Hearing Aids
If hearing aids are indicated, Coastal Hearing and Balance Center will provide exceptional service and quality care.
No two people have exactly the same hearing impairment. That is why Coastal Hearing and Balance Center offers a wide range of hearing aid choices, including the latest digital and programmable technology. Coastal Hearing and Balance Center performs computerized real ear measurements. These measurements allow us to verify that the hearing aids are providing the correct amount of amplification and ensures you receive the maximum benefit from your hearing aid. We can also evaluate any hearing aids presently in use and arrange repairs when necessary.
Audiology Services |
Hearing Aids & Assistive Devices |
Hearing Testing
Adult Hearing Evaluation:
- Pure tone air and bone conduction thresholds
- Word Recognition Testing
- Tympanometry
- Acoustic reflex testing
- Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions
- Counseling
- Auditory Evoked Response Testing (AER, ABR, BAER)
- Hearing screening
Pediatric Hearing Evaluation:
- Pure tone air and bone conduction thresholds
- Earphone and Sound Field (Speaker) Evaluations
- Visual Reinforcement Audiometry
- Conditioned Play Audiometry
- Word Recognition Testing
- Select Picture Audiometry
- Tympanometry
- Acoustic reflex testing
- Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions
- Counseling
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Hearing Aids
- Hearing aid evaluation
- Hearing Aid programming
- Hearing Aid trials
- Hearing aid sales
- Hearing aid check
- Hearing aid cleaning
- Electroacoustic analysis
- Real Ear Measurement (probe microphone)
- Speech Mapping
- Real Ear to Coupler Difference (RECD)
- Hearing aid repair (in –house)
- Hearing aid repair (manufacturer)
- Earmolds
- Latest digital technology
- Very small hearing aids
- Cool looking hearing aids
- Easy to use hearing devices
- Analog hearing aids
- Programmable hearing aids
- Digital hearing aids
- ITE in the ear
- BTE behind the ear
- CIC completely in the canal
- CANAL
- HS half shell
- RIC receiver in the canal
- RITE receiver in the ear
- Batteries
- Hearing Aid supplies and accessories
- Hearing aid extended warranties
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The Impact of Treated Hearing Loss on Quality of Life
Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D. - Better Hearing Institute, Alexandria, VA
It would seem that hearing is a second-rate sense when compared to vision in our visually oriented modern society. People with hearing loss delay a decision to get hearing help because they are unaware of the fact that receiving early treatment for hearing loss has the potential to literally transform their lives. Research by the National Council on the Aging on more than 2,000 people with hearing loss as well as their significant others demonstrated that hearing aids clearly are associated with impressive improvements in the social, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of people with hearing loss in all hearing loss categories from mild to severe. Specifically, hearing aid usage is positively related to the following quality of life issues. Hearing loss treatment was shown to improve:
- Earning power
- Communication in relationships
- Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
- Ease in communication
- Emotional stability
- Sense of control over life events
- Perception of mental functioning
- Physical health
- Group social participation
And just as importantly hearing loss treatment was shown to reduce:
- Discrimination toward the person with the hearing loss
- Hearing loss compensation behaviors (i.e. pretending you hear)
- Anger and frustration in relationships
- Depression and depressive symptoms
- Feelings of paranoia
- Anxiety
- Social phobias
- Self-criticism
If you are one of those people with a mild, moderate or severe hearing loss, who is sitting on the fence, consider all the benefits of hearing aids described above. Hearing aids hold such great potential to positively change so many lives. You Should Hear What You Are Missing!
Hearing Aids
Gus Mueller, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Ruth Bentler, Ph.D. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
How Hearing Aids Work
The basic function of a hearing aid is as follows:
- Sound waves enter through the microphone, which converts acoustic signals into electrical signals.
- The amplifier increases the strength of the electrical signal.
- From the amplifier, the signal is then transformed back to an acoustic signal by the receiver (a miniature loud speaker).
- From the receiver the signal is channeled intro the ear canal, either through a small tube or through an ear mold.
- A battery is required to power the hearing aid and enable the amplification process.
Many hearing aids also have user controls (e.g. toggle switch, volume control wheel, push button, or remote control) that enable the wearer to adjust a variety of hearing aid parameters, including:
- Turning the hearing aid "on" or "off"
- Changing the volume
- Switching to the telecoil
- Switching between omni- and directional-microphone settings
- Switching to a different pre-programmed memory
Styles of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids have been available in four styles: body, eyeglass, behind-the-ear (BTE), and in-the-ear (ITE). Included in the category of ITE hearing aids are in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) styles (all shown in the figures below). While body and eyeglass style hearing aids were regularly used 40- 50 years ago, they comprise only about 1% of all hearing aids marketed today. Instead, most individuals choose ITE (approximately 80%) or BTE (approximately 20%) style hearing aids. This transition in style, use, and preference is occurring for a number of reasons, including the reduction in the size of the components, durability, and cosmetic concerns on the part of the consumer.
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The ITE style hearing aid fits directly into the external ear. The circuitry is housed primarily in the concha (external) portion of the ear. Due to the miniaturization of the component parts (including the microphone, receiver and battery), it is possible to make hearing aids small enough to fill only a portion of the concha (ITC) or fit deeply into the ear canal (CIC). All three of these styles have typically been considered to be more modern and cosmetically appealing. However, modern BTE hearing aids have become smaller and at times are less noticeable than some ITC hearing aids.
Other features of in-the-ear instruments are as follows:
- More secure fit, and easier insertion and removal than with BTEs.
- Improved cosmetic benefits with smaller styles (CIC, ITC).
- Less wind noise in the smaller styles than with BTEs.
- Directional microphone technology available for most styles, excluding CICs.
- Deep microphone and receiver placement with CICs may result in increased battery life and high frequency amplification compared with other styles.
- All components are integrated into a one-piece shell, which may be easier to handle and operate than for BTE styles.
The BTE style hearing aid is housed in a small curved case which fits behind the ear and is attached to a custom earpiece molded to the shape of your outer ear. Some BTE models do not use a custom earpiece; instead the rubber tubing is inserted directly into the ear.
The case is typically flesh colored, but can be obtained in many colors and/or patterns. Other features include:
- BTEs may be the most appropriate choice for young children, as only the earmold needs to be replaced periodically as the child grows and the ear changes in dimension.
- Typically, BTEs are the most powerful hearing aid style available, and may be the best option for persons with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
- FM and direct auditory input is routinely available as an optional or standard feature.
- Telecoil circuitry is often more powerful than with ITEs.
- Non-occluding earmolds may be used with BTE hearing aids, if a medical condition exists or if the patient reports a “plugged” sensation when wearing other hearing aid styles.
- Directional microphone technology available with most BTE styles and models.
- Larger battery sizes used in BTEs may be easier to handle than smaller styles for those with limited manual dexterity or vision deficits.
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