. Straining to hear can be tiring and if this goes on for too long, some people withdraw from social situations and become isolated. Not being involved with family, friends and the outside world can be lonely.

    Hearing aids are designed to help people avoid these negative impacts of hearing loss and to enable them to participate fully in their lives.

    The basic parts of a hearing aid are the microphone, amplifier and speaker.The microphone picks up sound, which is then converted to electrical signals and processed, and then sent to an amplifier, which increases the signals, and finally onto the speaker which then transmits the sound into the ear.

    There are up to 10 manufacturers (some having merged) of hearing aids in Australia, who all have around 50 devices to choose from, making the combination of different models roughly 500. This choice can be overwhelming. To make it simple, we have chosen to use the 4 major manufacturers who are leaders in the industry and we have picked the top 100 models which will fit the majority of types of hearing loss and people.

    We only recommend the latest and best hearing aids to avoid confusion and fitting you with out of date technology. When we see you in person at the clinic we can determine whether another style, model or customisation is needed.

    Platform

    Every 18 months or so a manufacturer will release a new ‘Platform’ of hearing aids with their latest technology (chip). These are usually the Receiver-in-the-canal style hearing aids as they can fit the most technology inside them and are still discreet in size.

Manufacturers

The manufacturers we recommend are; Oticon, Phonak, ReSound and Signia.

Styles

Receiver In The Canal (RIC)

The receiver (or speaker) in the (ear) canal hearing aid is the most popular style as it can fit multiple microphones to help you to hear in background noise, has the latest technology such as direct streaming and rechargeable batteries and is the most comfortable fit in your ear. Your voice will sound more natural and this style is suited to the majority of hearing losses with the option of changing the power of the receiver if your hearing deteriorates.
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Behind The Ear (BTE)

The Behind The Ear hearing aids are bigger than the RIC style as the housing behind the ear has to include the speaker. This means the sound has to travel from the device down tubing and into the ear canal. The tubing can be thin or with severe to profound hearing losses it needs to be thicker with a mould in the ear, which is more noticeable compared to the thin wire of a RIC. The technology inside the device can be the same as the RIC, however, it is not always available as early.

Rechargeable

The rechargeable hearing aids are currently only available in the RIC and BTE style. The most reliable rechargeable batteries are Lithium-ion which should last 5-6 years, compared to the Silver Zinc batteries which last 6 months. The Lithium-ion batteries are sealed and can’t be replaced with the common disposable Zinc Air batteries, whereas the Silver Zinc batteries can.

Invisible In The Canal (IIC)

The Invisible-in-the-canal hearing aid is the most discreet, with the device sitting as far into the ear canal as possible. This is often the style that is advertised the most. However, these devices are not
suitable for everyone’s hearing loss or ear canal shape. They are much smaller, therefore can’t fit as many microphones and don’t perform as well in background noise. These are not as comfortable as the RIC and BTE devices as they are a hard material that sits in your ear. There is also a greater chance that your voice will not sound as natural and can be like you have your head in a bucket as there is nowhere for the sound to escape out of your ears. These devices don’t have direct streaming or rechargeable batteries. They can work better when you are outdoors in the wind as the microphones are deep in your canal, compared to the RIC/BTE being behind your ear.
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Completely In The Canal (CIC)

The Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are slightly bigger than the IIC and are more noticeable. These have the same issues as the IIC’s however some manufacturers can include more technology with them being bigger, to help you hear in background noise. If people have tinnitus it’s also best not to fit the styles that sit completely in your canal as it may exacerbate it.
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In The Canal (ITC)

The In-the-Canal hearing aids are bigger again than the CIC’s and more noticeable however can fit more microphones and eventually get the latest technology, except for the direct streaming and rechargeable batteries.

In The Ear (ITE)

The In-the-Ear hearing aids are the biggest custom aid and fill your ear the most, therefore are noticeable to others. These are suited to people who have difficulty managing to insert the other styles and can fit a larger size battery which will last longer than the other custom styles, however can’t have rechargeable batteries. All the latest hearing technology can be placed in the aid due to the size. One of
the manufacturers, Oticon, have made their ITE’s with direct streaming.

  • Function And Size

    Batteries

    There are different battery sizes along with the recent introduction of rechargeable batteries. The Zinc Air button batteries have been used in hearing aids for decades. In general the larger the battery size, the larger the hearing aid will be and the longer the battery will last. Using streaming and wireless accessories will use the battery power up faster.

    Size 13: ORANGE colour on packaging. One of the larger size batteries which last around 14 days and are easier to manage for people who have issues picking up the smaller sizes. Common in the ITE and BTE models and can be changed with the disposable Silver Zinc rechargeable batteries.

    Size 312: BROWN colour on packaging. Last around 10 days and are the most common disposable batteries and commonly found in the RIC, smaller BTE and ITC styles.

