The following are common hearing aid styles:

Completely in the Canal (CIC)

Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. A completely-in-the-canal hearing aid is the least noticeable in the ear; less likely to pick up wind noise because the ear protects the instrument; easy to use with the telephone; uses smaller batteries, which typically don't last as long as larger batteries; doesn't contain extra features, such as volume control or directional microphones.

In the Canal (IC)

An in-the-canal hearing aid is custom molded and fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. An in-the-canal hearing aid is less visible in the ear; easy to use with the telephone; includes features that won't fit on completely-in-the-canal aids, but the small size can make the features difficult to adjust; may not fit well in smaller ears.

Half-Shell

A smaller version of the in-the-canal hearing aid, the half-shell is custom molded and fills the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss. A half-shell hearing aid is bigger than an in-the-canal hearing aid; a little easier to handle than are the smaller hearing aids; includes additional features, such as directional microphones and volume control; fits most ears.

In the Ear (full shell)

An in-the-ear (full-shell) hearing aid is custom made and fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss. An in-the-ear hearing aid is more visible to others; may pick up wind noise; contains helpful features, such as volume control, that are easier to adjust; is generally easier to insert into the ear; uses larger batteries, which typically last longer and are easier to handle.

Behind the Ear

Behind-the-ear hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages. A behind-the-ear aid is the largest, most visible type of hearing aid, though some new versions are smaller, streamlined and barely visible; is capable of more amplification than are other hearing aid styles

Open fit

These are very small behind-the-ear-style devices. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they are best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal. An open-fit hearing aid is less visible; doesn't plug the ear like the small in-the-canal hearing aids do; uses very small batteries; lacks manual adjustments due to the small size.

Some hearing aid options improve your ability to hear in specific situations:

Directional microphones.

These microphones pick up sounds coming from in front of you better than coming from behind or beside you, improving your ability to hear when you're in an environment with a lot of background noise. Many hearing aids have both a regular and a directional microphone, and automatically switch between the regular and directional modes.

Telephone adapters.

This technology, also referred to as telecoil T switches, makes it easier to hear when talking on the telephone. The telecoil eliminates the sounds from your environment and only picks up the sounds from the telephone. Some hearing aids switch automatically when the phone is held up to the hearing aid, while others require flipping a switch. Keep in mind that this technology works only with telephones that are compatible with hearing aids - most cell phones aren't.

Bluetooth technology.

New hearing aids can transmit sound from Bluetooth devices, such as Bluetooth cell phones. These hearing aids require an interface that wirelessly picks up the Bluetooth signal from Bluetooth compatible devices and transmits the signal to the hearing aid.

Remote controls.

Some hearing aids use a remote control that makes volume control adjustments or other changes without touching the hearing aid. The remote may also make other adjustments, such as activating the directional microphone or increasing the noise reduction.

Regular hearing aid checks are important to ensure your hearing aids are functioning properly. Most hearing aid malfunctions occur because of wax or debris in the hearing aid or ear canal. Using specialized state-of-the-art equipment we can test your hearing aid settings to ensure it is functioning within manufacturer's specifications.

We can repair most brands of hearing aids. Often we are able to repair minor problems right in our office. If we are unable to repair the hearing aid in the office, we will send it to a reputable manufacturer. All hearing aid repairs come with either a 6 or 12-month guarantee for your peace of mind.

Using state-of-the-art equipment we can insert a small tube in your earcanal and measure the amount of amplification your hearing aid is providing. This can really help us to set your hearing aid to the most optimum setting for your hearing loss. It can also help to troubleshoot complaints such as not being able to hear in certain situations, or why certain loud sounds are uncomfortably loud.

We can make custom earmolds that are made from an impression of your ear for maximum fit and comfort. These earmolds are far more comfortable than any standard foam plug. They are great for people who work in noisy places or like hunting or target shooting. We also make musician plugs with noise filters with various degrees of attenuation.