About Hearing Aids and Listening Devices

TriHealth audiologists can help you with various types of hearing aids, ear pieces, ear protection and other electronic hearing devices. They also handle repairs for the hearing aids they fit.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids come in different styles and technology levels to best meet your needs. Hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life by giving your brain access to the sounds you have been missing with your hearing loss. This reduces your listening effort, making conversations easier and more enjoyable.

Styles:

Style of hearing aid is recommended by your audiologist depending on your degree of hearing loss.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids sit behind the ear and have different tubing and earpiece options. Your audiologist will discuss with you which would be appropriate based on your hearing loss. BTE styles include:

• Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC): Hearing aids are seated behind the ear, connecting to a receiver wire that connects to a small dome-like earpiece. The receiver wire sits flush with the skin and is aesthetically pleasing.
• Standard Behind-the-Ear (BTE): Hearing aids are seated behind the ear and connect to a tube with a custom-made earpiece.

Custom hearing aids are made specifically to fit your ears. The audiologist will make an impression of your ears to send to the manufacturer, where the hearing aid is made and sent to our office ready for programming. Custom styles include:

• Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC): Hearing aids are seated deeply inside the ear canal. The faceplate is at the opening of the ear canal, making them virtually invisible.
• In-the-Canal (ITC): Hearing aids are seated in the ear canal and the lower half of the bowl of the outer ear.
• In-the-Ear (ITE): Hearing aids are seated in the ear canal and fill the entire outer portion of the ear.

How hearing aids work:

Hearing aids are digital technology that are programmed specifically to your hearing loss and listening needs by your audiologist. The hearing aids use sophisticated algorithms to improve the speech signal of interest. They come in various technology levels. Hearing aids work by analyzing the environment that you are in to determine which automatic program the hearing aid needs to be in to give your brain the best signal to noise ratio. The higher the technology level, the more automatic programs and features the hearing aid has to accommodate more diverse listening situations. Your audiologist will discuss the differences between technology levels and make a recommendation for you based on your hearing loss and lifestyle needs.

Acclimatization period:

It takes the ear and brain time to adjust to hearing with hearing aids. The brain has to relearn how to process these sounds that you either haven’t heard for a while or haven’t heard at this new level. The most important thing to remember when being fit with hearing aids is that it takes practice and patience. It takes practice listening with your hearing aids. You should use them consistently. Your success comes from your motivation to hear better. With continued use your brain will become adjusted, and you will receive maximum benefit from your hearing aids.

Tips for getting the most out of your hearing aids

1. When listening in a noisy environment, sit facing the wall with the noise behind you
2. When in large rooms (theaters, religious service, conference halls), sit front and center for better acoustics
3. Follow up care to see your audiologist for regular cleaning and maintenance
4. After removing the hearing aid(s) from your ears, use a dry cloth to remove any moisture and ear wax from the device and the earpiece
5. Charge your hearing aids daily

Cochlear Implant/ BAHA Services

Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that can restore hearing and speech understanding to someone who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

A collaborative team of TriHealth board-certified ENT physicians and audiologists coordinate surgical care and therapy to help these patients (re)learn the sense of hearing.

BAHA

For people with single sided deafness or chronic conductive hearing loss, a Baha® bone conduction implant may be the answer. The Baha system uses a titanium implant that is surgically placed in the skull bone behind the non-functioning ear. A small sound processor then connects to the implant, either with a magnet or small stem protruding from the skull.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of noise – commonly ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing- in one or both ears without an external source. Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss, loud noise exposure, or ear infections. Tinnitus can improve with treatment of the underlying cause.

Custom Earpieces

Custom earpieces are common for musicians, swimmers, and noise protection.

To make an earpiece, a small foam block is inserted into your ear canal to protect your eardrum. Putty-like material is then pushed into your ear canal, filling the space completely. This material hardens and is easily removed. This creates a mold of your ear canal and outer ear that an outside ear mold laboratory will use to make your devices. Types of earpieces include:

• Swimmer’s earpieces: Help keep your ears dry, but may also be used to decrease direct exposure to environmental noise. Many color combinations are available.
• Musician earpieces: Protect your hearing by using sound filters that give you the ability to hear the specific frequency response of your music at a lower volume.
• Personal listening earpieces: Can be custom-made to directly connect you to your personal devices, such as a cellphone, computer or for music. These custom earpieces are made to fit the shape of your ear and will not fall out during activity. The earpieces can be made in different colors.
• Hearing protection earpieces: Are used by people subjected to extreme noise levels through employment or hobbies. This may include concerts, hunting, motorcycling or machinery. Different levels of sound dampening can be chosen.