    Size 10: YELLOW colour on packaging. Lasts around 4-5 days and are the smallest size. These are commonly found in the IIC, CIC and smaller RIC models. These are not suited to people who have dexterity issues; arthritis in fingers, loss of feeling in fingertips.

    Rechargeable batteries: Lithium-ion and Silver Zinc are available, however in our experience the Silver Zinc batteries are unreliable and this is why we don’t recommend them (see Rechargeable for further
    details).

  • Telecoil

    A telecoil is a coil that is placed in the hearing aid which when turned on can pick up sound from a hearing loop sound system that are in built into buildings such as; theatres, airports, churches. Look for this symbol:

    It can also be used in some landline telephones. Having to fit the telecoil in the aid increases the size of device and is usually identified in the hearing aid models name with the letter T.

    Models And Technology Levels

    The manufacturers take out certain features at each technology level and this is used to determine the price. Each technology level will have a different name (usually a change in number) to identify the model.

    In summary, the name that you will see on the hearing aid image on our website will depend on;

    • Manufacturer name
    • Platform
    • Technology level
    • Model
    • Battery type and size
    • Telecoil added

  • Hearing Aid Features Explained

    Just like in other industries, hearing aid manufacturers market their features using jargon and fancy names to make them sound desirable. We have tried to decipher and simplify the most important features in hearing aids to let you know how they work, and how they may benefit you in the real world.

    Digital Signal Processing (DSP): All the hearing aids we offer are Digital Hearing Aids. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) has been around since the 1990s. When the sound is picked up by the hearing aid’s microphone it’s turned into an electrical signal, then converted from analog to digital (ADC) and processed (DSP) by the hearing aid’s computer (chip) and converted back into an acoustic sound that you hear. The DSP allows the hearing aids to perform sophisticated functions (including some of the features listed) to help improve your hearing seamlessly.

    Compression: is mainly used to prevent the amplified signal from sounding distorted (like an out of tune radio) by decreasing the gain (turning down the volume) when it becomes too high. This can be used in different ways;

    • Reduction in the dynamic range: sounds are fit within the wearers hearing range. Wide Dynamic Range Compression (WDRC): allows a wider range of sounds to be reduced.
    • Output controlled compression: prevents loud sounds becoming uncomfortable
    • Fast, medium and slow-acting compression: increases soft speech sounds and alters the overall level of speech to make aids more comfortable to wear in noise.
    • Multichannel compression: tries to make the amplified sound as normal and natural as possible and helps you to hear speech easier. Reduces the gain in only the frequencies (pitches) that have the worst signal, rather than all of them.

    How does it benefit you: it makes the sound of the hearing aid more natural and comfortable when you are in noisy places and in turn helps you to hear speech clearer and easier.

    Noise Reduction: utilises compression, digital signal processing and noise reduction algorithms to identify speech apart from noise (in multiple channels) to improve the comfort of the loudness of the hearing aids and potentially improve the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of speech in background noise. This makes the hearing aids sound more comfortable and helps you to hear conversations better and easier when you’re in a noisy environment, such as walking through a busy shopping centre.

    Ear to Ear technology: When you wear two hearing aids, information about sound levels, compression characteristics, noise levels and timing differences, can be processed and shared wirelessly between both aids. This can help you to better hear where sounds are coming from, improve the clarity of people’s speech, make the sound more natural, reduce noise and improve your hearing in windy environments. The hearing aids also communicate with one another when changing the controls (binaural synchronisation). By changing the volume or listening program on one aid, it will change it on the other.

    Directional Microphone: is the most proven and effective way to help you to hear better in noise. As the hearing aid technology gets more advanced, the way the hearing aid processes and adapts to the sounds around you becomes more sophisticated. This is essentially what you are paying more for.

    • Omnidirectional – picks up sounds from all around you. These benefit you most in quiet places and is the default setting so you are more aware of everything around you.
    • Fixed directional – the hearing aid microphone will pick up sounds coming from in front of you, more than sounds coming from other directions. This can help you to hear speech better in noise when the person you want to listen to is in front of you, and the noise you don’t want to hear is behind you or to the sides. At the most basic technology level, this needs to be manually activated by you.
    • Automatic directionality – the hearing aid analyses the sounds around you and will automatically switch the microphones to help you to hear better, so you don’t have to press any buttons.
    • Automatic Adaptive Directionality – is a more advanced microphone system that can identify someone speaking in a noisy place, even when they are moving. The microphones adapt to hone in on what someone is saying and also reduces the noise, all done automatically. As the technology gets higher, the microphones can pick out many different sounds in all directions, which is helpful when you want to hear someone talking in a noisy restaurant, coffee shop, party or special occasion.

    Channels: frequencies (low to high pitch sounds) are divided into channels, and like a sound equaliser for a stereo, they can adjust the specific pitches you are not hearing. It’s like going to a tailor to have your clothes made to fit you just right.

