Hearing Devices in Vancouver

Invisible In Canal (IIC)

IIC hearing devices are great for active people concerned about retention of a device in the ear.

Completely In Canal (CIC)

CIC hearing instruments can be fit to more ears than IIC devices and allow for a cosmetic solution to better hearing.

In The Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids allow the user to take advantage of directionality technology while still maintaining good cosmetics.

In The Ear (ITE)

ITE hearing instruments fill the concha (bowl of the ear) and are able to provide significant power to the user, while not requiring anything outside or on top of the ear.

Behind The Ear (BTE)

BTE hearing devices have a processor worn on top of the ear, and an earmold worn in the ear canal. BTE aids are typically worn by those people with severe to profound hearing loss as they have traditionally provided the user with the most power available.

Receiver In The Ear (RITE)

RITE or RIC hearing aids also have a processor worn on top of the ear with a very thin electronic cable connected to a receiver worn inside the ear canal. Hearing loss can range from mild to severe and profound. RIC aids have great cosmetic appeal and are able to fit the widest range of hearing loss.

Hearing Instruments

Hearing instruments come in a range of styles and technology levels. Generally, as the severity of hearing loss increases so does the size of the hearing instrument. As well, generally, behind the ear hearing instruments provide more power than those that are custom-made to fit inside the ear canal. It is important that you have an open discussion with your audiologist about your lifestyle and budget so that you are fit with the best hearing instruments for your lifestyle. Do not compromise on your hearing instrument purchase. You should be fit with the best hearing instruments that you can afford.

When choosing hearing instruments, you should consider whether you will be wearing one instrument or two (most individuals wear two hearing instruments); the style of the instruments; technology level; cost and your budget; and use with accessories such as a remote control or wireless accessories.

Styles of hearing instruments include:

Behind The Ear (BTE)

BTE instruments typically provide more power than other styles of instruments. They are coupled to the ear canal using a conventional earmold or by replacing the ear hook and using a slim tube (similar in look to a RITE instrument). Technology ranges from basic - advanced - premium.

Receiver in the Ear (RITE)

RITE instruments became an available hearing instrument style as digital control of feedback has become better and better. These instruments are smaller than the BTE styles and can be fit to an individual with a hearing loss ranging from mild to severe (or greater) with use of a small custom mould. Technology ranges from basic - advanced - premium.

Custom In the Ear (ITE)

ITE hearing instruments allow for all electronics to be contained within the concha (bowl of the ear). They are often easier to insert and remove than other styles, which make these instruments good for individuals with reduced dexterity. Technology ranges from basic - advanced - premium.

Custom In the Canal (ITC)

ITC hearing instruments are cosmetically better than ITE hearing instruments. They have a smaller battery than an ITE. Technology ranges from basic - advanced - premium.

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

CIC hearing instruments sit deep inside the ear canal. Cosmetics are great! Battery life is sacrificed due to the smaller battery size. Technology ranges from basic - advanced - premium.

Accessories

Accessories are devices that work with your hearing instruments to help you hear more effectively. They are optional. They can improve your listening experiences by providing a more convenient operation of your hearing instruments, allowing you to connect to external audio sources (like telephones, TV, MP3 players, etc.) and helping you become more aware of your surroundings.

Specialized Accessories

Products designed for specific types of hearing loss. For example, if your hearing loss is worse on one side than the other, a CROS or BiCROS system may be recommended for your use. This type of device would send the audio signal received at one ear across to the opposite ear.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)

Accessories that help you hear in particular situations (i.e. When on the telephone, watching TV, listening in a classroom, or while sleeping). A Pocket talker, FM personal listening system, or TV Ears would be examples of this type of device. Many ALDs are designed to be used without hearing instruments while others (such as FM) may be used with or without hearing instruments.

Wireless Accessories

While these devices technically are ALDs, these are devices that make adjustments to your hearing aids automatically or that assist with making changes discreetly (such as a remote control) and are more complex than traditional ALDs. Included in this category are devices that allow the user to stream a television or telephone signal (or any other type of digital audio signal) to the individual’s hearing instruments. It's difficult to imagine life without TV, mobile phones, computers, satellite navigators, and a wide range of entertainment systems. Sophisticated wireless accessories utilize Bluetooth technology or megahertz wireless technology to provide users with relaxed participation in all the important aspects of modern living. Bluetooth technology is a short-range, wireless, digital communication standard. Devices with Bluetooth technology can carry either audio information or data from one device to another - computers and their peripherals, telephones, entertainment systems, personal digital assistants and more. In achieving connectivity across devices, Bluetooth also eliminates the problems of routing and sorting the many wires, cables, connectors and plugs that would otherwise be needed to link devices. Bluetooth provides agreement across devices at the physical level by using radio frequency transmission in the 2.4-gigahertz ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band. It also provides agreement on communication protocols: in order to communicate accurately, devices must agree on the scheduling and packaging of bits of data so they are understood at both ends of the line. When using wireless accessories, the user does not have to wear any devices but the hearing instruments. You can easily handle some of the more difficult listening situations such as watching television, listening to music or using your mobile phone.

Custom Hearing Protection

Exposure to excessive noise during work or leisure activities can significantly increase a person's risk of hearing loss and potentially worsen a preexisting hearing problem. Continuous exposure to 85 decibels (dB), for example, noise from loud music either at a concert or via headphones, noise from power tools and heavy machinery, and very sudden loud sounds like an explosion or firing of a gun, can irreversibly damage hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound vibrations into nerve signals that travel to the brain.

The good news is that the damaging noise can usually be avoided by turning down the volume or by wearing quality ear protection. Below are several types of custom-fit hearing protection available at Sound Hearing Clinic Inc that are substantially more effective and more comfortable than poorly fitting generic earplugs.

If you are exposed to continuous noise in your leisure activities or at work, contact us for advice on the latest earplugs and hearing protection methods that will best suit your needs.

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