Hearing Aid Styles

Offering you the latest in hearing aid technology…

 
Hearing aids come in a variety of styles. Treasure Valley Hearing & Balance is always at the forefront of the latest and greatest digital hearing aids on the market today. Below are examples of different types of hearing technology we offer at our practice locations in Boise, Nampa, Emmett, Cascade and Weiser.

As part of our Audigy Group mission, we specialize in eXceptional technology. This means that all the best technology offered in today’s marketplace is available from us. These newer technologies offer you the advantages of nearly-invisible looking devices with sound quality resembling real speech better than ever before.

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AGX9is

 
This is a true custom device, made from deep-canal impression of the ear canal(s). It is completely invisible, and, because of the custom fit, better tolerated by many ear canals. It is self-inserted and removed. The fact that it rests on the deep portion of the ear canal provides the same remarkable hearing results.

Benefits of the AGX9is:

• 100% custom, invisible when worn, digital and fully programmable
• Most likely will work for you even if you’re not a candidate for other deep canal products
• Natural sounding
• Virtually feedback FREE – no more whistling or buzzing
• Designed to be removed daily to promote better ear health.

Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC)

• Open fit device with the speaker sitting directly in the ear canal
• May be barely visible depending on case color
• The lightweight wire provides optimum comfort and minimal visibility

Today’s Modern Hearing Technology includes the new RIC (Receiver-in-the-Canal) model also known as a RITE (Receiver-in-the-Ear). There are some exciting advantages of the RIC  hearing aids:

1.They allow more people to use hearing technology without some of the problems encountered with more traditional styles of hearing aids.

2. A RIC instrument allows the ear to remain primarily open. Because of this, patients report not feeling “plugged up” as they might with a traditional  hearing aid.

3. Patients also report that their own voice sounds more natural.

4. If a patient hears low frequencies normally, which is often the case, a RIC fitting allows those frequencies to pass through virtually unamplified creating a more natural sound quality.

5. Because the RIC has a good separation between the microphone and the receiver, acoustic feedback is reduced. This results in less squealing!

6. Because the receiver is tucked down in to the ear, closer to the eardrum with higher sound pressure levels, we normally need less gain in the instrument. This allows a person with a more severe hearing loss to enjoy using a RIC.

Less feedback, less plugged up feelings & better sound quality result in happy hearing instrument patients!

Older, more traditional styles

 
These styles range from Behind the Ear (BTE) to flesh-toned styles that fit inside the ear.

ITE (In the Ear)

MC (Mini Canal)

BTE (Behind the Ear)

Mini-Canal (MC)

• All components contained in a custom-fit, hard-molded plastic shell
• Fits inside the ear canal
• Barely or not at all visible in the ear canal

Half Shell (HS)

• All components contained in a custom-fit, hard-molded plastic shell
• Fills a portion of the bowl of the ear
• Visible in the ear

Behind the Ear (BTE)

• All components contained in a case that is worn behind the ear
• A hard-molded, plastic case is worn behind the ear, and a custom-fit earmold extends into the ear
• May be barely visible depending on case color and earmold color

In-the-Ear (ITE)

• All components contained in a custom-fit, hard-molded plastic shell
• Fills the entire bowl of the ear
• Visible in the ear

In-the-Canal (ITC)

• All components contained in a custom-fit, hard-molded plastic shell
• Fits outside the ear canal
• Slightly visible in the ear

Choosing the right hearing aid depends of the type of lifestyle that you live. Click here to see what lifestyle you fit into: Hearing Aid Comparison