    Controls: allows you to manually control your hearing aid’s volume and listening programs to help you to hear easier in different situations such as; talking in a restaurant, when outdoors, telephone calls, watching TV, listening to music, attending a lecture, etc. They come in different configurations, depending on the model and style of hearing aid.

    Automation of listening programs: the hearing aids analyse and adjust their settings optimally, to help you to hear in differing listening situations. The way the hearing aids do this varies between manufacturers and levels of technology. The higher the technology, the more automatic the hearing aids become at changing their settings, so you don’t have to worry about pressing any buttons. The settings can switch from you wanting to hear your softly spoken friend in a quiet cafe, to dealing with a rowdy bunch of teenagers that sit down at the table next to you, instantly and effortlessly.

    Bluetooth connectivity: allows your aids to be connected wirelessly to other devices with Bluetooth, such as your mobile phone, tablet or via accessories to your TV. Recently, hearing aids now have direct streaming with your mobile phone, so you don’t have to purchase or wear an accessory. They can stream phone calls and music directly to your hearing aids. Certain manufacturers can connect to any Bluetooth device and allows you to answer mobile phone calls using a control on the hearing aid, along with not having to speak into the phone, meaning they are ‘handsfree’. Other manufacturers are limited to iPhone’s only and are not handsfree. Devices at the lower technology levels can use Bluetooth to pair with accessories to give you the same streaming capabilities.

  • Accessories

    • Remote controls are used to change the volume and listening programs easily, just like a TV remote control.
    • TV accessories are used to send the sound from the TV directly into your hearing aids and the person you are watching TV with can have the volume at their preferred level.
    • Remote microphones can be worn by someone you want to hear when they are at a distance (lecturer or priest) or in a noisy environment (restaurant).

    Feedback management: prevents the hearing aid from whistling. All hearing aids will have decent feedback management systems to make sure your aids don’t whistle when you hug your loved one or sit in your recliner. The hearing aid not fitting in your ear properly or having wax in your ears can cause whistling.

    Telecoil: A telecoil is a coil that is placed in the hearing aid which when turned on can pick up sound from a hearing loop sound system that is inbuilt into buildings such as; theatres, airports, churches. It can also be used in some landline telephones. Having to fit the telecoil in the aid increases the size of the device and is usually identified in a hearing aid models name with the letter ‘T’.

    Machine Learning: Artificial intelligence in hearing aids picks up on your listening preferences and learns from them and other hearing aid users to give you a better and seamless listening experience. Manufacturers use this ‘machine learning’ technology differently to give you more control over the sound and use of your ‘smart’ devices or to process the sound to make it more natural and clear.

    Frequency (pitch) lowering: for people with severe high-frequency hearing losses where no matter how loud the sound is amplified, the inner ear is damaged and won’t interpret the sound. The aid processes those sounds so they are heard at a lower pitch where the ear can hear them. It is called different names and differs in the way it is done by each manufacturer.

    Mobile Application (App): used to control the volume, change listening programs and connect to your clinician to make remote adjustments. Varies with manufacturers but some allow you to locate your hearing devices, have how-to videos and instruction available, transcribe voice to text, track your hearing health and check your aids are working.

    Teleaudiology (Remote Support): adjustments can be made remotely when you connect to an app on your smart-phone, so you don’t have to come to the clinic. This can be helpful for the busy professional or person who lives regionally.

    Durability: an IP rating is used to classify how durable the hearing aid is to moisture and dust. The higher the number, the more durable it is.

  • Batteries

    There are different battery sizes along with the recent introduction of rechargeable batteries. The Zinc-Air button batteries have been used in hearing aids for decades. In general, the larger the battery size, the larger the hearing aid will be and the longer the battery will last. Using streaming and wireless accessories will use battery power up faster.

    Size 13: ORANGE colour on the packaging. One of the larger size batteries which last around 14 days and are easier to manage for people who have issues picking up the smaller sizes. Common in the ITE and BTE models and can be changed with the disposable Silver Zinc rechargeable batteries.

    Size 312: BROWN colour on the packaging. It last around 10 days and are the most common disposable batteries and commonly found in the RIC, smaller BTE and ITC styles.

    Size 10: YELLOW colour on the packaging. It lasts around 4-5 days and are the smallest size. These are commonly found in the IIC, CIC and smaller RIC models. These are not suited to people who have dexterity issues; arthritis in fingers, loss of feeling in fingertips.

    Rechargeable batteries: rechargeable hearing aids are currently only available in the RIC and BTE style. The most reliable rechargeable batteries are Lithium-ion which should last 5-6 years, compared to the Silver Zinc batteries which last 6 months. The Lithium-ion batteries are sealed and can’t be replaced with the common disposable Zinc-Air batteries, whereas the Silver Zinc batteries can.

    Tinnitus Feature: the hearing aids can play different sounds which can be adjusted to your personal preference, which distracts you from focusing on your tinnitus. This can give you relief from hearing your tinnitus, especially in quiet environments.